Electric arc flash, or 'electrical flashover', is one of the most deadly, least understood hazards of electricity in the workplace, and prevalent in most industries.
With around 1,000 electrical accidents at work annually, and as many as 25 people dying from their injuries, the outcome can be disastrous.
While legislation requires businesses to perform risk assessments for all work activities, DuPont™ says arc flash is often overlooked, “because most people are unsure how to assess and manage this hazard effectively”. The company has therefore developed the DuPont™ Arc-Guide, in conjunction with independent experts, to help companies comply with the law, and better assess the hazards.
The Arc-Guide offers advice and information on how to reduce the severity and consequences of an arc flash, and recommends adopting DuPont’s™ “step by step” approach – of “Predict, Prevent, Protect, and Publish”.
An arc flash is usually caused by inadvertent contact between an energised conductor, such as a bus bar or wire, with another conductor or earthed surface. The resulting short circuit current will melt the conductors, ionise the air, and create a conducting plasma fireball, with temperatures in the arc’s core potentially reaching upwards of 20,000ºC, causing severe injury, and even death.
Arc flash can cause external and internal burns, hearing, and eye damage, and “many other devastating injuries”. An explosive force known as an arc blast may also occur, resulting in pressures of over 100 kiloPascal (kPa), launching debris as shrapnel at speeds up to 300 metres per second (m/s).
The DuPont™ Arc-Guide is for all those responsible for the protection of workers from the arc flash hazard – for example electrical engineers, electrical designers, contractors, and non site-based electrical workers and safety managers, or procurement officers.
Live webinar in mid-September
To help explain the features and benefits of the DuPont™ Arc-Guide, DuPont is hosting a live webinar on 14 September, 2011, during which Mike Frain, senior electric arc consultant, and one of the Arc-Guide’s developers, will offer a one-hour introductory session to arc flash hazard, explaining how the Guide can help users manage and assess arc flash hazard.
For further information, and to register for the live webinar, visit: www.arcguide.dupont.com
For more information about the DuPont™ Arc-Guide, visit www.arcguide.dupont.com, or contact Linda Cubrilo, support co-ordinator. T: +352 3666 7606; E-mail: linda.cubrilo@lux.dupont.com