Keeping your electrical workers safe while in the work environment is one of your company’s most important objectives. OSHA and the National Fire Protection Agency have developed a set of standards for electrical safety in the workplace. The goal of these standards is to protect the workers from the hazards of electrical shock, arc flash and arc blast. NFPA 70E and the National Electrical Code support this goal by requiring and or recommending that facilities provide their electrical workers with:

• A safety program with defined responsibilities.
• An electrical hazards analysis.
• Electrical safety training for workers.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) for employees working on electrical distribution equipment.
• Labels warning of electrical hazards on equipment.
• Adequate tools for safe work.

Because 80% of all electrical injuries are caused by burns resulting from exposure to the energy released by an arcing fault, NEC Article 110.16 requires labeling on switchboards, panel boards, motor control centers and industrial control panels. These labels inform the workers of the potential hazards of working on the equipment so they can evaluate the safe work practices needed and the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required to work on the equipment. Often, an Arc Flash Hazard Analysis is required to determine the intensity of the arc at various distances.
IES has the software, training and experience to assist you in meeting the OSHA and NFPA 70 and 70E requirements for protecting your electrical workers. We perform these studies using calculation methods based on IEEE Standard 1584 to determine the incident energy for a distance from an electric arc. From these studies we are able to generate the required labels which clearly indicate the PPE required at various distances. We can also train your electrical workers on how to use the information shown on the labels and assist you in the selection of personal protective equipment for your personnel.