Tag Archives: compliance

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Respiratory Safety

APRIL IS INJURY PREVENTION MONTH, SO PLAY IT SAFE!

 Our parent company, Texas America Safety Company, is dedicated to providing the very best safety products for all types of business, from construction, office, manufacturing, healthcare, oil field, law enforcement, to the military.  Because April is Injury Prevention Month, we want to tell our readers that “Safety” is our middle name, and we are encouraging everyone to be as safe on the job, on the road, or at home or play as they can be. 

Safety is a keystone in every company’s foundation. Without a strong safety program, all other aspects of a company’s performance suffer.  Every company should have the goal of providing the best personal protective equipment and safety training for the entire work fleet.  Employees may become bored with the usual safety meeting presentations, so it is important that they are able to participate and be a part of the company’s plan in order to be in compliance with OSHA standards.  New employees should have the opportunity to understand what they are expected to do on their job – be trained the right way to do things, and have it explained in their home language in case they don’t comprehend English very well. 

There are many statistics on how many persons are injured or killed annually in car accidents, home accidents, sports, and work.  Our main objective is to help protect those who go to work every day with the plan of coming home safely at the end of their shift.  If you observe someone at your workplace who is “an accident waiting to happen,” tell your supervisor before it actually does!  We know there will always be someone who takes chances on the job, knowing they are at risk.  One false move may be their last.  Anyone who gets behind the wheel knows they are at risk of being in an accident.  The best advice is to pay attention to the other driver, and forget about the cell phone and other distractions.  Farmers know the best ways to operate equipment and how to handle animals.  They also know that an accident can happen at any time.  Construction workers are at the top of the list for injuries.  There are  many hazards for most jobs; we just can’t be too cautious about being injured. 

We ask that everyone uses a strategy to avoid becoming injured.  Taking your time and doing the job right, whether it is yard work, housework, playing sports, office work, or physical labor, do it right, and don’t risk having to go to the hospital.  Lost work time costs the employer; it may require hiring another person to replace someone temporarily while the worker recovers. 

Our EMT’s, firefighters, and law enforcement are to be commended, as they are the first responders in times of accidents; they treat the injured and rush them to hospitals for care.  Their jobs are not easy ones, and even they sometimes get injured on the job.  

Whether your job requires eye, head, hand, respiratory protection, or any other equipment, check out www.tasco-safety.com for your special needs.

Let’s all play it smart and stay safe.

 

 

 

 

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Hearing Protection

SAFETY COMPLIANCE IN THE WORKPLACE: KNOWING THE RULES WHEN WORKING WITH DANGEROUS MACHINERY (GUEST POST)

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Compliance with health and safety regulations will not only help protect you, the employer, from liability concerns but will also help keep your workers safe and machines in good working order.

The Workplace Regulations 1992 cover the majority of health and safety issues that can occur in the workplace.  These regulations are split up into three different sections: health, safety and welfare. Each of these sections is especially relevant to a workplace where dangerous machinery is used on a daily basis. 

Health 

This section relates to ensuring that your workplace isn’t set up in a way that will give your employees health issues in the short or long term.  Referring to specific key areas, here is a rundown of how the regulations apply to working with dangerous machinery:

Ventilation:

When materials are cut noxious gases or fine dust particles are often given off. This can lead to lung problems if your workers are exposed to this without adequate ventilation.   Installing mechanical ventilation will ensure that there is a supply of fresh air. Windows may provide enough ventilation, but well maintained mechanical ventilation will always be more efficient. 

Temperature:

Ambient temperature can be affected by machinery running in the workplace. If your workplace doesn’t have air conditioning then temperatures can become too uncomfortable to work in.  Temperature also refers to humidity in the workplace.  Having your workplace at an uncomfortable temperature can lead to stress and loss of concentration. This is especially relevant if your employees are working with machinery as any mistakes can lead to accidents. 

Lighting:

Your workspace should be contain adequate lighting. This is especially important for workspaces using machinery. safety precautions should also be in place incase of sudden loss of light. this means that backup systems are a must if sudden loss of light could lead to accidents.

