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In This Issue
Updated 2012 Classes
June Survey Results
July Survey Question
OSHA Fines this Month
Q&A: Arc Flash Clothing
Arc Test Dates
Electrical Safety News
Train the Trainer Testimonies
Burn up the Myth: Can you I turn on the Lights and comply with NFPA 70E
Arc Guard Blanket
OSHA's Electric Power Trans & Dist Final Draft
Electrical Safety Audit e-Application
New Team Members

Sponsor

Milliken Logo

Sponsor

Fuse used Lightest weight HRC 2 Fabric

 Norafin 
Sponsor

Sponsor

Walls FR

Walls

Sponsor

Superior Glove
Superior Glove 

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:

  

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

 

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 

 

Deerfield, IL

 

August 14, 2012

 

Tucson, AZ

August 14, 2012

 

Atlanta, GA

August 28, 2012

 

Evansville, IN

September 5, 2012

 

Greensboro, NC

September 28, 2012

 

Denver, CO

October 2, 2012

 

Decatur, AL

October 9, 2012

 

Louisville, KY

December 3, 2012

 

Phoenix, AZ

January 22, 2013

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

 

HIGH VOLTAGE QUALIFIED CLASSES

 

Louisville, KY

December 4, 2012

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

 

TRAIN THE TRAINER CLASSES

 

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
Carhartt

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


Featured Product
Dickie's 

Dickie's Electrician's Belt

Our Sponsors
  

Sponsor

Walls FR
Walls
Sponsor
 

Sponsor

Fuse used

Sponsor

Milliken Logo

Sponsor

Superior Glove

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
Low Voltage Refresher
 High Voltage 
High Voltage 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
 

JULY 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

June Survey Results:  Barricading
   
 June SURVEY RESULTS:
 
Do you set up barricades as required in NFPA 70E 2012?
June 2012 Survey Results 

  

130.7E Alerting Techniques
(2) Barricades.  Barricades shall be used in conjunction with safety signs where it is necessary to prevent or limit employee access to work areas containing energized conductors or circuit parts.  Conductive barricades shall not be used where it might cause an electrical hazard.  Barricades shall be placed no closer than the limited approach boundary given in Table 130.4(C)(a) and Table 130.4(C)(b).
 
 
 
Survey-taker's various comments:

 

 * We use an attendent if a barricade is not used. We always use a control to prevent an unqualified worker in the shock and arc flash boundary of exposed parts.
* Keeps the rubberneckers away :) Plus we always have a trained employee outside the barrier in full gear to guard or assist in emergency if necessary (hopefully never).
* Work area delimitation is used according to distances stated in the arc flash labels.  
July Survey:  Energized Permits
   
 SURVEY QUESTIONS:
 
 Do you require an energized permit for all energized work?
 
Is the permit physically signed or digital?
 
Do you have exclusions to a signed permit for common energized tasks (ie, changing lighting ballast) when the worker is trained?
 
Which levels of your company are able to sign energized work permits?
Fuse used 
 
Fines by OSHA on Electrical Hazards

Most citations include electrical hazards. 

 

Fuse used




Q&A:   Arc Flash Clothing

Fuse used

  

Q:  Good morning, I have just read your article that was published on-line, ee publishers. I found it very informative. I have been busy trying to advocate ARC Flash protection for at least 10 years. The biggest problem that I have encountered was the cost of the clothing. All the companies that I have worked for agrees that it must be done but as soon as you give them the budget cost of implementation, the project gets shelved. The worst part is that they insist that some sort of protection must be worn by the electricians which usually is cheap, lumpy and difficult to use. The result is that the electrician will either not use the item or will only wear half of what is needed. It is very difficult to convince management to part with money on something that you should never encounter; but then accidents do happen.

 

I know without doing the relevant study to what energy could be expected when a fault occurs, it is almost impossible to say what "cal" protection is safe. But could you please assist with some suggestions to where I can get quotes for ARC Flash clothing. We at present have 33Kv, 11Kv and the main working supply is 400V. The 33Kv switchgear is SF6 GIS gear, the 11Kv is rackable Alstom gear and the 400V is rackable Siemens gear.

 

Our Electrical engineer is requesting protection to be worn in the 400V MCC when testing etc. is being done. We also have a need for a ARC suit when switching/racking in and out our 11Kv switch gear. Would you have any suggestions for me?

