Arc flash is a dangerous electrical situation where current flows through the air, creating plasma and causing severe damage. It can be reduced by following safety procedures, using protective equipment, and maintaining systems. Electricians can receive training to identify safety risks and address them.
An arc flash is a dangerous electrical situation in which current flows through the air, creating plasma and causing severe damage. It is explosive and can generate shrapnel, depending on the type of material present. There are some steps people can take to reduce the risk of arcing, and protective equipment is available for workers in environments where it is most likely. Most electrical codes cover this safety issue and provide advice and recommendations on how to deal with it.
In an electric arc, current moving through an exposed electrical conductor takes a shortcut through the air to earth or a conductor with a lower voltage. Normally air resists electrical currents, but when something goes wrong with an electrical system, it can create a short circuit. The connection creates extremely hot plasma that will burn electrical equipment and cause an explosion, hurling materials into the area. Workers in the area can be seriously injured and structural damage can occur.
Arcing can occur from insulation failure, sparks, dropped tools, or activation of a high amperage circuit. A few basic safety procedures like keeping electrical conductors covered when people aren’t actively working on them, maintaining systems before they fail, and handling electricity with care can greatly reduce the risk of an arc flash. It’s also important to keep the area around electrical conductors clean and to make sure that warning signs are clearly visible so people know to pay attention.
Before people start working on a system, they usually need to shut down the power, or pull out equipment suitable for working with energized electrical systems if they can’t shut the power down. They also wear protective clothing to deal with the risk of arc flash and other hazardous conditions. Workplaces with dangerous electrical systems should have safety procedures in place to handle them, including indicators to let people know when other people are working on the system so they don’t accidentally energize it and injure someone.
Electricians can receive arc flash training from safety organizations. Instructors can come to their workplaces to help them identify safety risks and address them, and they can attend training courses in educational facilities. Electricians may also conduct audits of workplaces to determine compliance and make recommendations to address code violations or concerns. Even if a practice isn’t necessarily illegal, it may not be in line with industry standards and practices, or it may be a common sense security issue.
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