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Arc Flash:
Electrical Safety in the Workplace
CCIA Safety Committee
SAFETY ROUNDTABLE
April 10, 2012
1
Overview
• What’s PowerHawke?
• What is Arc Flash?
• Why does it matter?
• How does it intersect the construction industry?
• Questions
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Preventive Electrical Maintenance from McPhee
What is PowerHawke?
A branded solution of
engineering and preventive
electrical services
Typical Offerings Include:
• Infrared and visual
inspections/analysis
• Generator load and transfer
switch testing
• UPS testing and battery
maintenance
• NPFA 70E arc flash hazard
analysis / arc flash training
• Facility critical power safety
audit
• De-energized maintenance of
critical power components
• De-energized NFPA/NETA
recommended breaker testing
Preventive Electrical Maintenance from McPhee
• Bushnell Management
• The Hartford
• Tilcon, CT
• Mohegan Sun
• OFS Photonics
• Pepperidge Farm
• Winstanley Enterprises
• United Rentals
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Electric Safety ‘101’
 Three major hazards of electricity, which are: 1) electrical
shock, 2) electrical arc-flash and 3) electrical arc-blast.
 A Qualified Person is defined as: “One who has skills and
knowledge related to the construction and operation of the
electrical equipment and installations and has received safety
training to recognize and avoid the hazards involved.”
 The safest way to work on electrical equipment and circuits is
to de-energize, lock, and tag them. Energized work is to be
performed only as a last resort, when it is infeasible to deenergize.
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Preventive Electrical Maintenance from McPhee
What is Arc Flash?
An arc flash is a
dangerous condition
associated with the
possible release of
energy caused by an
electric arc.
“Arc Flash” Generally
Covers:
• Electric Shock
• Arc Flash
• Arc Blast
• OSHA/MSHA
 Standards 29-CFR, Part 1910, sub part S
(electrical) Standard number 1910.333
• NFPA 70E
 Standard for Electrical Safety in the
Workplace 2012
• IEEE 1564
 Guide for Performing Arc Flash
Hazard Calculations
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Preventive Electrical Maintenance from McPhee
What’s Required?
Arc Flash Hazard
Analysis
An analysis investigating a
worker’s potential exposure
to arc flash energy.
Each analysis generally
includes:
• System data collection
• One-line model & Analysis
• Report & labeling
Each analysis generally
covers:
• Safe work practices
• Shock & Arc flash
boundaries
• Proper PPE levels
Preventive Electrical Maintenance from McPhee
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Why does it matter?
The genie is (coming) out!
• Injury Prevention
• Safe work environment
Negligent
Disregard
• Reduced insurance rates
• It’s the law
I don’t know
what I don’t
know
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Preventive Electrical Maintenance from McPhee
Why does it matter?
The associated human
suffering is
unconscionable
AND
mostly avoidable
Donnie’s
Accident
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Preventive Electrical Maintenance from McPhee
Why does it matter?
OSHA
•
•
13 incidents and $1.6M since the
beginning of 2012
Violations can carry penalties of up to
$250,000 for individuals or $500,000
for companies
Mine Safety and Health
Administration (MSHA)
•
•
assessed $135,000 in fines against a
contractor at the Cemex Balcones
cement plant in Comal County, Texas.
"The contractor should have made
certain the power was de-energized
before testing the circuit."
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Preventive Electrical Maintenance from McPhee
How Does This Effect You?
As a facility owner, you
are responsible for
safety of ALL workers
on site and cannot pass
off the liability by hiring
contractors.
• Modification to current operating
practices?
If you own facilities such
as:
• Quarries
• Concrete Plants
• Asphalt Plants
• Sand Plants
• Garages
• Offices
• Change to training requirements?
– Do you allow employees and contractors
to work on live electrical equipment?
Procedure?
– Lock out/Tag out procedures
– Identify who is a ‘qualified person’ and
who is an ‘unqualified person’
• Change to site contractor
requirements?
– Are your contractors trained AND
following procedure?
• Proactive or reactive?
– Are you getting out ahead or will you be
pulled kicking and screaming?
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Preventive Electrical Maintenance from McPhee
Tilcon, Inc. as an Example
Analysis
Site Survey
Model
Mitigate
Label
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Preventive Electrical Maintenance from McPhee
The rest of the construction industry?
• Electrical Workers
– Can the work be done deenergized?
– Threshold is ‘creating a greater
(safety) hazard’ – not
inconvenience or cost
– Decision making in the absence of
an incident energy calculation
• Non-electrical workers
As a subcontractor, owners
are beginning to require
specific details related to
PPE and Arc Flash.
– If they are not trained, they should
certainly not be inside energized
electrical gear
– If energized electrical work is being
performed, they should be out of
the ‘approach boundaries’
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Preventive Electrical Maintenance from McPhee
Conclusions
The Key Question: Can it be done de-energized?
It’s important . . . . . personnel, $, liability
It’s coming . . . . . proactively or reactively
Beware . . . . . know what your buying
You’re responsible . . . . . for everyone on site
We can help . . . . . protect what matters!
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Preventive Electrical Maintenance from McPhee
Questions?
Mike Balinskas
Director, Business Development
mikeb@powerhawke.com
860.677.9797 x 360
203.623.3804 (cell)
CCIA Safety Committee
SAFETY ROUNDTABLE
“Knowledge without confidence is fear;
Confidence without knowledge is folly.”
April 10, 2012
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Preventive Electrical Maintenance from McPhee