Arc flashes occur when the electrical current flows outside its intended path, through an air gap, to another conductor, or a type of electrical explosion or discharge that results from a connection through air to ground or another voltage phase in an electrical system. There are a number of things that can cause an arc flash and anyone who works with electricity is at risk of the injuries it can cause. CHARNAUD® explains more about arc flash and its risks, and how to protect yourself against it.
The Risks Involved with Arc Flash
Arc flashes can cause injuries such as third degree burns and can even result in blindness, hearing loss, nerve damage and cardiac arrest. It is not unheard of for people standing up to three metres away from the arc flash to suffer serious burns. Arc flashes can spray droplets of molten steel at high speed and the resulting shrapnel can be as hot as 800 degree Celsius. Blast pressure has been known to throw workers across rooms and knock them off ladders. In short, arc flashes are no joke, and workers must be protected against them.
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Measures to Protect Against Arc Flash
When working in any environment in which an arc flash might be a risk, i.e. in almost any electrical installation, there are a number of things that you can do to protect against this hazard. In order to prevent an arc flash, you can de-energize electrical equipment, keep a safe distance, reduce the energy output from an incident, train on-site workers to control risks and interrupt faults and carry out a risk assessment, prior to commencing with the works. Your employee’s last line of defence against an arc flash should be their gear. Workers must wear appropriate personal protection clothing (PPC). CHARNAUD®’s SURVIVE-ARC®’s protective wear is specially designed to protect against the thermal effects of an electric arc flash while being comfortable to wear and flame-resistant.. The range consists of CHARNAUD® SURVIVE-ARC® Chambray shirts, CHARNAUD® SURVIVE-ARC® E20300 boots, CHARNAUD® SURVIVE-ARC A16 gloves, CHARNAUD® SURVIVE-ARC switching suits and more.
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Trust CHARNAUD® to keep your staff protected against arc flash and other hazards. We aim to serve as your last defence against unexpected disaster in the working environment. Contact us today for professional advice and quotations on quality PPE.
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