Cleanliness:

Workspaces should be kept clear of rubbish that could pose a tripping hazard or fire risk. Provide an appropriate means of waste disposal and ensure it is removed regularly. 

Safety 

This second section deals with day to day measures that must be put into place in order to protect the wellbeing of employees. The headings that safety regulations deal with are: 

Equipment Maintenance:

Keeping your machinery well maintained will help prevent accidents that arise from faults and breakages. Likewise, keeping your devices such ventilation systems in good order will help prevent complications from arising further down the line. 

Floor Traffic:

Keeping the areas of your workplace which encounter high foot traffic clear of tripping hazards is very important. This is especially important for workers who are using machinery as a trip or fall can result in serious accidents. 

Windows:

When windows in the workplace are open, they shouldn’t pose as risk to anyone.



Welfare

The welfare aspect of health and safety compliance in the workplace relates directly to the conditions experienced by employees and maintaining their mental and physical health.  Your workplace is only as efficient as the people who are running it, and ensuring your employees are in good health will enable them to focus more and work more efficiently.   This is done by providing suitable sanitation facilities, access to clean water and regular breaks. 

By following these guidelines, your workplace will be a safer and more efficient place. 

This piece was written by Mark Enright, a writer for http://www.yorkshireprofiles.co.uk/, Yorkshire Profiles, a laser cutting, water cutting and fabrication provider. 

General Safety Issues

FINDING THE RIGHT WORK BOOTS (GUEST POST)

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For those working in a field like construction, proper footwear is not only recommended, but it’s a requirement to ensure comfort and protection. The key, however, is to get shoes that suit both your needs and the needs of your particular job. So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at what you should keep in mind when selecting work boots.

Know Your Needs
Different jobs require different types of boots. Some will require slip resistant soles, while others will demand steel-toes. While getting an all-around boot protects you in a variety of work situations, knowing what the job you’re doing absolutely requires ensures that you have a boot that will protect you in your specific situation.

Get Professionally Sized
While it’s pretty obvious when the boot you have is too small, it may be less obvious if the boot is too big. Bill Gardner, owner of Red Wing Shoes, offering http://www.redwingrichmond.com, says that “many of us are walking around in the wrong size, leading to unnecessary discomfort.”

Bill recommends being sized at your boot store to make sure you get the size you actually need. You may think you’re a size, but in a particular boot you may be a 12.5 or 13 with socks and inserts. It’s worth the time to make sure the boots fit correctly and comfortably since you’ll be spending a lot of time in them.

Invest in Quality
Ask anybody and they’ll tell you the same thing – quality work boots are expensive. There is, however, a reason for the price. Quality construction and materials cost more, and investing in a boot that will protect your feet, ankles, and knees is worth it in the long run. Quality boots will have soles that won’t fall apart, construction that won’t pull apart, and will use materials that while needing regular upkeep, will be durable for years to come.

Don’t Forget the Accessories
Extra laces, boot socks, and perhaps most importantly, insoles, are all things to consider as part of your boot purchase. These items help contribute to the comfort and durability of the boots. Your sales specialist should be able to help you choose the accessories you’ll need for your specific feet and boots.

Sent to us by George R. Perry

For any of your other safety needs, check out Texas America Safety Company  for all types of personal protective equipment, from hardhats, gloves, to first aid products!

General Safety Issues

WHY SAFETY COMPLIANCE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN BUSINESS (GUEST POST)

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Compliance training and safety should are the priority of a conscientious business owner. Without meeting safety standards, you should not be running a business, because you are risking the welfare of your employees and your company too. You can consult with a company like Safetrac about training your employees to acceptable standards, and exactly what you should be doing in your industry to make sure you are running a safe business. Complying with these standards will make your company a friendly and hospitable (and safe!) company to work for, and will also make you seem legitimate and ‘above board’ to all of your clients and the rest of your industry.

