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In This Issue
Updated 2012 Classes
April Survey Results
May Survey Question
OSHA Fines this Month
Q&A:
Q&A: DANGER: over 40 cal/cm2 Exposure
OREX FR Coveralls
Arc Test Dates
Complimentary 2011 NEC Code Book
Electrical Safety News
> 5000 Trained by E-Hazard
Alcoa Contract
2012 Low Voltage DVD Course
Zipper Fact
Tanzania Training
Clip-Style ArcSuspenders
Arc Flash Study Training

Sponsor

Fuse used

 Norafin

Sponsor

Walls FR

Walls

Sponsor

Superior Glove
Superior Glove 

Sponsor

Milliken Logo

Sponsor

e-Hazard Trainer Speaking Events

e-Hazard Trainers including Hugh Hoagland, Bill Shinn, Lee Hale, Drake Drobnick, Al Havens, Daleep Mohla and others speak at events all over the world. Here are some events where you can find us:

  

 IEEE-PPIC 

Portland, OR
June 17 - June 21, 2012     
Hugh Hoagland

Lenzing Seminar
Salzburg, Austria
July 8 - July 12
Hugh Hoagland 

 

28th Annual National VPPPA Conference 

Anaheim, CA

August 19 - August 23, 2012

Hugh Hoagland

 

DOE ESW

Los Alamos, NM

October 8 - October 12, 2012

Hugh Hoagland

 

FISST Safety Show

Sao Paulo, Brazil

October 3 - October 10, 2012

Hugh Hoagland

 

National Safety Council 

Orlando, FL    October 21- October 26, 2012

Hugh Hoagland

 

Upcoming Classes

 

NFPA 70E 2012 Electrical Safety in the Workplace 

LOW VOLTAGE QUALIFIED

  NFPA 70E-2012 CLASSES 

  

Tacoma, WA

June 5, 2012

 

Phoenix, AZ

June 5, 2012

 

Knoxville, TN

June 26, 2012

 

Greensboro, NC

June 29, 2012

  

Torrance, CA

July 24, 2012

 

Louisville, KY

August 6, 2012

 

Deerfield, IL

August 14, 2012

 

Atlanta, GA

August 28, 2012

 

Tentative / August:

Deer Park, TX

(call for details)

 

Louisville, KY

December 3, 2012

-----------------------

 

HIGH VOLTAGE QUALIFIED CLASSES

 

 Louisville, KY

August 7, 2012

 

Louisville, KY

December 4, 2012

---------------------------

 

TRAIN THE TRAINER CLASSES

 

LV HV Train the Trainer

 Louisville, KY

August 6-9, 2012

 

LV HV Train the Trainer

Louisville, KY

December 3-6, 2012

------------------------

 

 CONTACT US TO SCHEDULE FUTURE TRAININGS 

 

Click here to view e-Hazard training calendar.

2012 NSC Expo
  
October 21-26, 2012
Orlando, FL
Featured Product
Dickie's 

Dickie's Electrician's Belt

Featured Product
Carhartt

Carhartt Electrician's Belt
Featured Product
NEW ArcSuspender with arc tested clips
Arc Flash Suspender Detail
Arc Flash Suspender
 


Our Sponsors
  

Sponsor

Fuse used

Sponsor

Milliken Logo

Sponsor

Superior Glove

Sponsor

Walls FR
Walls
Sponsor
 
Updated 2012 Classes
 
LV Book Cover  
 
 
Over 350 trainers have been through the Low Voltage (LV) and High Voltage (HV) Train the Trainer course with e-Hazard, and are qualified to teach using e-Hazard materials.  More trainers use e-Hazard training materials than all our competitors combined. 
  
Come to a class or attend our  Train the Trainer course and experience the e-Hazard difference.  Competitors welcome.
 
 Low Voltage & LV Refresher
 High Voltage & HV Refresher
LV & HV Train the Trainer
 Operator's Class
 NESC 
OSHA 10 Hour

We also schedule on-site custom  classes at your place of employment.  E-Hazard can design a training program around your company's unique electric safety program needs. We've designed specific training for several industries around the country and around the world including petrochemical, waste management, welding, automotive, communications, military, metals and much more.
 
 
 
Quick Links
 

MAY 2012

Dear ArcLetter Member,

 

The ArcWear™ e-Hazard.com Electric Arc and Safety Newsletter provides a quick update on Arc Rated and Flame Resistant Clothing issues and news from OSHA and standards committees. The newsletter is FREE, reaches over 14,000 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 or http://www.e-Hazard.com

April Survey Results:  PPE system greater than 1.2 to 12 cal/cm�
   
 APRIL SURVEY RESULTS:
 

2012 NFPA 70E Annex H.3 was changed to allow a 
1.2 
cal/cm� to 12 cal/cm� PPE system.  

Has your company implemented this approach?

