Arc faults release high thermal energy, which results in arc flashes. It is dangerous in industries like wind power generation, oil and gas, solar energy, food processing, manufacturing, and hospitals. Employees or workers in such sectors work around energized electrical tools and machinery 24/7 and are vulnerable to arc flash accidents. Operators, maintenance workers, and electricians are the most vulnerable employees and should wear arc rated clothing. High-quality arc-rated FR workwear prevents severe burn injuries and saves millions of lives.
Arc Flash Accidents or Events Occur without Warnings
Acoustic energy, intense light, thermal energy, and pressure waves are major arch-flash elements. It lasts for a few seconds and results in flash fire and explosion. In the power energy sector, flash fire spreads rapidly because of ignitable liquid, gas, vapor, and diffuse fuel. When an employee or worker is close to an arc-flash fire or explosion, serious injuries or death occurs. Arc flash accidents are sudden, and despite the utmost maintenance of heavy machines, tools, and the facility, they happen and cause a mess. Arc-rated garments ensure the safety and protection of industrial employees and workers.
What are NFPA 70E Standard Demands?
To find ideal arc-rated clothing for a specific industry, employers should perform risk evaluation to identify the hazards at the job site. In addition, they should assess whether the safety ratings of PPE kits for workers align with OSHA regulations. Employers in the power and energy sectors should ensure that all arc-rated apparel is flame-resistant. If an employee or worker intends to wear layers of arc flash safety garments, calculating the combined rating of the entire workwear is necessary for calculation. The workwear should abide by the policies and regulations of the NFPA 70E Standard. The NFPA 70E Standard mandates every employee or worker to wear arch-rated garments in locations with potential arch flash leading to second-degree burns.
The First Line of Defence
Arc-rated apparel is the first defense against burn injuries due to arc flash explosions or fire. 1910.132 OSHA regulation states that every protective equipment, including PPE (
Personal Protective Equipment) is the responsibility of the employer, and employees/workers don’t need to pay for their safety workwear. Employers should train their staff to wear arc-rated FR garments correctly. The garments should be of the right size and comfortable. It shouldn’t be excessively tight/body hugging or loose because the right fit and size prevent a person from getting burns and fire injuries.
Why Need Arc-Rated Workwear?
Almost 85% of industrial electrical injuries are burns from arc-flash explosions and fire: Fire-resistant, arc-rated clothing safeguards technicians and engineers from arc-flash hazards.
High Possibility of Explosions
Arc flashes are vulnerable to explosions. When electricity leaves the usual path, it ionizes the surrounding air. The reason includes corrosion, dust, and other elements that involve explosions. NFPA 70E Standard recommends that workers or employees wear FR, arc-rated clothing or garments for industries.
Exposure to Radiant Heat
During arc flash accidents, temperatures go as high as 36,000oF—the thermal energy transfers to nearby materials or surfaces. Fire catches the garments if an employee or worker is near the location of the accident. If workers fail to wear proper clothing, severe injuries and death occur.
Exposure Risk to Chemicals and Particles
The danger of radiant heat exposure is enough to endanger a life. The menace of pressure wave blasts is way more challenging—the risk of chemicals and particles from nearby machinery and equipment results in impact injuries. Metallic particles melt into the skin due to the high force or impact. To keep things under control, workers should wear FR, arc-rated garments.
Conclusion
The above analysis solidifies the importance of arc-rated clothing, including PPE. Wearing FR workwear aligning with OSHA regulations eliminates the damage caused by arc flash explosions and fire. It prevents short-term and long-term injuries. It is dangerous to ignore the importance of wearing arc-rated flame-resistant garments. Arc-rated clothing includes outerwear (rainwear and jackets), under-layers, fit and coverage, and hard hats. They should follow NFPA 70E guidelines and regulations. Most electrical injuries in industries are burns due to arc-flash incidents. FR clothing is the best solution to protect engineers, technicians, and workers from severe injuries and deaths.