As a business owner or manager, you have to think of things like safety training and safety equipment as an investment rather than as an expense, because using it promotes the longevity and legitimacy of your business and also prevents expensive distractions from business such as legal action from employees. If your company happens to undergo a government audit, failure to have complied with safety standards leaves you vulnerable to serious legal consequences as well as expensive fines. By complying with standards and training all of your employees in industry standards you give them all the tools to be responsible for their own safety, which takes the pressure off management.  To ensure compliance with the standards applicable to their risk assessments, companies must furnish the correct OSHA safety supplies to protect their workers.  This is another area that they must be trained on the use of such equipment, how to take care of it, and know when to replace it.

So what can safety compliance strategies do for you? The benefits of maintaining a safe work environment are many, safety is about what managers and employers can do to protect their workers. Employers should send their workers home in the same condition they came in. No one can argue with the fact that workplace safety is important, yet it’s often overlooked sometimes unintentionally leaving workers exposed to risk. 

Ivy Delfin is a copywriter working with Safetrac who offer compliance training programs providing businesses with an opportunity to improve employee performance and business operations. When Ivy’s not writing content she enjoys cooking, swimming and walking her Great Dane.

 

General Safety Issues, Head Protection

IN DEFENSE OF WORKPLACE SAFETY THROUGH BETTER TRAINING (GUEST POST)

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By Kyle O’Brien

 Workplace safety is a paramount issue with any business.  Whether you’re a meat-packing business or a coffee shop, safety concerns abound.  Thus, having your entire staff up to speed with sufficient training on ways to prevent accidents, as trivial as one tutorial may seem, is something that should go beyond the basic written words inside the employee handbook.  That’s not to say a handbook is useless.  Far from it.  It’s how management discerns workplace safety, with how certain equipment is to be handled, what protective layers should be issued and worn at all times…the list should, and does go on.   

From obtaining better training videos to ensuring each and every employee has a firm grasp of what’s been shown, there are numerous points to follow through with regards to safety training.  

Understanding The Costs of Improper Training 

Before you begin to assess your company’s workplace safety policies and training, I’ll share one example of how some oversights in the electrical industry – specifically towards improper maintenance of electrical systems – can cost businesses in more ways than fines.  A Siemens report back in 2010 uncovered a list of violations of electrical maintenance with certain buildings.  Spanning 25 facilities, OSHA handed out more than $5 million in fines to employers who failed to train their employees on servicing electrical systems in the building.  Some of the violations were a result of not having the right tools.  More major violations were given to not putting up proper warning signs for specific areas, thus potentially endangering employees to shock, electrocution and arc flash. 

Putting aside the monetary issues, the heart of the matter is the safety of employees and all who would walk around the “hazard zones”.  The report stated that every workday, arc-flash incidents had hospitalized five to seven workers at those buildings in the U.S.  Around 30,000 arc-flash incidents in total, with around 7,000 of those incidents involving burn injuries.  And that’s just with regards to a specific industry.  Employers who don’t first research the risks/dangers of prior incidents are setting themselves up to repeat them.   

Creating Easier Ways To Engage Employees 

Safety training, computer training, compliance training — there’s more than enough areas for a business to cover with their employees.  Some choose to spend half a day, maybe less than that, sequestering entire departments for a training seminar.  There will be packets, referendums, company policies on what to do in an event.  And not to say that employees are prone to be disinterested throughout, well, there’s a good chance streamlined, succinct methods will fare better with how each employee digests the information. 

It’s why better-developed training videos can command more eyes and ears.  Many older training videos of the 1980’s were attempts to add humor and a storyline to someone operating the grill at a fast food restaurant.  The sad reality was that it was grainy, had cacophonous background music and took too long to define instructions and safety measures.  If that same effort was applied to a training video on how to operate a crane on a job site, you’d most likely have confused employees who’d just rather settle for a succinct video displaying the key statistics of operating with caution. 

