An arc flash can cause minor injuries, third degree burns and potential death as well as other injuries including blindness, hearing loss, nerve damage and cardiac arrest. Fatal burns can occur when the victim is several feet from the arc. Serious burns are common at a distance of 10 feet.
What does an arc flash do to a person?
The arc flash/blast produces fire, intense light, pressure waves and produces flying shrapnel. When an arc flash happens, it does so without warning and is lightning quick. The result of this violent event is usually destruction of the equipment involved, fire, and severe injury or death to any nearby people.
Is an electrical arc dangerous?
Yes! Electrical arcing produces an arc flash. This can cause injuries such as third-degree burns, cardiac arrest, hearing loss, blindness, nerve damage, and even death. Severe burns can occur if the victim is within a few feet from the arc.
What is the most dangerous aspect of arc flash?
Intense Light: An arc flash will produce intense light that may damage your employees’ eyesight including blindness. Sound Waves: An arc flash produces sound that can reach 140 decibels that can cause damage and hearing loss. Toxic Fumes: An arc flash can create poisonous gases.
Why is arcing dangerous?
Electrical arcing can be extremely dangerous. It results in the release of an enormous amount of energy that may cause fires, severe burns, damage to eyesight and hearing, release poisonous gas, and even create a shockwave/blast that is similar to an explosion.
What injuries can be caused by an arc flash?
An arc flash may cause severe burns, hearing loss, eye injuries, lung damage, and blast injuries.
What are the three hazards of arc flash?
The hazards resulting from an arc flash incident include burns, extreme heat and fire, flying objects, molten metal, and blast pressure or sound blast. Arc flashes are often violent, and when a human is near the arc flash, serious injury or even death may occur. Arc flashes can be caused by many things, including: Dust.
Are arc flashes dangerous?
Dangers of arc flashes
An arc flash can cause minor injuries, third degree burns and potential death as well as other injuries including blindness, hearing loss, nerve damage and cardiac arrest. Fatal burns can occur when the victim is several feet from the arc.
Is arc flash serious?
Simply put, an arc flash is a phenomenon where a flashover of electric current leaves its intended path and travels through the air from one conductor to another, or to ground. … Because of the violent nature of an arc flash exposure when an employee is injured, the injury is serious – even resulting in death.
What are the two main electrical hazards a qualified electrical worker looks out for?
NFPA 70E (Arc Flash) Electrical Safety Program Requirements
Provide awareness training of electrical hazards that includes shock and arc flash.
How do you protect someone from arc flash?
Specialized safety eyewear, goggles and face shields are required to protect workers from arc flash. They should be dielectric and nonconductive, meaning they should not contain any exposed metal parts that could come in contact with energized equipment.
Can arc flash happen in residential?
In a residential setting, an arc flash usually produces little more than a brief flash of light before extinguishing itself harmlessly. In a commercial or industrial setting, however, voltages and currents are significantly higher, so electrical faults typically release far more energy.
What constitutes an electrically safe condition?
Electrically Safe Work Condition–An electrical conductor or circuit part has been disconnected from energized parts, locked/tagged in accordance with established standards, tested to ensure the absence of voltage, and grounded if determined necessary.
What happens electrical arcing?
Electrical arcing is when electricity jumps from a one connection to another. This flash of electricity reaches temperatures of 35,000°F. … The heat from arcing burns the insulation around the wires, leaving a path for the arcing to reach insulation or wood framing in your home.
How does electrical arcing happen?
Arcing usually occurs when a circuit becomes overloaded and overheats. The overheating causes damage not only to the circuit breaker but also to its connection to the bus. Once damaged, a circuit breaker can malfunction and continue to let electricity flow between its connection instead of tripping.
What causes arcing in an electrical outlet?
Arcing is a phenomenon that can occur at loose electrical connections. This can be at wire splices, at circuit breaker connections, wall switches, receptacles, or within an appliance. Arcing is caused by voltage and a physical space. The higher the voltage, the larger the physical space that the arc can reach.