The best way to prevent arc flash incidents from occurring is to de-energize equipment before beginning work. This blast shrapnel can penetrate the human body. Pressure on the chest can be higher than 2,000 pounds per square foot.įurthermore, arc flashes spray droplets of molten metal at high speeds these droplets are propelled for distances up to 10 feet. Other injuries include blindness, hearing loss, nerve damage, and cardiac arrest.īlast pressure waves have thrown works across rooms and knocked them off ladders. This intense heat causes a sudden expansion of air, which results in a blast with very high air pressure.Īn arc flash can cause injuries ranging from minor to third degree burns, and even death. This is four times the temperature of the surface of the sun, which is 9,000 degrees F (4,982 degrees C). Dust or moisture accumulating to weaken air insulated bus barsĮlectrical arc flashes produce some of the highest temperatures known to occur on earth, up to 35,000 degrees F (19,426 degrees C).Faulty operation of a load break switch.Pests entering switchgear through openings.Workers mistakenly dropping tools on live parts.Potential causes of an arc flash may include: The most effective and foolproof way to eliminate the risk of electrical shock or arc flash is to simply de-energize the equipment. Incidents often occur when workers fail to make certain equipment has been properly de-energized. Even these nonfatal arc flash incidents consistently result in many serious burns and injuries requiring weeks to months of intensive care hospital stays and many months of painful rehabilitation.Īn arc flash may be caused by an element in a breaker or service area that could compromise the distance between energized components. Fatalities occur at a rate of approximately one per day in the United States, with nonfatal arc flash incidents occurring approximately 5 to 10 times per day. The flash is immediate, but the result of these incidents can damage equipment and cause severe injury, including burns.Īccording to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E (2012), more than 2,000 people are admitted to intensive care burn units each year as a result of severe arc flash burns they received during an arc flash incident. An arc flash is an undesired electric discharge that travels through the air between conductors or from a conductor to a ground.
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