Performing arc flash hazard analysis on an electrical distribution system is an important safety step. Once the analysis is complete, the report is in, the labels are up, the PPE is on hand, and the qualified workers are trained, everyone breathes a sigh of relief.
Actually, though, this is no time to relax. Now that the arc flash hazard safety program is in place, it must be maintained if it is to remain effective. Program maintenance consists of two critical elements: the arc flash study, itself, and worker safety training. ⚠️
Updating the Arc Flash Study
An arc flash study is not a one-time event, but a snapshot of the electrical system at a specific point in time. Any changes to the system can potentially affect arc flash study accuracy.
Section 130.5(G) of NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace specifies that arc flash hazard analysis shall be updated whenever there is a major modification to the electrical system (e.g., changing a feed or adding large motors). Even in the absence of such changes, NFPA 70E still mandates reviewing the arc flash study every five years maximum to account for the many little changes that can have a big impact on study results.
“Retraining” in NFPA 70E
Training electrical workers in NFPA 70E safety concepts is, likewise, not a one-time event. Workers leave; new ones are added; people forget what they have learned. Because of this, the overall level of your qualified workers’ electrical safety knowledge varies from day to day—and is never as high as it was on Day One following their last safety training session.
NFPA 70E section 110.4(A)(3) specifies additional as-needed worker training under certain conditions, but it also mandates retraining all qualified electrical workers at an interval not to exceed three years. Some companies follow a yearly retraining policy due to the importance of NFPA 70E electrical safety concepts.
Do you need to update your arc flash study or train-retrain your qualified electrical workers? If so, contact Kerry Wright for more on maintaining your arc flash hazard safety program.