The industry's safety professionals often overlook the importance of conducting a fault current study and associated flash hazard analysis. However, research over the last 10 years has confirmed that significant risk exists due to electric arc flash hazards. Of the approximately 350 persons killed in the work place by electricity last year, 60% were persons that could be considered qualified and authorized to perform electrical work. Roughly 80% of that 60% were killed by injuries resulting from or related to an arc flash. The same research that proven that significant risk exists due to arc flash hazards has proven that employers can protect their workers from these hazards, and compliance with OSHAs Safety-Related Work Practices and NFPA 70E (Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, 2009 Edition) requires such protection. Calculations can be performed (fault current study and flash hazard analysis) to determine minimum approach distances and/or Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required to protect workers.

The following is a brief summary of the main points regarding the benefit of performing a fault current study and flash hazard analysis at your facility and establishing an electrical work program and related Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Clothing policy.

Obviously, some tasks require that work be performed on energized equipment, and employees much approach energized components. As mentioned above, OSHA regulations and NFPA 70E require protection for employees exposed to such hazards. There are two approaches to providing this protection. The first is to use Tables 130.7(C)(9)(a) and and 130.7(C)(10) provided in NFPA 70E. The second method is to perform a detailed flash hazard analysis and then select the appropriate PPE.

The disadvantage in using the tables from NFPA 70E is that it often results in over protection. The tables in NFPA 70E are based on what the consensus opinion of the industry has deemed worst case. While this may not necessarily be a "bad" thing, it does elicit complaints from maintenance personnel or electricians (including contractors) about having to wear heavy protection when performing some tasks. However, if we know the available fault current, we can reduce the level of protection specified in NFPA 70E when the fault current is below 10,000 amperes. In order to do this we need to determine the available fault current in the various systems and then apply NFPA 70E based on this information.

Once the available fault current is known, electrical equipment that will require additional personal protective equipment can be categorized, and incident energy marked directly on the front of the equipment.

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Last but not least, management must accept the data provided and buy-in to compliance with NFPA 70E. The information obtained by this study should be integrated into a written Electrical Safety Program that would provide written, clear-cut requirements for PPE, work space and live work, and alleviate any confusion for employees.

TMK and Associates Inc is a leading industry provider for flash hazard analysis and can provide all the needed guidance in the application of the requirements of NFPA 70E. Leave it to our dedicated and knowledgeable professionals to determine your employees PPE needs. Whether you decide to use the tables of NFPA 70E, or advanced analytical techniques, flash hazard analysis and PPE are required safety measures for commercial and industrial facilities. Dont put the lives of your employees in the hands of anyone but the experts.