New ARC Flash Safty Mandates Implemented

New ARC Flash

Worker Safety and Protection a High Priority

The risk of an arc flash while working with high-energized electrical equipment is extremely dangerous. While the flash explosion is immediate, the long-term physical and financial impact on injured electrical workers is staggering. As a result, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 164 in Paramus, N.J., has embraced the new National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) 70E standard adopted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as part of its safety training curriculum. 
According to statistics compiled by CapSchell, Inc., a Chicago-based research and consulting firm specializing in preventing workplace injuries, an arc explosion occurs between five to 10 times a day nationwide.

“Since the temperature of an arc can reach more then 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit, workers in the vicinity are subject to severe radiation burns, hot gases, and pressure waves that can damage hearing, eyesight and neurological functions,” explained David C. Milazzo, Local 164’s electrical assistant training director, who recently attended a one-day arc flash seminar. “Every week in the U.S., four to five electricians are sent to the emergency room with severe electrical burns. Under the new mandates, companies must have electrical safety programs in place, and workers must possess in-depth knowledge regarding flash boundaries and appropriate protection, including clothing and equipment.”

An arc flash is a short-circuit that occurs when insulation between electrified conductors is breached or can no longer withstand the applied voltage. Movement or direct contact by workers near or around these energized conductors or circuits can prompt an outward explosion of radiant energy.

To gain first-hand knowledge regarding arc flashes, Milazzo and Richard Paredes, an IBEW Local 164 Training Academy instructor, attended a workshop sponsored by Westex, Inc., one of the local’s training partners. Held at KEMA Powertest in Chalfont, Pa., the nation’s largest high-power electrical laboratory, the program featured live arc flash explosions as well as the most effective techniques to minimize their effects. Additionally, the proper selection and application of fire retardant materials and attire required by NFPA 70E were addressed.

“The simulated flashes clearly demonstrated the difference between regular cotton and poly/cotton clothing versus approved flame-resistant clothing,” noted Milazzo, who explained there is a common misconception that non-flame-resistant 100 percent cotton fabrics are safer in an electric arc flash. “The testing clearly demonstrated that when an individual works on or near energized parts, flame resistant protective apparel can and does dramatically reduce injuries and saves lives.”

As a leader in electrical and telecommunications training, Local 164 is committed to continually augmenting its occupational safety program. In addition to providing NFPA 70E training, additional offerings include the intensive OSHA 30-hour program, which addresses safe, as well as dangerous, work practices and how to avoid possible injuries. With an emphasis on the electrical industry, topics include electrical safety, fall protection, confined space entrant and attendant, and personal protective equipment.

Local 164 offers its more than 3,900 members comprehensive apprenticeship training and continuing education programming at two state-of-the-art training facilities in Paramus and Toms River, N.J. Members include electricians active throughout Bergen, Hudson and Essex counties as well as telecommunications technicians contracted throughout the state. 

Local 164 is also part of a construction industry safety partnership with the Northern New Jersey Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and OSHA. The partnership was designed to enhance worksite safety through contractor collaboration with OSHA advisors and safety consultants. ###

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 164 is dedicated to providing its more than 3,900 members throughout Bergen, Hudson and Essex counties with integral services that elevate the level of electrical and telecommunications expertise as well as the quality of life for its members. IBEW Local 164 provides all of its members with a full continuum of professional education at two state-of-the-art training facilities in Paramus and Toms River, New Jersey. Local 164 includes electricians active within the tri-county area as well as telecommunications workers contracted throughout the state. Today, the IBEW includes more than 800,000 members worldwide. For more information, please call (201) 265-1700 or visit the web site www.ibewlocal164.com.