Arc Flash Hazards:
Are Your Workers Protected?
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269 Final Rule
Because every life has a purpose...
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269 Final Rule
An arc occurs when flowing current leaves its intended
conductor, traveling through air to another conductor or to the
ground. The resulting flashover can cause fire, damage to
property, severe burns, and even death to individuals within
close proximity. Circumstances that can create arc occurrences
include electrical equipment malfunction (spontaneous arc)
and failure to take proper precautions when working on
energized circuits (inadvertent arc).
Arc flashes can produce blast pressure upwards of 2,000 lbs. per
square foot; temperatures from an arc can reach 35,000° F.
Sound blast decibel levels can rival that of a gunshot.†
Accordingly, fall protection equipment for affected workers
must reflect specific needs.
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269, Electric Power Generation,
Transmission, and Distribution Final Rule is a recentlyreleased update of a 40-year-old standard, and all requirements
are now in effect. This Standard intends to reduce the number
of injuries and falls from heights related to arc flash exposure
within the electric utility industry and other facilities that are
subject to similar potential hazards. Significant changes within
these new requirements include up-to-date fall protection and
positioning requirements for tower and other structural
climbing, as well as elimination of an exception for freeclimbing hazards.
Certain aspects concerning fall protection personal protective
equipment (PPE) of non-regulatory ASTM (American Society
for Testing and Materials) F887-11 Standard for Personal
Climbing Equipment have been employed in creating this
Final Rule. Arc flash (AF) rated designation for personal
protective equipment (PPE) requires that products resist high
heat and maintain necessary structural integrity.
Differences between OSHA’s rules for general industry and for
construction have been streamlined for consistency. Brief,
relevant sections of the final rule have been quoted directly and
are italicized within this document. This bulletin is intended as
an overview; please visit www.osha.gov/dsg/power_generation/
to review OSHA CFR 1910.269 in full.
Electrical Arc Hazard Protection:
OSHA 1910.269(L)(8)
Employers are now required to assess their workplaces to
determine those workers who are exposed to electrical arc
hazards. In addition, the Standard now provides requirements
for arc flash-rated fall protection equipment. Equipment rated
as such is not, however, intended to prevent all injuries, but is
intended to mitigate the impact of arc flash, should one occur.
A common example of a potential arc hazard exposure
concerns bucket truck workers in close proximity to power lines.
Exposure may potentially result in burn injuries to workers due
to melted webbing and compromised fall arrest capability,
unless the equipment can withstand arc flash.
• Employers must estimate incident heat energy of arc
hazards to which workers would be exposed, and must
provide those workers with protective clothing and other
protective equipment with an arc rating greater than or
equal to the estimated heat energy.
• Employers must
ensure that employees
who are exposed to electric arc
hazards do not wear clothing that can
melt onto skin or ignite and continue
to burn when exposed to arc flash.
Minimum Approach Distances:
OSHA 1910.269(L)(3)
Controlled Product Testing:
ASTM F887
To help safeguard unprotected workers from hazardous close
proximity to energized lines and equipment, the Standard
provides newly updated determination methods. Concerning
voltages higher than 72.5 kilovolts, employers must determine
maximum anticipated per-unit transient overvoltage, phase to
ground, through an engineering analysis, or assume maximum
anticipated per-unit transient overvoltage, phase-to-ground,
in accordance with Table R-9 or Table V-8, [of the standard]
respectively.
In order for fall protection to be ASTM F887-certified, the
harness or lanyard must self-extinguish within five seconds after
being subjected to an arc flash of 40 cal/cm2 and cannot melt
or drip. ASTM F887 outlines performance requirements of
personal protective equipment for arc flash resistance; arc flash
ratings assigned to personal protective equipment reflect at
least minimum arc resistance performance criteria. Testing
parameters must consider arc exposure, heat transmission
variability and convective and radiant energy.
Approach distance requirements from energized lines and
equipment for unprotected workers have been revised in the
final rule. Mechanical equipment must be insulated for voltages
involved, and positioned so that uninsulated portions cannot
approach lines or equipment any closer than minimum
approach distances specified in the standard.
Fall Protection
Conductivity is a related subject worth mentioning that can
cause confusion for users of arc flash fall protection equipment,
as conductivity is a separate safety concern from that of arc
flash protection. Arc flash products are designed to resist high
heat and energy; conductivity concerns a product’s ability to
conduct electricity. Typically, methods used to reduce personal
protective equipment conductivity involve PVC-coated
hardware designed to insulate metal hardware away from
workers. However, this practice may not eliminate all
risk; OSHA and ASTM F887 do not address electrical
conductivity of fall protection equipment as no formal
test method exists. Exposed metal components such as
D-rings and buckles used on arc flash fall arrest equipment
are still commonly used.