Creating a video that has a clear and direct narrator displaying stats like the number of injuries reported on common job sites and whether they’ve worsened or gotten better, how certain “hot spots” of the site should be littered with warning signs, Safety hardhat requirements and ways to be better aware of one’s surroundings and other key points, your training segments would go much further to making safety measures more tangible to employees. 

Have Q & A Sessions After Each Video 

Once you’ve wrapped up the safety training video or session, the best way to make every safety measure mentioned stick is to have an immediate Q & A.  While it might be hard to get employees to chat after sitting through a lengthy training video (which is why you should cap your videos to shorter time limits, or break up meatier safety lessons into segments), it’s still important to at least entertain questions.  Doesn’t matter how obscure a question could be, no stone should be left unturned when it comes to workplace precautions.   

And Q & A’s should be a continual process, because you can’t expect every employee to reach expert levels once they leave the room.  Maybe it means having managers around the first time a chef starts to work with a new grill, or have someone supervising employees first go-around with heavy machinery types such as the Knuckleboom Loader, Feller Bunchers, Pipelayers and other rather complex and powerful equipment?   

Final Thoughts 

The main thing is your initiative to stay on top of important safety concerns with the workplace and that you and your entire organization understand that accidents happen every day, in every workplace across the country.  But it’s how you lessen the numbers through awareness, through training videos and whether they’ll be a continual process in education, through warning signs being posted in key spots around the workplace or job site, and most important, through a passion to stay on top of creating as safe an environment as possible. 

Author Bio:  Kyle is a frequent blogger covering the business industry on a range of topics from employee safety, business leadership, motivation practices and other themes.  He is a consultant for an eLearning company, ej4, which helps create informative and innovative training videos and business book summaries to help further increase employee knowledge of the workplace.

General Safety Issues

HOW HUMAN RESOURCES CREATES SAFE WORK ENVIRONMENTS (GUEST POST)

Sent to us by Erin Palmer

Whether referred to as Human Resources or Human Services, at companies both large and small, the HR department strives to provide the best possible workplace for their employees. In the day-to-day operations of a company, human resource managers face a complicated set of challenges involving every aspect of the workplace.

Of all these areas, perhaps none are as important as maintaining a safe work environment.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 4,690 workplace fatalities in America in 2010, or about 3.6 fatal injuries per 100,000 employees.  While the second lowest total since such numbers were tracked beginning in 1992, this still represents an environment where safety should be of the utmost importance.

In light of all this, it is vital for human resources to make sure that the workplace has first aid supplies and maintains all federal safety rules. Putting rules for safety in place – and constantly evaluating and updating them – is of paramount significance to human resources managers.

What Human Resource Departments Do to Address Safety

Much of how a human resources manager might address worker safety depends largely on the industry and the nature of the work involved. However, there are some general areas that all human resources departments must address.

  • Compliance with regulations involving personnel and management practices. This is especially relevant for employees with special needs.
  • Coordinating health and safety activities. This involves supervising health and safety personnel, as well as coordination of activities on health and safety committees for employees.
  • Maintaining employee records. This can be of benefit for employees with special needs, those with illness or injury and employees with disabilities, or pregnant employees.
  • Ensuring employees are aware of HR policies. This is a big part of most human resources departments, and involves the orientation and training of new employees, transferred employees and promoted employees, as well as general announcements for the entire workforce.
  • Promoting safety culture. This involves not only training new employees on the safety rules of a workplace, but also offering continuing information to all employees on the latest safety guidelines and best practices for enjoying a safe workplace.

Using Health and Safety Programs to Foster Safer Workplaces

Generally speaking, a health and safety program involves formulating a method of best broadcasting the practices of a company’s health and safety programs to employees, in hopes of providing the safest workplace possible.

Most health and safety programs involve creation of a committee made up of representatives from different levels of management as well as those from the employee ranks. It’s usually best to have an equal number from both areas.

