Arc-Flash Compliance Implementation at Industrial Processing Facilities
This paper highlights an assortment of case studies and explains how arc-flash hazards were identified, measured, and mitigated in various industrial processing facilities. Case studies reviewed include the following: (1) the completion of arc-flash studies and arc-flash remediation for a group of existing cement pyroprocessing plants in North America to achieve compliance with Electrical Workplace Standards National Fire Protection Association 70E-2012 and Canadian Standards Association Z462-2012 for a multisite cement manufacturer; (2) the implementation of an arc-flash analysis at an existing U.S.-based copper mine/copper concentrate facility; (3) the investigation of an arc-flash incident that occurred during energized work at a U.S. chemical processing facility; and (4) a “Safety by Design” installation for a new Greenfield coal preparation plant in Australia. This paper will examine the plans and processes reviewed and considered and the strategy deployed to manage/reduce arc-flash hazards and then discuss lessons learned in the implementation of new systems to improve electrical workplace safety.
Arc flash energy reduction techniques zone selective interlocking & energy-reducing maintenance switching
The safety of personnel that work on electrical power distribution systems has received increasing attention from a number of Standards and regulatory organizations in recent years. Organizations such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and several other groups are actively engaged in ongoing discussions on improving electrical worker safety, specifically in the area of protection from Arc Flash hazards. While standards developed by these organizations discuss improvement opportunities, there are a number of techniques and technologies that are currently available for mitigating Arc Flash exposure. This paper will provide a general overview of the key arc flash reduction techniques, and will specifically focus on two of these technologies — Zone Selective Interlocking & Arc Energy Reduction Maintenance Switch Systems. The benefits, expected performance, and the appropriate application of each of these arc flash reduction solutions will be presented.
Trends in Electrical Injury, 1992-2002
This paper updates an earlier report by the authors that studied electrical injuries from 1992 to 1998. The previous information is expanded and supplemented with fatal and nonfatal injury rates and trends through 2002. Injury numbers and rates were used to compare and trend electrical injury experience for various groups and categories. This information allowed identification of at-risk groups that could most benefit from effective electrical safety interventions. The data presented in this paper are derived from the U.S. Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics' census of fatal occupational injuries (CFOI), survey of occupational illnesses and injuries (SOII) and current population survey (CPS). Between 1992 and 2002, 3,378 workers died from on-the-job electrical injuries. Electricity remained the sixth leading cause of injury-related occupational death. From 1999 through 2002, 4.7% of all occupational deaths were caused by electricity, down from 5.2% in the 1992 to 1998 time period. The cause of death was listed as electrocution in 99.1% of fatal cases. Contact with overhead power lines was involved in 42% of all on-the-job electrical deaths. The construction industry accounted for 47% of all electrical deaths between 1992 and 2002, but showed overall improvement from 1995 through 2002 by reducing its electrical fatality rate from 2.2 to 1.5 per 100,000 workers. An additional 46,598 workers were nonfatally injured by electricity. Contact with electric current of machine, tool, appliance, or light fixture and contact with wiring, transformers, or other electrical components accounted for 36% and 34% of nonfatal electrical injuries, respectively. Contact with underground, buried power lines was involved with 1% of fatal injuries and 2% of nonfatal injuries. NIOSH research aimed at evaluating commercially available overhead power line proximity warning alarms is described. This research is expected to be the initial step for eventual development of a performance standard for such systems