The Must-Have Components of Your Arc Flash Training – Part 1

Arc flash incidents pose a serious risk to workers in industrial and commercial settings. To protect their employees, many companies are now investing in arc flash training. That said, it actually helps workers to understand the risks of working around energized equipment, how to reduce exposure to those risks, and what to do in the event of an arc flash incident.

If you want your employees to undergo the same training, you must be aware of its various components so that you will get all of the essential lessons along the way. Below are just a few of our pointers.

1. Learn the Basics of Shock Hazard

Even if you believe you are teaching skilled electricians, you should begin with the basics. Why? Because someone in the audience will undoubtedly not fully comprehend them.

Teach them about voltage potentials and how electricity is constantly trying to move from one potential to another. Begin by describing what a shock actually is.

Use the illustration of two water tanks that are joined at the bottom by a conduit with a closed valve. What would happen if the valve was opened with one tank full and the other empty? As soon as the two tanks reach balance, the water continues to flow down the conduit.

Similar to this, current runs through your body in an effort to balance the voltage if you come into contact with two differing voltage potentials, such as a 120-volt outlet and the ground. The problem, however, is that this rarely happens. Additionally, your body is not built to handle a lot of current.

You should actually educate people on how even a small amount of current can result in death; ventricular fibrillation can be brought on by 50 mA, for example.

2. Understand the Arc Flash Hazard Fundamentals

Arc flash must rank among the most intricate safety risks in any sector. Why? You have to convey the idea that they are dealing with a variety of threats since it’s not as simple as handling a ball of fire, which isn’t all that straightforward, to begin with.

The problem is that your arc flash training needs to start at the very beginning by explaining how arc flashes occur. Unsurprisingly, you must produce an arc in order to complete a short circuit in the air.

Your entire system’s energy will attempt to flow to that short circuit right away. Things will get as hot as 20,000 degrees Celsius, especially when all this energy is concentrated in one spot.

The majority of copper and aluminum-based electrical components perform poorly in these conditions and will effectively blow up.

3. Understand How the Regulations and Standards May Differ for Your Company

Due to the various local rules, every company’s arc flash training will vary differently from province to province and state to state.

Understanding the precise rules that relate to your line of business will be very beneficial for your course.

The good news is that you are probably complying with all applicable laws if you adhere to either CSAZ462 (Canada’s workplace electrical safety standard) or NFPA70E (the United States standard for electrical safety in the workplace). Double-check on that if you must.

In fact, some provinces used a lower voltage that was deemed “safe” than those specifications up until 2018. It’s appropriate to discuss their obligations once you’ve brought the student up to speed on the specifics of the rules and standards.

Conclusion

Indeed, arc flash training is critical for workers in any industry where electrical hazards are usually present. By understanding the must-have components of this type of training, employers can ensure that their workers are properly prepared to safely work with and around electrical equipment and the like.

If you are looking for a company that provides arc flash safety training, look no further than our services here at Facility Results. Some of our notable services include arc flash training, NFPA 70E training, services, and products to keep your team safe. Call us today, and let us analyze the safety levels of your facility and powerlines in no time!