The committee is then tasked to meet regularly and develop elements of a health and safety program that will provide the most benefit to that company’s workers, not one that simply meets the compliance guidelines set forth in government regulations. Some of the areas addressed in a typical health and safety program include:

  • Management training
  • Scope and frequency of workplace inspections
  • Accident and injury incident investigation
  • Emergency preparedness
  • Organizational rules for workplace safety
  • Personnel communications
  • Off-the-job safety
  • Evaluation and improvement of the program

Some Basic Tips for Workplace Safety

The federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) oversees workplace safety for the nation, and since 1970 federal law has mandated that employers provide a safe working environment for all employees.

Keeping up with OSHA regulations is a top priority for most businesses, as is preparing for the possibility of more stringent standards. Some tips for staying ahead, culled from Express Employment Professionals, include:

  • Documenting all OSHA violations. Having an updated list of problem areas will help the company better focus on making improvements.
  • Updating safety programs. As mentioned above, one of the main commitments for a health and safety committee should be the monitoring and improvement of health and safety programs.
  • Keep all employees up-to-date on safety regulations. This includes training all new employees on safety procedures as well as keeping all employees current on the proper use of all equipment and any changes made to health/safety protocols.
  • Seeking expert consultation. It’s sometimes advisable to bring in an outside health and safety expert to evaluate your health and safety program and determine whether it is complete and current with best practices.

Whatever course a human resource manager decides to take in addressing workplace safety needs, it’s important to stay engaged in the matter and ensure the latest ideas are being incorporated into the company’s approach to all-around employee safety.

This guest post was provided by Erin Palmer. Erin writes about human resources certification for the University Alliance. She also covers topics like HR degree programs.

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Head Protection, Protective Clothing

Construction Safety and Compliance: Resources for Employeees and Employers (Guest Post)

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Submitted by Eliathah Boda of OSHAPros USA.

The construction industry is one of the most dangerous industries in the United States. The rate of fatalities among construction workers is three times higher than that for all workers in the U.S. – in 2009 it was 9.7 percent per 100,000 compared with 3.3 for all workers. For this reason, 60% of OSHA’s inspections are of construction sites. 

The four most dangerous hazards in construction work are: 

  • Fall Hazards
  • Caught-In or Caught-Between Hazards
  • Struck-By Hazards
  • Electrocution Hazards 

Besides inspections and enforcement of standards for the construction industry, particularly OSHA 29 CFR 1926, OSHA provides educational materials as well as training through authorized outreach trainers. On the OSHA website a number of helpful materials and resources are available that cover the most important construction safety topics. 

The Outreach Training Program addresses basic elements of safety in the workplace. The program was developed by OSHA, who then teaches trainers, who are then authorized to provide the training to workers in person or as videos offered online. The courses given through this program include two 10-hour courses for all workers, one on General Industry Safety and one on Construction Safety; two 30-hour courses offered that are geared mostly for supervisors and foremen, one that covers General Industry and one for Construction. You can see more information on the Outreach Training Program on the OSHA Website. Information on the Outreach Training Program is available on the OSHA website. 

Besides the courses offered through the Outreach Training Program, one of the most useful resources available for information on constructionsafety topics is the OSHA Construction eTool, an online training tool that is especially useful for workers in learning more about construction safety. The Construction eTool covers the most serious hazards in construction work, including electrical, falls, struck-by, and trenching, with thorough but easy to understand explanations of the hazards, applicable OSHA standards, and safety tips to avoid injuries from these hazards. It also explains how the standards apply to different workers. Additionally, there is information for employers on how to develop a safety and health program to help meet OSHA standards and prevent injuries. 

Another useful resource available on the OSHA website is a series of construction hazard prevention videos. These are available in both English and Spanish with closed captioning.These resources will provide you with a great deal of useful information and are an excellent supplement to the authorized OSHA training courses that are also available. 

OSHA Pros USA provides onsite OSHA training, online safety training courses, mock OSHA inspections, air & noise surveys, and litigation support across America. 

