Latest Arc Flash Articles

Arc Flash Incident Explained

Arc flash incident occurs during electrical faults, releasing intense heat, pressure, and light; engineers mitigate risk through NFPA 70E compliance, incident energy analysis, PPE selection, labeling, and lockout/tagout procedures in switchgear and MCCs. Arc Flash Incident Overview and Best Practices An arc flash incident is a catastrophic electrical explosion that poses significant risks to workers and equipment in various industries. These events occur when an electrical current passes through the air, creating an arc that releases intense heat, light, and pressure. The consequences of an arc flash (AF) event can be devastating, leading to severe injuries, fatalities, and extensive…

When Developing an Electrical Safety Program

When developing an electrical safety program, employers must identify hazards, comply with NFPA 70E standards, and train employees effectively. A strong safety program reduces arc flash risks, improves compliance, and protects workers from electrical shock and injury. What is: "when developing an electrical safety program" When developing an electrical safety program, many organizations either lack a fully developed Program or operate with one that falls short of compliance requirements. To address this gap, the Electricity Forum has developed a new one-day course on Electrical Safety Program Development — a critical resource for EHS Managers, Electrical Supervisors, Safety Managers, and Specialists.…

Wiring That Isn’t OSHA Certified - Understand The Risks

Wiring that isn’t OSHA certified creates serious safety hazards, violating workplace compliance standards and the National Electrical Code (NEC). Non-compliant wiring increases arc flash risks, electrical shock exposure, and fire danger, making OSHA compliance essential. Understanding Wiring That Isn't OSHA Certified in Electrical Safety For a refresher on core hazards tied to non-compliant wiring, see our primer on What is Arc Flash NFPA 70E Arc Flash Training CSA Z462 Arc Flash Training Request a Free Training Quotation Common OSHA Electrical Violations Some of the most frequent electrical violations cited by OSHA include: Missing covers on junction boxes or…

Electrical Safety Grounding Explained

Electrical safety grounding establishes earthing and bonding paths, controls fault current, stabilizes voltage, and protects equipment via ground electrodes, equipotential bonding, surge protection, and NEC/IEEE-compliant grounding conductors, thereby reducing touch voltage and arc flash risk. Understanding Electrical Safety Grounding Electrical safety grounding is one way to reduce the effects of electrical hazards on people and equipment. Electrical safety grounding uses the earth or ground as a conductor to drain away unwanted electrical discharges. Besides power lines and the human body (particularly the human heart), electrical current can travel through water, dirt, rocks and anything else on the ground. This…

When to Use Tagout Instead of Lockout

When to Use Tagout? Apply during electrical maintenance to ensure isolation of de-energized circuits, LOTO compliance, OSHA control of hazardous energy, and safe servicing of switchgear, breakers, MCCs, and energized equipment when locks aren’t feasible. When to Use Tagout? When to use tagout (TO) instead of lockout depends on the type of energy-isolating device involved and whether it is capable of being locked out. According to OSHA’s Control of Hazardous Energy standard (29 CFR 1910.147), TO is permitted only when a lockout is not possible. In these cases, the TO system must provide a level of safety equivalent to…

What is an Affected Employee's Responsibility During LOTO?

Affected employees play a vital role in lockout tagout by recognizing hazardous energy, respecting energy control procedures, and ensuring safe equipment use during servicing or maintenance. What is an affected employee's responsibility during a lockout tagout? What is an Affected Employee's Responsibility During a Lockout/Tagout? Understanding the role of an affected employee is crucial for maintaining workplace safety during lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures. An affected employee is someone whose job requires them to operate or use a machine or equipment on which servicing or maintenance is being performed under lockout or tagout, or whose job requires them to work in…

NFPA 70E Was Originally Developed at OSHA's Request to Address Electrical Hazards

NFPA 70E was originally developed at OSHA’s request to address electrical safety in the workplace, specifically arc flash and shock hazards. It outlines standards for safe work practices, PPE, and risk assessments to reduce injuries in industrial and commercial electrical environments. Principles of NFPA 70E, Originally Developed at OSHA's Request NFPA 70E was originally developed at OSHA's request to improve electrical safety in the workplace. Let's explore the specific workplace hazards that prompted OSHA to request the development of NFPA 70E, the influence of OSHA's request on the standard, key electrical safety concerns addressed, the evolution of the standard, and…