 

Best regards,

P

Richards Bay, South Africa

  

A:    Your question is very relevant and most companies find themselves in a similar position.  First and foremost companies need to familiarize themselves with the finer details of electrical shock and electrical arc flash safety.  This can be achieved by reading the NFPA 70E (latest edition is 2012) or attending NFPA 70E training.   Additionally on the systems you are discussing the US NESC standard offers direct tables you can look up PPE levels in.  In order to answer your question, I will refer to two slides from the e-Hazard Qualified training.

 

Firstly, Bill Mattiford undertook a study which he presented at a PES-IEEE seminar which examines the cost of an injury as compared to the cost of arc rated protection.  In one particular example the cost to provide nearly 3000 workers with arc rated daily work-wear was less than the cost of two injured employees.

 

Secondly, the incident arc flash energy is a function of fault current and not system voltage.  Voltage does have somewhat of an influence below 1000V; however, fault current and working distances are still the most dominating factors.

 

I have performed studies where an arc flash on a 400V system provided more energy than the 33kV and 11kV systems.  There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to arc rating requirements based on system voltages.

 

We at e-Hazard believe that the ignition of clothing should be prevented at all costs.  As per Annexure H of the NFPA 70E - 2012, it is recommend that a two tier system be used.  Firstly all workers exposed to an arc flash hazard wear a Hazard Risk Category (HRC) 2 daily work-wear system.  A 12 cal/cm2 is the most commonly used system in South Africa, although other HRC 2 systems are available. When performing high risk operations (e.g. racking in breakers, live/dead/live testing, phasing etc.) workers will wear a HRC 4 garment. Many HRC 4 options are available in South Africa which will include 40cal/cm2, 50cal/cm2, 90cal/cm2 and 100cal/cm2.

 

An arc flash engineering study is strongly recommended as it offers a lot more benefit than most end users realize.  Firstly, calculation of fault levels are required for accurate protection settings.  Secondly, the engineering study provides protection co-ordination which allows the engineer to verify the protection grading between various substations.  Also, many organizations find that the cost to perform the engineering study is most often recovered by savings (i.e. procuring the most expensive suit versus procuring the correct suit for the application). There are many other benefits in addition to those discussed such as labelling, optimal technical specification for switchgears, cable ratings, load transfers, emergency operating configurations, etc.

 

In conclusion, arc flash safety should be developed systematically so that all aspects of this hazard are addressed completely.  PPE is the last option and the last line of defence, not the first. I have seen on many occasions companies start and end electrical safety programs with flash suits.  This is such a pity as the standards which govern arc flash safety require a holistic approach which aims at excellence and incident prevention,  i.e. a proactive approach instead of the commonly adopted reactive intervention.

 

Kind regards,

Zarheer Jooma (Pr. Eng.) (SMSAIEE) | Electrical Engineer

T+27 (0)16 889 8159 | F+27 (0)86 550 5998 | M+27 (0)83 336 3084

W www.e-hazard.com | E [email protected]

PO Box 61359, Vaalpark, 1948, South Africa

 

  Email e-Hazard or ArcWear with a question!

ArcWear™ Arc Testing Dates
ArcWear™ Testing
 
 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.
                        
Electrical Safety News
 
08-08-2012 10:47:26 AM

OSHA proposed $124k in penalties for serious safety & health violations to Earth Friendly Products of Norwood, NJ. Included were deficient "lockout/tagout" procedures to prevent machinery from accidentally starting up, failing to train powered industrial trucks operators and make sure that truck modifications are performed with the manufacturer's prior written approval, insufficient machine guarding equipment, [...]...�

 

08-08-2012 10:47:26 AM

A NY electrical contractor was replacing a distribution switch in the main electrical room of a Norwalk CT commercial building when an arc flash occurred. He suffered burns to > 40% of his body. Click here to read the news article from Norwalk Daily Voice from 6/26/12....�

 

08-08-2012 10:47:26 AM

An electrical explosion occurred in one of the electric motor control centers at the Nyrstar Zinc plant in Clarksville, TN, sending 2 employees to the hospital with burns. Click here to read the updated News Article from the City of Clarksville, TN, dated 6/26/12. ...�

 

08-08-2012 10:47:26 AM

Spruill Products Inc. of Atlanta, GA, a company specializing in the design and manufacture of storage racking systems, was cited by OSHA for safety & health violations. Repeat violations included failure to create and implement specific 'lockout/tagout' procedures for the energy sources of equipment before performing service and maintenance activities,and provide training on lockout/tagout procedures to [...]...�

 

08-08-2012 10:47:26 AM

OSHA cited Altura Concrete, Inc, and Nathill Corp, both concrete contractors, as well as general contractor, White Diamonds Properties, and masonry contractor, Blade Contracting, of New Jersey, for falls and safety violations in the construction of a 20-story building. Included were willful - egregious - serious - and other-than-serious violations; citations included penalties for failing [...]...�

 

08-08-2012 10:47:26 AM

OSHA proposed penalties of $49k for repeat and serious safety violations at Domestic Casting Co, LLC, of Shippensburg, PA. Included were violations involving machinery with live electrical parts. Click here to read the OSHA News Release dated 6/25/12. ...�

08-08-2012 10:47:26 AM

OSHA proposed $94.38k in fines to Core Continental Construction LLC of New York for workplace safety standards violations. Included were conditions in which employees were exposed to electric shock hazards from exposed electrical panels, and the use of frayed and ungrounded extension cords to power a tile cutter. Click here to read the OSHA News [...]...�

 

08-08-2012 10:47:26 AM

OSHA proposed penalties of $199.8k to National Vinyl Products Inc. of St. Louis for safety & health violations, including three repeat violations for failing to properly ground electrical equipment and using flexible cords that are not grounded. Serious violations at NVP Hospitality Design included deficient lockout/tagout procedures and a lack of personal protective equipment including eyewear. Other-than-serious [...]...�

 

08-08-2012 10:47:26 AM

An employee of Sutherland Global Services and an electrical contractor of Henrietta, NY, were injured in an arc flash. Click here to read the GreecePost.com dated 6/20/12....�

 

08-08-2012 10:47:26 AM

A Portsmouth utility contractor with Public Service of New Hampshire suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns when an arc flash occurred while working in a bucket truck to move power from an older utility pole to a newer one. Click here to read the WMUR9 article dated 6/22/12....�


Train the Trainer Testimonies

E-Hazard offers 'Train the Trainer' courses several times per year.  This 3-or-4 day intensive training program is designed to prepare qualified trainers to deliver instruction to others based on NFPA 70E and OSHA requirements. e-Hazard started this training to "raise the bar" in the electrical industry.  Most of the safety training companies require you to hire their trainers.  We offer this but we also provide training materials and trainer "training" and coaching so you can develop in-house expertise without "breaking the bank". See what over 400 other trainers are saying about the e-Hazard TTT class and our materials.

 

One of e-Hazard's recent graduates gave this testimony:

  

Staff, 

     I recently had the opportunity to attend the Train-the-Trainer Class offered by e.Hazard on the subject of the NFPA 70E 2012. This intensive course is designed to equip you with all the tools required to bring this information back to your plant or facility, and customize the contents to do your own in-house training. I am employed in the mining industry where working with huge currents and hi-voltages are a daily occurrence. During a presentation on the subject of the NFPA 70E and arc flash, the knowledge I learned in the Trainer -The-Trainer class made the difference between pass and fail for bringing in an outside vendor for Arc Flash training vs. going in-house. This is a tremendous course with a ton of knowledge for your benefit. There is no way you could place  a dollar amount on the potential for savings available from this training. Thanks for a great class!

     CK

    Trainer Specialist, Maintenance, E&I

    H.R./Learning & Development

    Nevada

 

Here is another testimony from a recent TTT graduate:

 

Dear E-hazard Team,       

     I wanted to drop you a short message to say thank you for the superb training during your December train-the-trainer class. There are many training options out there for this type of training but with hind-site to my advantage I can truly say that I got it right by choosing E-hazard for my training needs.         

    I went into this as a novice trainer with very little experience training. What impressed me was that training started the second I signed up for this course. I received downloadable pre-work and training material in the mail all designed to prepare me for my learning experience. After attending the class on the first day I was impressed with how organized and informational the course was which made it easier to comprehend and retain.             I was surprised to find out that you provide not only the course you advertise but you give us the training material for refresher training, operators and managers. This has given our organization the ability to provide consistent and appropriate training to all our associates.         

     I can not say enough about your Team! They have been instrumental in my being a successful trainer. They have answered questions, provided addition material when needed, and helped me get all my presentations working on my end.  I found you have built a great team that can deal with not only training but can handle the technical issues associated with pulling off a great training presentation. Not to mention you're an industry leader in testing garments so the training material changes as new information becomes available.        