In addition, OSHA has a separate standard for every type of wide variety of safety products required for each particular job, according to the hazards.  You can find those standards on the OSHA website. pb

General Safety Issues, Head Protection, Respiratory Safety

Construction Health and Safety: Working in Confined Spaces (Guest Post)

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In the UK, the construction and maintenance industries remain consistently one of the largest employers, with the current figures showing that over 2 million people work in this industry every day. However, it is one of the most hazardous places to work, with construction workers facing a variety of risks and dangers as they carry out their tasks on a daily basis.  Therefore, without the correct education, training and awareness, working in this environment can be potentially dangerous. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the authority which lays down the health and safety law in the UK, gives regulations on a variety of construction areas to make sure that workers’ wellbeing and health is looked after properly by their employers.

When working in the construction and maintenance industry you may be faced with working in a confined space – especially if you work on the docks, or in the sewage or mining industries. In January of 1998, the Confined Spaces Regulation came into force in the UK, which set out the legislation surrounding Health and Safety in these circumstances.

The HSE gives the following definition of a “confined space”: any place, including chamber, tank, vat, silo, pit, trench, pipe sewer, flue, well or other similar space in which, by virtue of its enclosed nature, there arises a reasonably foreseeable specified risk (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1997/1713/regulation/1/made). Due to the nature of the environment, it can be very dangerous to work in as there are many volatile characteristics to a confined space, for example, lack of oxygen, presence of gas or fumes, liquids which can suddenly rise in level or free flowing solids. With these risks present, there is no wonder that the HSE has a specific guidelines regarding working in a confined space.

The legislation states that every employer or self-employed person must ensure compliance with the regulations and the only way to do this is to make sure that those working in the environment understand the regulations and can recognise the risks involved in work of this nature. The issue with a large company is that you may not always be present to oversee the work, which is why a good education for your staff members is crucial – this is where construction training comes into the fray.

The confined space training course is one which is popular in the construction training category. On average, there are 15 fatalities each year following work in a confined space, and by ensuring that the HSE regulations are abided by, and that each and every worker, manager and supervisor is aware of their duties and how they should work this figure can hopefully be reduced.

A Construction Training Confined Space Course allows employers to ensure they are working within legislation guidelines, ensuring that their staff are trained in the risks which they may face when working in this environment. The courses are thorough and cover all elements from the definition of a confined space, to safe systems of work, how to identify hazards to safety equipment and form emergency procedures to access. You’ll usually find that there will be a short test at the end of the training session which is proof that you have digested and understood the information given to you.  It is also worth noting that there are different courses for the varying staff levels – from worker all the way up to site supervisors, as each has a different type of responsibility when working onsite.

Bio: Rebecca Field is writing on behalf of Britannia Safety and Training, a company offering construction training near Norwich in Norfolk, UK. Their industry experienced experts and purpose built training facility are designed to make your construction training course experience the best you can wish for. Visit their website here: http://www.britanniaits.com/  to find out more.

Thanks, Rebecca, for sharing this important information with us.  OSHA also has the same description and regulations for persons workin in confined spaces.  There should always be someone present watching workers in case of emergency, and those workers should have the proper personal protective equipment, such as respirators, hardhats, and other safety items. 

General Safety Issues

FACILITIES INSPECTIONS

IT’S TIME TO CONDUCT YOUR FACILITY INSPECTION –

INSIDE AND OUT!

 How often do your safety and compliance officers conduct inspections of your workplace?  OSHA is responsible for regular workplace health and safety concerns to ensure businesses are in compliance with their standards, which includes physical surveys and evaluating that the business meets criteria to be certified.  It is up to the safety officials of the company to ensure that the company continues to meet the standards set up by OSHA, by providing a safe atmosphere for its workers.  Facilities that have been inspected and certified are on OSHA’s records.  This includes construction and industrial sites. 

OSHA strongly intends to conduct on-site inspections for facilities that have a high rate of incidents, injuries and illnesses shown by recorded data.  Types of these establishments are nursing facilities, personal care facilities and manufacturing plants.  Construction is considered a high-risk choice of work, as well.  Inspections and investigations are done by OSHA compliance health and safety officers, who are professionally trained in the disciplines of safety and industrial hygiene.   (You may go to our parent company’s home page, Texas America Safety Company, www.tasco-safety.com, to read safety news reports of those companies who were guilty of various non-compliance issues, resulting in death and injury to workers.)

