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Arc Flash Protection - Choosing the Appropriate PPE

Arc Flashes - Choosing the Appropriate PPE
An Arc Flash is the light and heat produced from an electric arc when supplied with sufficient electrical energy to cause substantial damage or harm, fire, or injury. This phenomenon occurs when a flashover of electric current leaves its intended path and travels through the other to another conductor or to the ground. Arc Flashes are not as common as electrical shock; therefore it is important to reinforce the seriousness of Arc Flash safety, as it may not be as well-known. Serious injury or death can occur when in close proximity of an arc flash. Arc flashes will generally only occur in systems where the bus voltage exceeds 120 volts.
Causes of Arcing
Arc Flashes can be caused by many things, such as:
  • Dust or other impurities in the air can provide a path for current, creating an arc discharge across the surface, which can then develop into even further arcs. Chemical fumes and vapors can also create a similar effect.
  • Corrosion of equipment can lead to impurities on the surface as well as weaken the contact between conductor terminals.
  • Accidental touching or dropping of metal parts, such as tools or nuts/bolts.
  • Equipment or insulation failure.
  • Coming within close contact of a high-amp source with a conductive object.
Using Arc Flash PPE
While there are many ways to reduce the risk of an Arc Flash occurring and causing serious damage, Personal Protective Equipment is a must in order to reduce or ideally prevent any serious damage occurring to your personnel. There are various garments and degrees of protection in arc flash protective gear, and choosing the appropriate gear for the job is very important. Personal Protective Equipment may not be able to fully negate the effects of an arc flash should they happen, but when used properly they can reduce the injury to the level of a curable burn instead of something much worse or even fatal. It is important for the user to understand how to use and care for the gear, and any limitations that it may have. While Personal Protective Equipment can largely negate the effects of an arc flash in most situations, they are never a substitute for common sense and safe work practices.
The most common type of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) clothing accepted by the industry is flame resistant clothing. Fire resistance is often achieved by treating the cloth with flame-retardant chemicals that will prevent the fibers from burning in air. The garments themselves will be resistant to flame as well as being self-extinguishing, all while thermally insulating the body from heat radiation.
Multiple factors are important when choosing the right PPE, and comfort is one of the most important. Because of the nature of work when dealing with arc flashes, it is important that the worker is as comfortable as possible, both physically and mentally. It is also important to remember that comfort varies from one individual to another. It may also be a good idea to give the worker some time to get used to wearing the garments before working on live equipment. A loose-fitting PPE provides more thermal insulation due to the air trapped inside, but too tight or too loose can also interfere with the task. Layers provide air insulation as well as a greater degree of protection, and can also be more comfortable in some instances, depending on the user.
Appropriate Types of PPE
An engineer wearing the appropriate PPE
Below is a list of appropriate types of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) used in cases or environments in which arcing may occur:
  • Vest/undergarment: Can be worn underneath shirts, jackets or pants, and provide an additional layer of protection. Wearing multiple layers of clothing also allows for additional flexibility, is easier to work with, and has trapped air to provide additional thermal insulation. Combining with a shirt increases the total arc rating.
  • Shirt/pants: Fire-resistant shirts and pants can be used for incident energy of 4.0 cal/cm and below. These can also be multi-layered for a high arc rating.
  • Bib overalls: When worn with a shirt, bib overalls provide higher protection to the chest area compared to a shirt worn with just pants.
  • Coveralls: Equivalent to a shirt and pants.
  • Jackets: Often multi-layered and are comparable to multi-layered shirts in terms of protection.
  • Hood: Part of headgear. It has face protection as well as FR fabric covering the head, ears, neck and shoulders.
  • Headgear: Consists of a non-conductive helmet and hood that covers the head, ears, neck, and shoulders. It also features a face shield and chin cover, and should not impair visibility. Safety glasses should also be worn underneath the headgear.
  • Gloves: Provide insulation from both electricity and heat. Rubber and leather are the two most commonly-used materials. The gloves should be long enough to cover the sleeves.
  • Boots: Heavy duty shoes or boots should be worn where incident energies are higher than 4 cal/cm.
  • Hot Stick: Hot sticks are used to operate fuses and switches. They provide insulation from the high voltage parts. They also allow the worker to maintain increased working distance, so that the incident energy is less.
  • Arc Suppression Blanket: Provides a barrier from arc flashes.
  • Ear Muffs: Arc blasts can cause severe ear injuries/hearing loss. Ear muffs can help reduce the impact.
  • Mechanical Barriers: Can be used to provide protection from thermal radiation as well as blast pressure.
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