OSHA Arc Flash Requirements - The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has authority to "assure safe and healthy working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing consensus standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance."
When it comes to workplace electrical safety, OSHA has several requirements and osha standards that govern the workplace to make sure that electrical accidents and deaths are minimized.
Arc flash refers to the flashover of electric current which leaves its intended path and travels through the air from one conductor to another, or to ground.
The results are often sudden, violent and when workers are in close proximity to the arc flash, a serious injury and even death can occur. Every year, there are thousands of electrical accidents in North America and workers must be able to recognize potential electric arc flash hazards.
Arc flash accidents can be caused by a number of things including:
Three factors determine the severity of an arc flash injury:
Because of the violent nature of an arc flash exposure when an employee is injured, the injury is serious – even resulting in death. It’s not uncommon for an injured employee to never regain their past quality of life. Extended medical care is often required, sometimes costing in excess of $1,000,000.
Typical Results from an Arc Flash
Approach / Protection Boundaries
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has developed specific approach boundaries designed to protect employees while working on or near energized equipment. These boundaries are:
Flash Protection Boundary (outer boundary): The flash boundary is the farthest established boundary from the energy source. If an arc flash occurred, this boundary is where an employee would be exposed to a curable second degree burn (1.2 calories/cm2 ). The issue here is the heat generated from a flash that results in burns.
Limited Approach: An approach limit at a distance from an exposed live part where a shock hazard exists. Restricted Approach: An approach limit at a distance from an exposed live part which there is an increased risk of shock.
Prohibited Approach (inner boundary): A distance from an exposed part which is considered the same as making contact with the live part.
This distance is not common between equipment. Some equipment will have a greater flash protection boundary while other equipment will have a lesser boundary.
Ways to Protect Workers
There exists a number of ways to protect workers from the threat of electrical hazards. Some of the methods are for the protection of qualified employees doing work on electrical circuit and other methods are geared towards non-qualified employees who work nearby energized equipment.
Here are a few of the protective methods:
If You Must Work on Energized Circuits
If it has been determined that deenergizing a circuit is not feasible and the employee must work “hot”, the employer shall develop and enforce safety-related work practices to prevent electric shock or other injuries resulting from either direct or indirect electrical contacts.
The specific safety-related work practices shall be consistent with the nature and extent of the associated electrical hazards.
These safety related work practices could include:
Understanding the Arc Flash Warning Labels
Each piece of equipment operating at 50 volts or more and not put into a deenergized state must be evaluated for arc flash and shock protection. This evaluation will determine the actual boundaries (i.e. prohibited, limited, restricted etc) and will inform the employee of what PPE must be worn.
Once the evaluation is complete an Arc Flash Hazard warning label must be affixed to the equipment and readily accessible to employees who may work on the energized equipment.
Employee Obligations
Employees must follow the requirements of the Arc Flash Hazard label by wearing the proper personal protective equipment (PPE), use of insulated tools and other safety related precautions. This includes not working on or near the circuit unless you are a “qualified” worker.
Qualified person: One who has received training in and has demonstrated skills and knowledge in the construction and operation of electric equipment and installations and the hazards involved.
Additional requirements for qualified persons. Qualified persons (i.e. those permitted to work on or near exposed energized parts) shall, at a minimum, be trained in and familiar with the following:
