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Over the past 15 years, the evolution in regulations, codes and standards, as well as basic understanding of the arc hazard, has elevated the importance and priority of managing and [...]

Generally accepted industry standards, such as National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E-2018, require arc-flash incident energy analysis to be updated when changes occur in the electrical power distribution system, and the analysis shall be reviewed for accuracy at least every five years. NFPA 70E also requires the data used for creating equipment labels, which contain arc-flash energy information, to be reviewed at least every five years, and, if the review identifies a change that renders the arc-flash energy label inaccurate, the equipment label must be updated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on effective design, installation, maintenance, and operation of electrical equipment in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on vehicle safety. Discusses major factors involved with traffic accidents and reports on possible solutions to improve driver safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the importance of establising a culture of safety within an organization or business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large engineered adjustable-speed-drive (ASD) systems are typically rated above 7 kV, with 5,000 or 10,000 hp considered engineered products and systems (i.e., one-of-a-kind or one-off designs) as opposed to off-the-shelf equipment. As such, they require more attention to application, design, system validation, and commissioning than typical off-the-shelf equipment and systems. Hazards associated with different drive topographies are sometimes overlooked during the design stage. In many cases, the design engineer considers the drive as a "black box" without sufficiently understanding the internal drive design required to identify and mitigate concerns. In some cases, manufacturers' claims may help reinforce this attitude. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Occupational electrical injuries are low-frequency/high-consequence events. For an industrial facility's electrical safety resource, this means that the facility's emergency response team (ERT) may never have responded to an electrical injury case. If an electrical incident did occur, however, an electrical injury is more likely to be fatal than most other types of occupational injuries. This highlights the need for facilities to have a specific electrical emergency response plan in place to ensure that timely and appropriate actions are taken if an incident occurs. Conducting periodic electrical injury drills will test a facility's emergency readiness and identify learning and growth opportunities. When planning an electrical injury drill, the scenario and type of drills will vary depending on the type and frequency of electrical activities performed at the site, ERT training, and facility resources. Using data and observations from emergency drills conducted at different industrial sites, this article examines a variety of approaches to electrical injury drills and the information and best practices that resulted. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

There has been significant progress in arc-flash research in recent years, but there has been little focus on how the internal configuration of equipment affects the released incident energy. The relationship between low-voltage motor control center (MCC) unit configurations and incident energy exposure resulting from an arc flash is examined in this article. Testing was conducted using actual MCC structures and units. The design of experiment (DOE) methodology was used to analyze several MCC configuration variables, including unit type, unit size, percent fill of unit, power wire size and length, location of the unit within the structure, and their relationships to incident energy as well as arcing duration and arcing current. The results from 24 arcing tests were analyzed, and the magnitude of incident energy measured during the events was observed to be related to the percent fill of components within the units and properties of interior unit surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Discusses problems associated with counterfeited products. Any products that are purchased— PPE for workers or electrical equipment for use or installation— should be checked for signs of counterfeiting. A Source of Hazards to Workers hazard to industrial workers that gets little attention is the use of counterfeit electrical equipment and safety products. There have been many recent news articles about the seizure of counterfeit products, from electronics to medical supplies; the concern is that many untested or fake products make it into the supply stream. Most of the news is about consumer goods, and certainly fake toys, electronics, and other articles can be hazardous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the arc hazard protection implementations in the U.S. It centers on hazard awareness, safe work practices and the reduction of the potential of ignition of workers' clothing. These regulations are the result of the collaborative research project in 2004 by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.

Discusses efforts to reduce lightning fatalities globally. New statistics show that the United States had 16 lightning deaths in 2017, the lowest number recorded for its population, which is now more than 325 million. In recent years, the average number of deaths per year has been around ten per 100 million population, with a downward trend. Some credit was given to the weather reporting services for their lightning awareness education programs. There are research and education programs in some parts of the world that are trying to impact these numbers. Discusses these programs and reports on their benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article discusses how workers can be protected from the hazards around them. From a workplace safety standpoint, one answer could be a mixture of training, regular reminders, and building a culture of safety in the workplace. The importance of training is obvious. Teaching about overhead lines, for example, can provide the basic knowledge needed to recognize this electrical hazard. The safety culture of the company can make a difference. If workers are looking out for each other and willing to speak up with concerns, many hazards can be recognized early and avoided. There are many resources available to guide us on developing a positive safety culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]