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NEW ASTM F2733 Flash Fire Rainwear Standard Online
Arc Flash MESH Vests meet F1506
NESC Preprint for Sale Online
FREE Webcast on 70E and Layering
MAX FINE by OSHA on Arc Flash
Burn up the Myth: Training only for Electricians?
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  September 2009

Dear ArcLetter Member,

The ArcWear™ Electric Arc and Flash Fire Newsletter is a quick update on Flame Resistant Clothing issues and news from OSHA and standards committees. The newsletter is FREE, reaches over 17,000 people and will bring you up to date on the issues that surround flame resistant clothing for flash fire hazards and the electric arc. For previous newsletters or to sign up, visit http://www.arcwear.com
ArcWear™ Arc Testing Dates
Need Arc Testing?
 
2009
 
Sept 21-24
Oct 5-6 Blanket Testing Only
Oct 26-29
Nov 23-26 
 
ASTM F1959, ASTM F2178, ASTM F887 fall protection arc testing and mannequin testing at the Kinectrics Lab in
Toronto on the dates above.
 
Ship materials or clothing to:
Hugh Hoagland
ArcWear.com
13113 Eastpoint Park Blvd.
Suite E
Louisville, KY
40223
PH: 502-314-7158
[email protected]  
We must receive one week before the test date for sample preparation or make arrangements to ship to lab. New and non US/Canadian Customers must make payment before test date.  Testing is offered on a first come/first served basis with priority for consulting customers.  New policy: $100 per material for prep/washing and cutting panels and $100 for international report shipping. No guarantee is made of when testing will occur.
ESW 2010 Get Signed Up
IEEE ESW 2010Sign up today for the 2010 ESW Memphis, TN February 1-5, 2010
There are a few things I attend every year and one is the PCIC Electrical Safety Workshop.  You should too.  This is the best conference on the latest in electrical safety.  The papers are VERY practical and up-to-date. 
 
NEW ASTM Standard Specification for Flame Resistant Rainwear for Flame Hazards
ASTM F2733 is Now Available OnlineASTM International Logo
ASTM F1891 has been out for quite some time for arc flash, flame resistant rainwear. But some rainwear is tested for flash fire hazards and had no standard.  ASTM F2733 is the first standard for flame resistant rainwear that doesn't focus on arc flash.  Many companies sold rainwear they called flame resistant but they NEVER met any applicable standard which had been peer-reviewed as adequate for a flame hazard.  They were always just tests. 
 
This is a specification which calls for a battery of tests that can correlate to what happens in a flash fire.  It includes the ASTM F1930 flash fire mannequin test. This will be THE standard if you really want flame resistant rainwear for flash fire exposures.  Most rainwear which meets ASTM F1891 will also meet F2733 but each has a different focus.  NASCO has compliant rainwear to date and others will be rushing to get theirs certified to the new standard.  Most haven't done the F1930 testing.  This is as big a win for protection of flash fire exposed workers as F1891 was for arc flash.
 
 
 
Arc Flash MESH Vests
 Arc Flash Mesh Vest F1506NSA Offers MESH F1506 Vest
I could be wrong but I believe this is the first arc rated MESH vest offering.  This has an arc rating and could make the heat issue go away on modacrylic vests.  Don't depend on it for high level arc flash protection.  It is designed to be worn OVER a shirt but it will not melt like most vests that claim to be flame resistant. They usually are not.  This type of material may be the new standard in arc flash vests for ANSI 107 AND F1506 compliance. 
 
NESC Preprint For Sale Online
NESC 2007NESC (National Electrical Safety Code)2012 Preprint Online at IEEE For Fee 
Basically this is the NEC for electric utilities T&D systems.  It's safety section is now the primary source for utilities.  Unlike NFPA 70E the NESC preprint is fee based but it can be downloaded at the address below.
 
FREE Webcast on 70E and Layering
Hugh Hoagland asked to share webcast with DRIFIRE at Industrial Hygiene News
This webcast will cover several aspects of NFPA 70E Hugh Hoagland Arc Flash Expertand layering focusing on the new issues of non-FR underlayers and their limits.  The seminar is free and online, September 15 at 1PM EST.
 
Tracy Linton will share a few minutes on the DRIFIRE story and FR undergarments.  Hugh will share new layering data and understanding on how underlayers affect worker safety and comfort.
 
Maximum Fine by OSHA on Arc Flash by Electrical Contractor
OSHA Logo $148,000 Fine to Boston-Area Electrical Contractor in Arc Flash Incident
Two articles of interest here.  First is an OSHA citation of an electric contractor.  The other is an article encouraging using quality, safe electrical contractors. More and more electrical contractors are following NFPA 70E or NESC because of the business implications.
 
 
NECA has an article of interest to electrical contractors that this 2009 citation illustrates.  Companies are starting to look hard at electrical contractors as possible liabilities.  Only those with a documented safety record are going to be used by a diligent company.  Too much liability with unsafe acts in electrical contractors.  High quality contractors have been getting electrical safety training, doing internal and external safety audits and providing and training on PPE for shock and arc flash using NFPA 70E and NESC.
 
Burn up the Myth: Electrical Safety Training Only for Electricians?
 
Question: We are considering an electrical safety training, audit and written program but in reading NFPA 70E it sounds like some of this covers almost every employee in our company.  How can we do that realistically?  Does everyone need 8 hours or more of NFPA 70E training?

Answer: The simple answer is no.  Everyone doesn't need 8 hours of training on electrical safety.  Some need more some much less.  You are correct about NFPA 70E.  Actually it isn't intended to be for electricians only.  It is actually aptly titled, "Standard for Electrical Safety
in the Workplace�"  It applies to anyone working near or performing electrical tasks.  Every employee should be trained on the aspects of electrical safety that related to their job.  We have developed training programs for companies for affected workers, qualified workers, task qualified workers, supervisors, management and even office workers to help companies comply with OSHA requirements and NFPA 70E requirements.  Both groups make training a performance based activity.  No time limits, no prescriptive formulas.  Some companies have 45 minutes of electrical safety built into their orientation safety training for all workers, 2-4 hours for operations folks 8+ hours for maintenance workers and 16+ hours for multi-task electricians.  This is ONLY safety training, not including skills proficiency demonstration and qualified training.  The standard requires audits and supervisory inspections which are on going training events and specialized training in PPE, meter operation and safety and many other things.  So you read the standard right.  Almost everyone needs some training but your program must decide how much it takes to meet the requirements for your people. 
 
An example of a training document the government finds important for every worker to know is below:
 
Our newsletter is sponsored by many companies around the world.  If you have ideas for articles or have questions, don't hesitate to write.
 
Sincerely,

Hugh Hoagland
ArcWear.com
13113 Eastpoint Park Blvd. Suite E
Louisville, KY 40223
PH: 502-314-7158