Articles Tagged with ''Arc flash''

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) must conduct an “after action review” of a May 5 arc flash incident in a train station and review with all operating personnel, supervisors and management procedures related to managing fire and smoke emergencies or risk losing federal funding, under a threat by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

This document provides information on the most current arc flash labeling requirements, as well as best practices for creating and maintaining such labels.

Too often there are times when individuals experience thermal hazards while not wearing the proper flame-resistant clothing or no flame-resistant clothing at all.

Once the right FR clothing is selected for the job, questions might arise on the proper care and maintenance of the garments.

Safety and health professionals in a wide variety of industries use a hierarchy of controls to mitigate workplace hazards.

Arc flash and electrical shock injuries continue to pose a significant threat to workplace health and safety.

Know your limits. One step too close to an energized piece of equipment may cause burns that char deep into your flesh and blisters that reach beyond the second layer of your skin. In the event of an arc flash, personal protective equipment (PPE) is your last line of defense. But knowing your boundary limits just might save your skin.

Flame-resistant (FR) clothing can increase the chances of survival and decrease the need for medical treatment and the chances of subsequent infections. It can help preserve the quality of life of a worker exposed to an electric arc flash.

Energized equipment can be unpredictable. It doesn't have to be deadly. Creating a safe work environment requires building an electrical safety program. Effective programs are built on many moving parts, each requiring constant evaluation. Workers need continued education. Equipment requires testing. Systems must be measured against regulatory requirements.

My first on-the-job experience with the power of electricity happened back in the 1980s.