Thank to everyone who responded to last month's Hazard Risk Category Survey. With a total of 118 respondents, it was interesting to see the results.

HRC 2 was the most widely picked category showing forty-five respondents. Closely following was HRC 4 with twenty-nine respondents. HRC 0 had thirteen respondents, HRC 1 had twelve and finally HRC 3 shows nine. Eight of you chose "all of the above" and only two picked "none of the above".

The stand by of HRC 0 for Operators

HRC 2 for Electrically Qualified Workers

HRC 3 or 4 for Flash Suits seems to be holding.

We will split the survey a little soon to see how many use coveralls over HRC 0 vs. using HRC 2 all day long.  Another survey will see what your favorite fabrics are.

Take the survey now, results will be published in next month's newsletter.

Did you know that almost every state has a reimbursement/grant program that your facility can be utilizing for safety training?

e-Hazard has started a new website page to assist you in finding this training money.  You do not have to use e-Hazard to use the money and the money can be used for many types of training.  We had just had several ask and Jennifer wanted to put up a page to help.

In 1998, Congress passed the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) to reform federal job training programs and create a new, comprehensive workforce investment system. The reformed system is intended to be customer-focused, to help Americans access the tools they need to manage their careers through information and high quality services, and to help U.S. companies find skilled workers.

e-Hazard has put together a list of state programs designed to help employer's cut the cost of training for their workers.

On e-hazard.com under the "Free Training" tab you will find the State Funding for Electrical Training page, check it out to see how you can benefit from these programs.

• Lee Hale (NFPA 70E Member)
• Hugh Hoagland (NFPA 70E Taskforce Member)
• Bill Shinn (ASTM F18 Member and NFPA 70E Attendee)

Visit the e-Hazard.com Webinar. Click the UPCOMING tab to see and sign up for the NFPA 70E-2012 Preview Changes Webinar.

The attendance of our South African Conference with IDT on arc flash was well attended.  With a total of 67 total attendees, including representatives from Eskom, Sasoil, ArcelorMittal and many others.  The conference included our NFPA 70E training and arc flash basics.  Several companies offered some insight into the SA market for arc flash clothing which is being met internally by several quality manufacturers.  Testing is catching up with the development.  The most impactful information is a goal from the South African Bureau of Statistics to start tracking electrical fatalities by the events.  Current statistics are done by location rather than type of injury.  South Africa's SANS 724 allows the IEC or ASTM route for compliance and recommends using NFPA 70E.

A real step forward as other countries consider standards approaches.  This approach leaves the country open for EU centric PPE solutions or US centric PPE solutions. 

The last official meeting of "ISSA Guideline for the selection of personal protective clothing when exposed to the thermal effects of an electric arc" guide has ended with a near completion of the 2011 slated publishing of the document.  This will explain the IEC, ASTM and other related standards and world research on PPE for arc flash exposures.  ISSA (International Social Security Association) is an assocoation of international worker's compensation insurance organizations and companies with the goal of protecting workers worldwide.  Hugh has been a member of this committee since the first draft in 2002.  This Guideline and others are free from ISSA and designed to promote the use of consensus standards for worker protection.  

Representatives include Czech, German, UK & Canadian electric utilities, test labs, fabric manufacturers and universities.  Meeting are all volunteer and the guidelines are online for international download at http://www.issa.int

The 2011 Guideline will be available before then end of the year and includes mention of IEEE 1584, IEC 61482-1-1
and 1-2, many ASTM International Standards, CAN/UL S801, IEEE-NESC and NFPA 70E.  There is still no work practice standard in Europe.

Many have heard Drake Drobnick, Al Havens or Hugh Hoagland give the 7 Electrical Safety Habits Presentation.  Now you can have this 45 min training on DVD for your safety meeting.

Get across the 7 Electrical Safety Habits that save electrical workers lives time after time.

Purchase the DVD from e-Hazard.com and receive our handouts and test for free to document the training.

Visit the e-Hazard online store for many other DVD's and resources for electrical safety training.

7 Electrical Safety Habits DVD Online Purchase

e-Hazard.com Electrical Safety Training Store