An arc flash is a killer electrical explosion caused when an electrical current leaves its intended path and travels through the air from one conductor to another or to the ground. The explosion arcing fault rapidly heats air molecules, ionizes and vaporizes conductive metal materials and generates an explosion. An arc flash can occur anywhere in an electrical system.

An arc flash is a killer electrical explosion caused when an electrical current leaves its intended path and travels through the air from one conductor to another or to the ground. The explosion arcing fault rapidly heats air molecules, ionizes and vaporizes conductive metal materials and generates an explosion. An arc flash can occur anywhere in an electrical system.

When a company experiences an arc flash, especially if it’s serious or deadly, the company faces Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) citations, heavy fines, lawsuits, increased insurance rates, a damaged reputation, and business interruption.

The short answer is yes, in an effort to reduce the arc flash risks, OSHA in 2007 issued several mandates requiring employers to adhere to National Fire Prevention Association’s and OSHA guidelines. As a result, for the first time, businesses and government agencies throughout the U.S. are being told that they ‘shall’ protect their workers from electrical hazards in the workplace. Businesses can no longer ignore the dangers of an arc flash. It’s the law. Organizations must protect their employees and others against the dangers of an arc flash electrical explosion. The solution is Bowtie Engineering, a fee-based, customizable Program designed to reduce risk and help an organization meet its governmental obligations.

One to two people die from arc flash while another five to ten more are injured, EVERY DAY. Other statistics show that:
•Arc flashes can kill within a distance of 10 feet from a blast.
•Over 2,000 workers go to burn centers each year with electrical-related burn injuries.
•Emergency rooms report about 8,000 electrical contact injuries annually.
•80% of all electrical injuries are burns from arc flashes igniting flammable clothing.
•One person, each working day, is electrocuted in the workplace.
•Approximately 30,000 nonfatal shock accidents occur every year.

In 2007, OSHA mandated that businesses implement arc flash standards. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) sets the guidelines for implementing arc flash prevention through its NFPA 70E training manual. What can an organization do to prevent an arc flash? Preventing an arc flash involves a number of steps and processes. Assessing risk, conducting an incident energy study, proper training (including NPFA 70E training) and setting an electrical maintenance program in place, should all be part of any preventive maintenance process.

People are injured by the power of the blast and from the tremendous heat radiated from the explosion. An arc flash, which is four times hotter than the sun, sprays debris in a wide arc, vaporizes copper bus and other components, melts clothing and too often resulting in injuries that can leave a victim with permeant injury/disfigurement and even death.