If you’re not familiar with what an arc flash is, prepare to be enlightened. Arc flashes are perilous by nature.
When an electrical current travels from its first phase and leaves its intended path, the violent burst of electricity travels through the air to the ground or to the next viable phase, which can be any decent conductive object nearby. If you are too close to the vicinity, this may very well be you.
Arc flash training, from Facility Results, is designed to prepare electrical workers for one of many possible occurrences on the job. No one expects things to go wrong, but when they do, it certainly helps to be prepared. When working in dangerous environments, it is crucial to have all of the training available to prevent injury and loss of life to the best of your ability.
Electrical work is particularly dangerous and should be approached with safety in mind.
The Simple Answer
Yes. Arc flash training is an enforced OSHA standard for electrical workers. Not having the proper training can cause an employer’s legal and fiscal problems. There are a variety of fines put in place to help maintain compliance regulations on worksites.
People sometimes scoff at safety equipment and training when they’re in a rush or under pressure to get a job done. In the event of an accident, they’re thankful that they had it available and the proper training. For those who don’t, sometimes they aren’t so lucky.
OSHA standards are in place to protect workers and keep the workplace safe for everyone involved. Not adhering to safety concerns is a quick way to make any job site a dangerous environment. The goal is to get the job done efficiently and safely so that people can continue to go home to their families at the end of the day’s work.
Arc flash training is an important part of safety training for: engineers, assemblers, machine operators, technicians, supervisors, and others in the electrical field.
Importance Of Training
Arc flash training is essential to preventing a long list of negative outcomes. There are hefty fines to consider and workplace hazards that could be missed, leading to injury or even loss of life. The fines are put in place as a deterrent for overlooking unsafe behavior.
Safety should never be overlooked for speed because getting a job done faster isn’t better when the outcome could potentially lead to a potentially life-threatening hazard.
It is important to be trained in your area of profession so that you and your fellow coworkers can go home at the end of the day. Not doing so puts both the employee and anyone near the worksite at risk to an exponential amount of risk.
Keeping your employees up to date with required training gives them the knowledge and tools they need to perform their job safely and to the best of their ability. If you intend to do the job the right way, make sure that you take the safety concerns seriously and have all of the necessary training done ahead of time.
Associated Risk With Arc Flashes
Arc flashes are incredibly dangerous and can be life-threatening. Arc flashes generate a lot of heat and energy; these temperatures can be significantly hotter than the surface of the sun. There is a significant risk of both external and internal burns.
In addition to burns, it can also cause accelerated heart rates, numbness, paralysis, eye damage or blindness, and a very wide and devastating list of other possible outcomes. These risks are not to be taken lightly. If enough electricity is diverted from its path, it could cause life-threatening complications or immediate death to a person.
Arc flashes, when they discharge into the air, can cause a blast that is strong enough to throw a full-sized man to the ground. The rapid expansion of air molecules can create enough force to damage your hearing and equipment nearby.
The combination of heat and rapid expansion runs the risk of vaporizing harsh chemicals and metals in the surrounding area to the blast. If the list of potential hazards isn’t long enough, please include intoxication from inhalation of toxic gasses.
Danger Can Be Avoided
Proper training is at the forefront of preventing damage. It is crucial that you know what to look for and how to respond in the event of an arc flash. Training is a good way to prepare the mind and entrain the necessary procedures.
That crucial time immediately following an accident can change the outcome entirely sometimes. Knowing how to respond to an emergency will help prevent you from freezing at the moment.
Arc flashes can result from accidental contact between the electrical source and something in the way of its intended path. This can happen in a wide variety of ways, such as the build-up of conductive materials, corrosion, or other ways that the connections are damaged.
It is important to undergo the proper electrical safety training before putting yourself in a potentially lethal situation.
Training For A Better Tomorrow
Arc flash training may not be at the top of everyone’s list. If you intend to work in the electrical field, it is an absolute must-have in your certification arsenal. Having arc flash training is a surefire way to get your resume to stand out above the others when applying for a new electrical position.
Every bit of continued education adds to your career in one way or another, and arc flash training is a good course to add to help ensure a long and safe career.
As technology advances, there is a greater need for both engineers and tradesmen alike. Understanding code and software is only half of the battle when it comes to developing machinery. Building and maintaining the equipment is equally as important.
Electrical engineers and tradesmen will always be in demand, regardless of the fuel source. That being the case, it never helps to be up on the necessary safety training in advance.