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Reducing the Risks of Arc Flash: Comply with New Regulations, Increase Safety and Save Costs with Proper Identification
Electrical workers are exposed to a number of hazards, including electrical shock. Arc flash is a hazard that can cause serious injury or death - even if an employee doesn't come into direct contact with an energized conductor. The flash can generate extremely high heat causing severe burns. Costs to companies can be extreme relating to medical treatments or lawsuits. And it's not just people who get hurt: equipment can be damaged, requiring repair or replacement, and possibly causing the line or even the entire plant to shut down for a period of time.
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Arc flash is a short circuit through air that flashes over from one exposed live conductor to another conductor or to ground. Arc flashes can be caused in a variety of ways including coming close to a high-amp source with a conductor, dropping a tool or creating a spark, equipment failure due to use of substandard parts, improper installation, or even normal wear and tear. Because the frequency of reported accidents is increasing, OSHA and the safety industry overall are implementing standards.
New Regulations NEC Labeling Requirement
OSHA is now citing and fining employers for failure to protect employees from the dangers of arc flash. For guidelines on best practices for protecting employees, OSHA refers employers to the NFPA 70E standard, "Standard For Electrical Safety In the Workplace." In addition, the National Electric Code® - NFPA 70 - added a requirement in 2002 mandating that potential arc flash hazards be labeled to warn of the hazard and the label must be clearly visible to workers before they could potentially be exposed to live parts. This covers electrical equipment (such as switchboards and control panels) located in manufacturing and commercial establishments (other than dwelling occupancies) that must be field marked with a warning label if subject to examination, adjustment, service or maintenance while energized.
To further the requirement, National Electrical Code (NEC409) standard for Industrial Control Panels created UL508A specific for Panel Short Circuit Rating effective April 2006. This mandates permanent nameplates of industrial machinery to include but not limited to supply voltage, phase, frequency and full-load current, maximum ampere ratings, and electrical diagram numbers
How can you comply with Arc Flash Labeling Requirements:
The current NEC requirement states only that the label must warn of the potential arc flash hazard. Most arc flash labels at least instruct employees to wear the proper personal protection equipment. Many also take the opportunity also warn of electrical shock.
Durability and Content for Pre-printed or Write-on Labels:
Brady offers Warning or Danger preprinted labels formatted according to the ANSI standard. Brady arc flash labels are over-laminated durable polyester to protect the text and graphics. The back of the labels also employ an acrylic adhesive, which allows the labels to be securely and permanently affixed to a wide range of surfaces. Write-on vinyl checkbox label can be easily written on with pen or marker. You can then apply an over-laminate to protect the printing from harsh environmental conditions.
Make-it-Yourself Arc Flash Labels:
Large facilities may need to create hundreds if not thousands of customized arc flash labels. In this case, Brady's industrial printing systems are designed as a convenient, flexible and cost-effective way to create, modify and print labels. Brady printers and label materials are designed for industrial use, and employ thermal-transfer printing to provide the optimum in UV, chemical and abrasion resistance. Brady Software applications include preformatted arc flash warning or danger templates to quickly fill in the blanks and print.
Training Materials:
OSHA is enforcing the labeling requirement because of the critical importance of making workers aware of this dangerous hazard, and because of the need to modify long-established work habits and practices to ensure adequate protection. In addition to labeling, Brady also provides a variety of other training and awareness aids to help keep your message in front of workers.
To increase safety and ensure compliance throughout your workplace, it is critical to learn and identify arc flash hazards in your facilities, train employees in safe work practices, and use labels and other awareness aids to keep the message in the forefront and reinforce the desired behavior.
Download the arc flash white paper PDF for more complete information.
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