 

Comments from Survey-Takers:

1. My company has a two-category arc flash PPE approach. Daily wear 8 cal/cm2 (HRC's 2 and below) and 40 cal/cm2 (HRC's 3 and 4).

2. This just confuses the issue of what PPE is required.

3. Even if our labeling has been done following arc flash studies, we had already implemented the approach based on defined hazard/risk categories since 2009 and impacts would have been too large with not enough value added.

4. We are currently deciding further action on this and how we will further implement it.

5. We calculate IE levels at each piece of equipment. The normally worn AR clothing is rated 8.6 (shirt) and 12.6 (pants). When the IE level is >8 a sweatshirt (AR rating 17) is worn over the shirt. A 12 cal faceshield is worn with an optional balaclava. This covers ~95% of the equipment on site. For higher exposures we use special procedures and higher rated AR suits.

6. It could change in the future, but for now we are keeping the minimum 8 cal clothing for every day use and continuing up to 40 cal for task oriented work as governed by the arc label on the equipment as per analysis.

May Survey:  
   
 SURVEY QUESTION:
 
Has a detailed engineering Hazard/Risk Analysis been completed at your facility? 
Fuse used 
 
 
Fines by OSHA on Electrical Hazards

Most citations include electrical hazards. 

 

Fuse used




Q&A:  

 Q&A:  DANGER:  Over 40 cal/cm� Exposure

 

Q.   We just had our Arc Flash Analysis completed and we now have some Arc Flash labels that say "DANGER - > 40 cal/cm exposure; no PPE found". We have 65 cal/cm arc flash suits; can we use those?  Chuck

 

A.  A very good question; I'll do my best to answer it. The 40 cal/cm cut off point is a misinterpretation of a statement in NFPA 70E.  The statement intends to warn that IF your hazard is greater than 40 cal you should consider arc blast in your hazard assessment.  The statement does not require DANGER in the label and doesn't require PPE to be no greater than 40 CAL but some arc calculation software mistakenly interpreted this that way.  The evidence does not support this approach. 

 

Arc Blast has no correlation to incident energy (cal/cm�). Incident energy is a function of several parameters including time of the exposure, fault current area configuration (box size, location and room size/shape) and worker distance from the arc.  Only two of these is related to blast pressure: fault current.  If NFPA 70E had evidence more than an anecdotal door blown off here and there, they would have required a certain fault current or location type for no work to occur but the means to predict arc blast is not yet is place. This is one of the reasons IEEE 1584 is considering charging for the software in a way to protect the intellectual property.  The steering committeee wants to do more arc flash research.  But there is NOT a requirement to NOT do work do any work over 40 cal/cm� is nor is there any requirement that there NOT be any PPE >40 cal/cm�. The current standards have a practical cut off at about 100 cal/cm� though some have found non standard means to test >100.  Fault current is the only practical cutoff and that has not been set.

 

Annex F in NFPA 70E is a risk evaluation matrix to provide you with information on how to perform tasks that are of a higher risk, above the 40 cal/cm value, to establish a safe work zone.

 

For instance, the task might be replacing a branch circuit breaker in the switchgear in question.  You can use annex F to determine your risk for the specific task of opening the main breaker to create a safe work zone to replace the branch breaker. The risk would be too high to replace the branch circuit breaker in an energized state and would require an energized work permit also.

 

Over the years we have heard many stories about the blast effect above 40 cal/cm. We know there is a blast effect, just how large it is and how it affects the human body we don't know. More research will need to be completed to fully understand and determine a safe level of blast.

 

Years ago I worked with a Motor Control Center manufacturer developing an arc resistant MCC. We found the smallest MCC bucket had the largest destructive blast effect, yet the cal/cm was the same throughout the MCC.

 

Utilize Annex F to determine your risk for the specific task above the 40 cal/cm exposure to create a safe work zone.  Look at your data in the study to determine exactly what is the cal/cm2 of exposure. You might find the exposure is 44 cal/cm2 and the software defaulted to DANGER for any task above 40 cal/cm2. You may find the risk is simply too high to operate the main disconnect and you'll need to perform the task another way, for instance, open all the branch breakers to reduce the load on the transformer, then open the High Voltage primary switch where the exposure is less.

 

In my personal opinion, if answer from Annex F indicates a very high probability, FIND ANOTHER WAY to de-energize the equipment. 

 

For more info on arc blast, see this IEEE paper and others listed in previous articles in the newsletter.

 

Specialized PPE Testing for Electric Arc Hazards Beyond Heat Exposure, Tom Neal & Roger Parry

 

Lee Hale & Hugh Hoagland

e-Hazard Partners

 

Fuse used

 

 Email e-Hazard or ArcWear with a question!

