What is an arc flash? An arc flash is a sudden release of electrical energy through the air when a high-voltage gap exists and there is a breakdown between conductors.

Annually, 75 to 80 workers die from fatal injuries in the electric utility industry. A large number of these deaths are due to electrical contact. Many incidents leading to serious and fatal injuries could have been avoided by conducting pre-job briefings, using personal protective equipment cradle-to-cradle and ground-to-ground, using equipotential grounding, and wearing sleeves with high-voltage rubber gloves.