Arc Flash PPE

[MrSafety2777]

Still sorting out the entire NFPA 70E standards for safety.
Looking for clarification on PPE - Outer Wear Issue - which layer of clothing must be arc rated? The outer most is my thought?
Trying to determine what costs and level of responsibility will be on the employer and what will be on the employee?

 

[MrSafety2777]

Arc Flash Issues

Arc Flash Issues

What and how are other utilities coping with the task of being compliant with NFPA 70E?
We are a local water utility with a maintenance staff that services our own equipment. All have recieved 16hr training on NFPA 70E.
Looking for some thoughts on how others have proceeded with making sure compliance and most of all safety is addressed. Changing the culture and work practices appears to be the biggest obstacle at this time as well as the economics of it all.

 

[charlie b]

The way a transformer operates is that a magnetic field is created by passing current through the primary windings. The secondary windings sense the presence of that field, and react by producing a current. Think of an arc flash as the primary windings of a transformer, creating a sudden and extremely high magnetic field. Now think of your body as the secondary windings. There is a phenomenon called a ?traveling arc,? which is essentially a current flowing down the length of your body, in reaction to the presence of a large magnetic field. If you inner garments are not arc resistant, then they can catch fire, even though they are located entirely within the arc resistance outer garments, leaving you with a very bad day. No, it is not just the outer garments that must be arc resistant. If the arc flash potential is high enough, then you need the inner garments to be arc resistant as well.

As to who buys the protective clothing (i.e., the employer or the employee), that is up to the employer. But I can't think it right for an employer to put an employee into a hazardous postition, with giving the employee the appropriate safety equipment, including the PPE.

 

[jim dungar]

Clothing worn under Arc Flash rated outer garments are part of a person's PPE. Typically, during first time training classes there are always jokes and snickers concerning someone having to check people's underwear.

NFPA 70E specifically addresses 'non-outer garments' in 130.7(C)(12)(a), 130.7(C)(14) and 130.7(C)(15).

 

[zog]

What and how are other utilities coping with the task of being compliant with NFPA 70E?
We are a local water utility with a maintenance staff that services our own equipment. All have recieved 16hr training on NFPA 70E.
Looking for some thoughts on how others have proceeded with making sure compliance and most of all safety is addressed. Changing the culture and work practices appears to be the biggest obstacle at this time as well as the economics of it all.

Culture chage is the hardest part. Here is a list to get you started down the right path.