Orex Arc Rated Coverall

 

For application where nuclear particulates could be an issue the OREX CS5000 coverall that is arc-rated at 9.2 cal/cm2 and meets ASTM F1506 and can be dissolved in a solvent to remove the contamination.  This allows nuclear plants to safely dispose of the garments without incineration.

 

OREX CS5000 Coverall Spec Sheet 12-2011

 

Click here to visit OREX website.

 

Click here to visit the coverall webpage.

 

 

ArcWear™ Arc Testing Dates
ArcWear™ Testing
 
 Jun 25-29
July 16-20
Aug 13-17
Sept 17-21
Oct 29-Nov 2
Nov 26-30
Dec 10-14
Jan 14-18

 

ASTM F1959, ASTM F2178, ASTM F887 fall protection arc testing and mannequin testing are scheduled 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: 502-333-0510
[email protected]   
We must receive materials or clothing one week before the test date for sample preparation, or make arrangements to ship to the lab in Canada. 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. 
Policies:
  • $100 per material for prep/washing and cutting panels; ($200 for items arriving less than 7 days before test date to cover preparation overtime)
  • $200 for shipping a signed hard-copy report internationally

No guarantee is made of when testing will occur; we do all in our power to test within one month of receipt.  

  

All ArcWear.com testing is performed at Kinectrics High Current lab in Toronto, Canada.  Kinectrics is an ISO 17025 accredited lab by the Standards Council of Canada.
                        
Complimentary 2011 NEC Code Book
Get a complimentary 2011 NEC® Code Book upon your purcFuse usedhase of a necplus� yearly subscription by June 30th. The Code Book will be shipped directly to you.

Be sure to enter Priority Code V7-FAS-1Z when subscribing online to get the free Softbound Code Book. 
Electrical Safety News
05-18-2012 16:12:44 PM

High Roller Wells Pearsall SWD #1 Ltd of Pearsall, TX, was cited for serious safety violations following an explosion and fire. Violations included failing to ensure that equipment and electrical wiring are rated for the environment in which they are being used, take necessary precautions to prevent possible ignition sources such as sparks or static [...]...�

05-18-2012 16:07:02 PM

American Foods Group of Sharonville, OH, was cited for 7 safety violations. Repeat violation involved failure to conduct periodic and regular inspections of lockout procedures for the energy sources of equipment. Six serious violations involved failing to train employees who service equipment so that they are authorized to implement the energy control program, train employees [...]...�

05-18-2012 15:06:10 PM

Wrayco Industries Inc. of Stow, OH, has been cited with 14 serious safety and health violations. Included in the safety violations was failure to develop machine-specific lockout/tagout procedures to control hazardous energy, and failure to use electrical equipment according to labels and listings. Additionally, serious health violations involved failure to provide a written hazard communication program. Click [...]...�

05-18-2012 13:56:27 PM

This is a great article highlighting the importance of safety in an entire organization. Good quotes: "The absence of injuries does not mean the presence of safety. You can have an organization with no injuries that's very unsafe-and extremely lucky." "The goal in my mind should always be zero (injury and incident rate). We may [...]...�

05-18-2012 13:54:46 PM

A Tecvac machine operator in Cambridge was seriously injured last July while checking new cables on a hardening machine. He was shocked, leaving open wounds to his forearm and left palm, and burns on left arm and knee. The company was fined for not having prevented access to the live parts of the cables, not [...]...�

05-18-2012 13:54:24 PM

SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrest) is not a heart attack (lack of blood), but rather involves the heart's electrical impulses. CPR and AED (automated external defib) are needed when employees experience SCA in the workplace. 13% of workplace fatalities are due to SCA, with survival rates of only 1-5% if occuring outside of a hospital. If trained [...]...�

05-18-2012 13:53:01 PM

An employee of a contractor hired for a construction project was electrocuted while working on a utility pole in Dixon County Feed Yard in Allen, NE. Click here to read the AP article dated 4/25/12....�

05-18-2012 13:52:11 PM

Ansell has launched a new glove series called PowerFlex� 80-813 for improved protection against arc flash, combining flame resistance, cut resistance and ergonomics. These gloves are arc-rated for HRC2, with a rating of 12.0 cal/cm2. Click here to read the Press Release by Ansell dated 4/24/12....�

05-18-2012 13:50:25 PM

A bill allowing licensed electricians to supervise two apprentices at a time instead of just one was signed into law by Maine Governor Paul LePage on 4-19-12. In addition, the law also removed the fee required for students to get a helper's license when enrolled in high school or college electrical programs. The intent is [...]...�

05-18-2012 13:47:55 PM

Bartlett Grain of Atchison, KS, was cited by OSHA for willful and serious safety violations in response to the October 2011 grain elevator explosion tragedy. The willful violations include allowing grain dust - which is nine times as explosive as coal dust - to accumulate, using compressed air to remove dust without first shutting down [...]...�

> 5000 Trained Since 2010

E-Hazard has trained more than 5000 in our electrical workplace safety classes during the past two years (notwithstanding training classes specific to certain companies).   