     I have just completed my second training session since I returned and I must tell you I am proud to be an E-hazard trainer. It's as if I have my own training team helping me to prepare for each class and our future training needs. Your (our) team is always helpful and always friendly!     Hats off to such a great organization!  
    TL

    Maryland

 

 Click below for more information regarding upcoming TTT classes:

August 6th - August 9th, 2012

December 3rd - December 6th, 2012

 

 

  

  Fuse used

 

Burn Up The Myth: Turning on the lights but complying with NFPA 70E

Fuse used Q:  If we have lights in our plants that are turned on and off by use of a standard breaker, is it a violation of the Arc Flash standard/rules to allow an employee to simply open the panel for the reason of turning on and off lights?

  

A:  As long as they are "task qualified" for this and not wearing prohibited clothing.

 

Short sleeved shirt with an arc flash sleeve and leather glove would work or arc flash glove with long sleeved cotton or do a risk assessment and provide adequate PPE and training for the task.

 

Short answer, there are rules but it doesn't have to be an electrician.

 

 

Advertisement: NSA ArcGuard Blanket™   

There are several arc flash blankets on the market.  Here is info on the latest one.

 

National Safety Apparel (NSA) has just released an ArcGuard Blanket™  to protect workers from arc blasts in underground vaults, switchyards, tunnels, and any other confined space.  The blanket is designed to be attached to fixed points near the arc flash hazard to redirect the release of energy that may occur.  

 

Technical Information:

  • Tested to ASTM F2676
  • Meets OHSA 1910.269(T)(7)
  • Meets NFPA 70E-2012
  • Maximum Arc Current Imax = 25 kA
  • Breakopen Threshold Performance = 362 kA*cycles
 

 Click here to visit the NSA webpage for the ArcGuard Blanket.

  

 

ArcGuard Blanket Front  ArcGuard Blanket Back

OSHA's Electric Power Transmission & Distribution/Electrical Protective Equipment Final Draft 

 

OSHA sent its final draft of the 'Electric Power Transmission and Distribution, Electrical Protective Equipment' rule to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on June 27, 2012, for final review.  Generally OMB reviews rules for about 90 days.

 

This rule would:  (1) Harmonize construction and general industry regulations for electric power-related work; (2) update PPE regulations for electric power exposure hazards;  and (3) address fall protection in aerial lifts when needed for power on electric power lines and generators.

 

 Here is OSHA's synopsis of the rule:

 

Electrical hazards are a major cause of occupational death in the United States. The annual fatality rate for power line workers is about 50 deaths per 100,000 employees. The construction industry standard addressing the safety of these workers during the construction of electric power transmission and distribution lines is over 35 years old. OSHA has developed a revision of this standard that will prevent many of these fatalities, add flexibility to the standard, and update and streamline the standard. OSHA also intends to amend the corresponding standard for general industry so that requirements for work performed during the maintenance of electric power transmission and distribution installations are the same as those for similar work in construction. In addition, OSHA will be revising a few miscellaneous general industry requirements primarily affecting electric transmission and distribution work, including provisions on electrical protective equipment and foot protection. This rulemaking also addresses fall protection in aerial lifts for work on power generation, transmission, and distribution installations. OSHA published an NPRM on June 15, 2005. A public hearing was held from March 6 through March 14, 2006. OSHA reopened the record to gather additional information on minimum approach distances for specific ranges of voltages. The record was reopened a second time to allow more time for comment and to gather information on minimum approach distances for all voltages and on the newly revised Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers consensus standard. Additionally, a public hearing was held on October 28, 2009. 

 

  

New Electrical Safety Audit e-Application for iPad

e-Compliance has developed a simple, light-weight free application called eC - InspectionPad for designing, performing and reporting on inpections, audits and checklists for any industry.

Fuse used

 

We have been working with these guys for several years to offer an electrical auditing tool, with the last version to be based on our '7 Electrical Safety Habits' training.

 

Click here to download the free eC-InspectionPad for iPad.

 

  

New Team Members

ArcWear / e-Hazard is pleased to announce the addition of several more staff members to our team:

  

Jason Meredith - Brand / Web Developer

Jason is helping to streamline our brand, keep our websites updated, improve digital communications, and expand our presence on the Web.  

  

Rose Boyd - Office Assistant

Rose is assisting in the office with various ArcWear and e-Hazard duties.

 

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