Fall protection arc flash and flame resistance are determined by
performance of textiles and metals when subjected to flashover,
open flame and radiant heat.†† Webbing must have 7,000-lb.
tensile strength; harnesses are tested to self-extinguish within
five seconds after arc flash exposure and cannot melt or drip.
Furthermore, fall arrest equipment must pass a drop test after
arc exposure with heat energy of 40±5 cal/cm2, if workers using
the equipment are exposed to electrical arc hazards. The harness
must maintain its integrity after undergoing the ANSI Z359.11
dynamic drop test using a 282 lb. test torso.
Eye & Face Protection
Arc flash-rated eye/face protection products such as faceshields,
safety spectacles and goggles are subject to ASTM F2178-2008
testing methods involving generation of heat flux values from
84 to 25 120 kW/m2 [2 to 600 cal/cm2s]. Optical and impact
properties of head/eye/face gear may be tested as well.
Arc flash-rated (AF) products are designed to resist heat from
an electrical arc flash. AF-designated products have been
tested to applicable standards to maintain the required
level of strength and performance with the ability to resist
heat. Always look for the arc flash symbol for easy
identification.
* Understanding Arc Flash, Workplace Safety Awareness Council
* Department of Health & Human Services, Arc Flash Awareness, NIOSH Publication No. 2007–116D
** Department of Health & Human Services, Arc Flash Awareness, NIOSH Publication No. 2007–116D
†† www.astm.org/Standards/F2178.htm
www. MSAsafety.com
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Solutions
MSA provides solutions for those who work on utility job sites and within industrial and other facilities
where arc flash-related potential hazards may exist. Arc flash-rated head, eye, face, and fall protection
products are the smartest course of action and in many cases are now required for employees who are
determined to be at risk. MSA offers Fall Protection Competent Person training that can be customized
to OSHA CFR 1910.269 to include requirements and equipment used by affected workers. MSA can also
perform site analyses or demonstrations to help determine and solve potential electrical hazards.
HEAD, EYE, AND FACE
PROTECTION
FALL PROTECTION
EVOTECH® Arc Flash
Full Body Harness
MSA EVOTECH Arc Flash
Harness is the premium
choice for outstanding
arc flash protection for
workers at heights.
Made from 100% Kevlar
webbing, the EVOTECH
Arc Flash Harness is
fire-resistant to maintain
performance in the
event of a fall after an
arc flash.
Workman® Arc Flash
Full Body Harness
MSA Workman Arc
Flash Harness is the
economical choice
for workers needing
protection for arc flash
and fall arrest. Highstrength nylon is
designed to maintain
integrity after exposure
to arc flash and in the
event of a fall.
Gravity®
Utility Harness
ArcSafe®
Energy-Absorbing Lanyard
V-Gard®
Arc Visors
Also meeting all
requirements of ASTM
F887 standard, the
Gravity Utility Harness
is a versatile full body
harness that can be
used in diverse
applications such as
confined space, rescue,
transmission tower,
telecom tower, rope
access, and many others.
Providing electrical arc flash
protection, ArcSafe Lanyards
use tear-tape design to keep
fall arrest forces below 900lbs.
ArcSafe Energy-Absorbing
Lanyards connect the back
D-ring of MSA full-body
harnesses to a qualified
anchorage and anchorage
connector.
These PC visors are engineered
to help protect against impact
and dangerous arc flash hazards,
when used as an ensemble with
V-Gard Helmet, frame and chin
protector. These products are
ideal for electrical workers and
electricians working with
high-voltage connections.
Resources
• OSHA CFR 1910.269: www.osha.gov/dsg/power_generation/
• OSHA 1910.269 Appendix E – Protection from Flames and Electric Arcs for guidance as to estimating available heat energy.
• Training Requirements in OSHA Standards and Training Guidelines, Voluntary Training Guidelines, Section III, to assess employee risk
to electrical hazards including electrical shock, arc flash or arc blast.
Note: This Bulletin contains only a general
description of the products shown. While uses
and performance capabilities are described,
under no circumstances shall the products be
used by untrained or unqualified individuals
and not until the product instructions
including any warnings or cautions provided
have been thoroughly read and understood.
Only they contain the complete
and detailed information
concerning proper use and
care of these products.
ID 5500-025-MC / May 2016
© MSA 2016 Printed in U.S.A.
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