 

 Classes--2 Years

 

In attendance have been Safety Managers & Directors, Engineers of all sorts, Technical Specialists, Supervisors, Wiremen,  Technicians, Superintendants, Owners, Field Training Managers, Presidents & Vice Presidents, Inspectors, Construction Reps, Project Managers, Controls Managers, Electricians, Journeymen,  Manufacturing Reps, Specialists of many fields, Foremen, Fire Marshalls, Consultants, Planners, Salesmen, EHS Specialists, General Counsels, Repairmen, HVAC-Wastewater-Electronics-Maintenance-Production Personnel, E&I, Coordinators, Wind Technicians, Commissioners, HSE, Lead men, Mechanics, and thousands more.

 

States to which we have travelled or provided training during these past two years have included AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NH, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, and WA.

 

The e-Hazard training team is the most experienced in the business with more than 200 years working for some of the largest companies in the United States and Canada. Our trainers know what your people experience in the field each day and focus the training accordingly --- on real-world scenarios and practical applications.  In addition, e-Hazard trainers are active, established members of the national and international electric safety community with advanced degrees in electrical engineering and behavioral science. Several of our trainers are licensed electricians as well. Many serve on key legislative, utility, and industry committees making their insights into electrical safety as cutting-edge as it is practical.

 

We consistently receive high marks in our program & instructor evaluations (which are a required component of every class).   We aim to have the highest quality electrical safety training available.

 

We take our motto very seriously here....

 E-Hazard:  Helping people who work around electricity

go home safely to their families.

  

If we may be of service to you, feel free to contact us.

 [email protected] 

502.716.7073

Alcoa Contract
E-Hazard is very pleased to announce the signing of a 3-year agreement to provide electrical workplace safety training and services for Alcoa.
We'll be writing and providing Train the Trainer services for Alcoa and they will be using our workbooks in their training. This offer is open to other corporations and over 350 trainers have gone through e-Hazard's Train the Trainer to use our LV, HV and NESC Training. 
2012 Low Voltage Qualified Video Course
 
Our new 2012 version of the Low Voltage Qualified NFPA 70E course is now available for purchase.  This course has been updated to reflect the 2012 NFPA 70E.
 
The 2012 LV DVD Consulting Package includes the video as taught by myself, 5 of the NFPA 70E standard books, 5 of the e-Hazard Low Voltage Qualified student workbooks, 5 exams, grading of exams, up to 1 hour webinar/phone consultation to discuss class and tests,  5 Certificates of Completion (for students with >70% score), and ground shipping to your location.
 
Additional 'seats' are available to accommodate groups larger than 5.
 
7 Electrical Safety Habits
Interesting Fact....
 

An electrical engineer invented the zipper. He moved from Sweden to Canada and worked for Westinghouse. In 2012 the electrical safety standard NFPA 70E now requires zippers to be flame resistant and non-melting at 500 degrees F for 30 minute in an oven. Most of these zippers will now be used in arc flash clothing which is arc rated.

 

Gideon Sundbäck - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Background. Otto Fredrik Gideon Sundback was born on Sonarp farm in �destugu Parish, in J�nk�ping County, Sm�land, Sweden. He was the son of Jonas Otto Magnusson Sundb�ck, a prosperous farmer, and his...

Tanzania Training
 

Zarheer Jooma, instructor for E-Hazard, recently presented the Low Voltage Qualified NFPA 70E course to African Barrick Gold Company's mines in Tanzania, South Africa.

 

Clip-Style Arc-Suspenders
  

Arc Flash Suspender Detail

Per request from customers, ArcStore is now carrying Clip-Style Arc-Suspenders.  These are arc- tested to 50 cal/cm2 and are crafted in the USA from PBI/Kevlar and FR neoprene.

 

We still have several of the Belt-Loop-Style ArcSuspenders in stock, but will discontinue when supplies are sold-out. 

  

Arc Flash Study Training Following Low Voltage Class in Torrance, CA
  

E-Hazard will be conducting a  Low Voltage Qualified NFPA 70E Electrical Workplace Safety course in Torrance, CA, on Tuesday, July 24th.  

  

Following will be two days of Arc Flash Study training by our sponsor, SKM Systems Analysis:

  

SKM Systems Analysis, Inc. is proud to present a two-day managerial arc flash course on how to conduct and review an arc flash study to maintain worker safety.  Attendees will receive insight on how to review a safety program and mitigate unknown issues before they arise.  The course will cover what needs to be done before, during, and after an arc flash study has been completed.  All attendees are encouraged to participate in the course discussions and to share their existing safety program.

 
 

 

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
Office: 502-333-0510