Workplace Dangers: Arc Flash Risk Management | Business 2 ...

Shocking statistics published by the EU in 2001 revealed that between 400 and 500 electrical flash-overs or arc flash accidents occur in the UK each year, typically resulting in four or five deaths. Despite the prevalence in most industries and particularly in the massive utility sector, the arc flash phenomenon is still one of the most deadly and least understood hazards of electricity.

So exactly what is an electric flashover or arc flash?

Mostly caused by inadvertent contact between an energised conductor with another conductor or an earthed surface, an arc flash short circuit can result in severe injury or even death. The risk is not just for those working on the equipment but also to those in close proximity. A full arc flash will melt the conductors, ionise the air and develop into a conducting plasma fireball. Temperatures within the arc may reach well over 20,000?C.

Arc flash injuries frequently include burns to the skin but also internal burns from inhaling hot gasses and vaporised metal. On top of this there may be damage to hearing and eyesight including blindness from the ultraviolet light. There are many of these devastating injuries recorded every year. More severe arc flash examples also involve an explosive force known as an arc blast. The blast pressure can launch shrapnel at speeds of up to 300 metres per second and can lead to further injuries. Those who experience an arc flash event and are lucky enough to survive often have horrific injuries which require extensive treatment and rehabilitation. The physical, emotional and financial cost of these injuries can be extreme.?

The Law

UK legislation ensures that companies and organisations that show evidence of serious management failures which result in a breached duty of care can be found guilty of corporate manslaughter. This has been current law since April 2008. The Act enables organisations to be held for criminal liability regardless of the organisation size when serious failures within corporate health and safety result in a fatality.

UK legislation also requires businesses to perform risk assessments for all work activities including for those at risk of electric arc. The law has been implemented to ensure that businesses ensure the safety of their employees and reduce accidents and deaths at work through increased efforts towards industry best practise.

Even so, most businesses are unsure how to assess and manage the risks from an arc flash hazard effectively. New technology means many, if not all, of these accidents and deaths are now preventable if businesses follow best practice on the assessment and management of electric arc flash events.

The European Risk Management Strategy

When an arc flash even is probable a business must undertake a risk assessment and ensure best practise management of tasks as determined by the risk assessment. The most commonly used risk assessment approach uses the four steps of Predict, Prevent, Protect and Publish as defined in the DuPont Arc-Guide. The method is designed so that companies can develop safe work practices for the protection of people and is detailed as below:

Predict

This step involves predicting the likelihood and the severity of any thermal effect from an arc flash. The prediction is made by assessing the amount of ?incident energy? received during an event by a person within the reach of the arc.

Prevent

Prevention of the risk from arc flash is addressed at this level through either designing out, elimination entirely or by remove the hazard at its source. These strategies are essential in ensuring a safe working environment.

Protection

As a last line of protection from the risks of?arc flash events and especially where the risk cannot be controlled by prevention or where there is a still risk of injury then personal protective equipment (PPE) must be provided to prevent injury to the worker and those in the vicinity. Risk assessments for those working on or in proximity to energised electrical equipment will likely indicate a requirement for full-body electrical PPE, an arc flash hood and gauntlets.

Publish

The communication and documentation of both the assessment and strategies or steps that are in place to ensure safety must be provided to those at risk from an arc flash event.

This strategy for electric arc risk assessment helps companies to assess the arc flash hazards and provides them with strategies to reduce the occurrence or severity of arc flash events. This management will ensure workplace safety and business compliance with the UK law. It will also help to save lives and prevent injuries.

Source: http://www.business2community.com/strategy/workplace-dangers-arc-flash-risk-management-0306995

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