Arc Flash Protection:
From High Touch to High Tech
By Jack Rubinger
What if you found out putting on a jacket would save your life-would you take the time to put it on? It only takes a few minutes on YouTube to see how real a threat arc flash is to front-line workers. It's critical to generate awareness about arc flash, and arc flash protection and training is a good place to start.
"Our greatest concern is the risk of the employee getting burned and/or temporarily going blind from the arc flash," said one person with a Midwest electric power company. "Inhaling the arc flash-I cannot imagine the pain," said General Foreman Ron Massey of Central Electric Cooperative (CED) in Redmond, Ore.
"Training is crucial. It should cover the care and use of personal protective equipment (PPE), giving the qualified worker the empowerment to make life safety decisions," said Bryan Rupert, electrical system reliability and safety consultant for Facility Results.
Arc flash protection is vital. We're only human. We make mistakes. Machines are prone to issues and occasional unpredictability. It seems like common sense for workers to wear protective gear when working in close proximity to potentially dangerous electrical equipment. Not all do, however.
Yes, PPE slows you down. It can be cumbersome, sweaty and takes time to put on. A person might think the repair will be quick or unlikely to be much of a risk "this time." Many people have spent the rest of their lives regretting that moment of thinking-if they weren't instantly killed.
"We want everyone to go home each night as healthy as when they came to work. Flame resistant (FR) clothing is an excellent addition to any lineman's everyday tools," Massey said. READ MORE