Inspections are always conducted without advance notice.  There are, however, special circumstances under which OSHA may give notice to the employer, but such a notice will normally be less than 24 hours. These circumstances include the following:

  •  Imminent danger situations that require correction as soon as possible;
  •  Accident investigations where the employer has notified the agency of a fatality or   catastrophe;
  •  Inspections that must take place after regular business hours or that require special preparation;
  •  Cases where notice is required to ensure that the employer and employee representative or other personnel will be present;
  •  Cases where an inspection must be delayed for more than 5 working days when there is good cause; and
  •  Situations in which the OSHA Area Director determines that advance notice would produce a more thorough or effective inspection. 

Employers who receive advance notice of an inspection must inform their employees’ representative or arrange for OSHA to do so.  If an employer refuses to admit an OSHA compliance officer or if an employer attempts to interfere with the inspection, the Act permits appropriate legal action, such as obtaining a warrant to inspect. 

How does a compliance officer prepare for the inspection?

A compliance officer represents the agency and is expected to demonstrate his or her knowledge and expertise in the safety and health field in a courteous and professional manner. Before the inspection, the compliance officer will become familiar with as many relevant facts as possible about the workplace, such as its inspection history, the nature of the business, and the particular standards that might apply. This preparation provides the compliance officer with a knowledge of the potential hazards and industrial processes that he or she may encounter and aids in selecting appropriatePPE safety supplies for use against these hazards during the inspection. 

The above information is from OSHA, so it might be a good time to get out that inspection checklist and make sure your workplace is in compliance. Hopes are you won’t find anything too dangerous, but it would be an excellent way to avoid a serious injury, lost time, and lost productivity, as well as legal repercussions.  Plus, the employees on the front line will probably sleep a little better at night, knowing you check safety issues out on a regular basis.

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Protective Clothing

GET YOUR ARC FLASH GAME ON! (Guest Post)

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Get Your Arc Flash Game On

By Jack Rubinger, jarubinger@graphicproducts.com, www.DuraLabel.com

What happens when an arc flash occurs? And what is being done to lessen the risk? Few topics stir the emotions as much as arc flash dangers.  There is so much energy involved, and the nature of electricity is unlike anything else: invisible and unpredictable. Think burns and severe eye injuries.  

Working smart is critically important though experts agree it’s still hard to anticipate an arc flash occurrence. That’s why it’s so important to be prepared.  The most important question is: “Can we do this work de-energized?” said Mike Balinskas of PowerHawke, Inc. 

“Unfortunately, arc flash studies aren’t an exact science. They are snapshots, based on current utility information. As the grid fluctuates over time, so does the hazard exposure,” said Dave Hill, Intertek Testing. So it’s not enough to rely on PPE. Every precaution should be taken to prevent arc flash.

What’s missing from many electrical safety programs is a strategic game plan to address arc flash hazards.

“The distance between a lifetime of pain, disfiguration, and disability when compared to going home safely is no further than the fraction of an inch air gap that can be ionized to initiate an arc in the presence of significant voltage. Knowing the site and following the rules keep individuals safe and equipment intact,” said Michael Morse, Professor of Electrical Engineering, University of San Diego.

Electrical safety plans must address:

  •         Training/compliance
  •          PPE
  •          Tools/equipment

Training/compliance

Employees fear they’ve not been adequately trained. Training needs to increase to keep employees up to speed. How familiar are you with new NFPA requirements and how they apply to your equipment?

Mr. Hill reviews current arc flash NFPA, ANSI, IEEE and NEC information:

  • NFPA 70-2011/NEC is the driving document for all electrical installations. The other NFPA, ANSI/UL, IEEE, NEMA and harmonized IEC documents refer back to the NEC for installation practices.
  • NFPA 70-2011/NEC Section 110.16 and the Informational Note reference NFPA 70E for guidance of Arc Flash and PPE as well as ANSI Z535.4 for the safety warning signage.
  • Industrial electrical equipment and control panels, are required by NFPA 70-2011/NEC Section 670.3(A) to have a permanent label denoting short-circuit current rating of the control panel with references to UL 508A Supplement SB as an example of determining the SCCR. Section 409.22 and 409.110(4) are the references for industrial control panels specifically.
  • NFPA code calls for labeling electrical panels, disconnects and access points to inform those servicing equipment to communicate potential arc flash hazards present based on studies of the electrical system feeding each location.
  • NFPA 70E requires workers to document arc flash analysis calculations used for electrical equipment labeling. Even though NFPA 70E and IEEE 1584 provide standardized calculations for an arc flash analysis, other methods exist, opening the door for variation. Posting key elements of your analysis on electrical equipment will help you remember the methods used after a job is complete.

As of September 30, 2011 NFPA requires labels to display the nominal system voltage, arc flash boundary and one of the following: 

  • Available incident energy and the corresponding working distance
  • Minimum arc rating of clothing
  • Required level of PPE
  • Highest hazard/risk category (HRC) for the equipment 

NFPA’s new standards require that labels display additional information and must be posted on switchboards, panelboards, industrial control panels, meter socket enclosures and motor control centers.

A switchboard is a large single panel, frame, or assembly of panels. Switches, overcurrent, other protective devices, buses and usually instruments are mounted on the face, back or both. Switchboards are generally accessible from the rear and from the front and not intended to be installed in cabinets.

Panelboards are single panels or groups of panel units designed for assembly in the form of a single panel. These include buses, automatic overcurrent devices and those devices equipped with or without switches for the control of light, heat or power circuits. Panelboards are designed to be placed in a cabinet or cutout box or against a wall, partition, or other support; and accessible only from the front.

There are two main types of industrial control panels (ICP) — enclosed and open ICPs. Enclosed ICPs are installed within a complete enclosure at the panel manufacturer’s location. An open ICP includes factory wiring, field wiring terminals and components mounted on a sub-panel without a complete enclosure. ICPs often contain motor controllers, switches, relays, power supplies, computers, cathode ray tubes, transducers and auxiliary devices used in the manufacturing process to control industrial utilization equipment.

Meter socket enclosures are equipped with matching jaws to accommodate the bayonet-type (blade) terminals of a detachable watt-hour meter. It also has a means of connections for the termination of the circuit conductors. It may be a single-position socket for one meter or a multi-position trough socket for two or more meters.

Motor control centers are unlike other types of power distribution equipment, which are used with a variety of load types. Motor control centers primarily control the distribution of power to electric motors.

PPE 

Whether you are in an underground high-voltage transmission system or a substation, personal protective equipment (PPE) reduces exposure hazards. PPE means wearable protective gear: a shielded hood, bibs or coveralls. 

“A key technology ensuring safety is the infrared window. Installed on cabinet panels and doors, IR windows are view ports providing access into electrical cabinets and other enclosures. With an IR window, an electrical worker uses an infrared camera to inspect energized internal electrical components for temperature abnormalities without the direct exposure from removing covers and panels,” said Andre´ Rebelo, FLIR Systems, Inc. 

Infrared windows are a framed lens made of special transparent crystal or polymer material allowing infrared spectrum waves to pass through the window making it easy to perform infrared inspections. IR windows have a protective cover to shield the lens when not in use. 

Tools and Equipment


Industrial labeling systems such as the DuraLabel Toro are indispensable for electrical contractors. New systems are mobile, compatible with many types of software and empower end-users to quickly create custom safety, hazard and warning signs and labels on-site, in sequence. Displaying arc flash calculations on an industrial label offers valuable information to other electrical workers, inspectors and emergency responders who will likely work on or around the equipment you label in the future.  

No one can dispute the power and force of an arc flash. Following these three strategic steps, we can minimize many arc flash hazards. 

For more information about Arc Flash, visit www.arcflash.me.