Is This a Compliant Arc Flash & Shock Equipment Label?
Terry Becker, P.Eng., CESCP, IEEE Senior Member
TAKE CONTROL of ARC FLASH! Electrical Safety Specialist, Management Consultant - helping employers take control of electrical hazard management with validated residual risk at TW Becker Electrical Safety Consulting Inc.
Over the last 13 years of providing electrical safety consulting and performing External Electrical Safety Audits or when implementing Electrical Safety Programs for client I review P.Eng./PE Electrical Engineering Arc Flash Hazard Incident Energy Analysis Study Reports that have been issued to the client.
Over the years I have posted that many of the issued reports do not necessarily present information on arcing fault probability and arc flash, and arc blast pressure that is accurate or what arc flash PPE is required. Another challenge has been the example Arc Flash & Shock Equipment Labels presented in the report, printed and provided to the client and installed on the electrical equipment for the Qualified Electrical Worker to reference when they document their Arc Flash Risk Assessment and Shock Risk Assessment (yes it has to be documented, should be part of the Energized Electrical Job Work Flow and Energized Electrical Job Safety Planning process).
I also try to use the client's actual study and equipment labels when training is delivered. Recently I reviewed a study before providing arc flash & shock training. The question I have is this Arc Flash & Shock Equipment Label compliant (and would appreciate some replies back)?
The Arc Flash & Shock Equipment Label below is not one of the actual equipment labels from the study but a mock equipment label for the purposes of this post.
Globally we have to ensure for the benefit of the Qualified Electrical Worker that consistent and credible information is provided. Ultimately an employer's Electrical Safety Program should control the specification for the Arc Flash & Shock Equipment Labels they will install and this will ensure consistency, correctness, quality and accuracy of the electrical hazard information!
FYI, NFPA 70E Article 130.5(H) and CSA Z462 Clause 4.3.5.7 provide requirements for what information should be included on the equipment label. They quote "The owner of the electrical equipment shall be responsible for the documentation, installation and maintenance of the label." What we included in CSA Z462 was an additional Annex Q that further advised specific requirements, this Annex is not included in NFPA 70E.
We need to "Get Arc Flash Right!!"
TAKE CONTROL of ARC FLASH! Electrical Safety Specialist, Management Consultant - helping employers take control of electrical hazard management with validated residual risk at TW Becker Electrical Safety Consulting Inc.
4 年This arc flash & shock label is not compliant, it doesn't conform to the requirements of ANXI Z535.? Ultimately an employer's Electrical Safety Program shall specify the arc flash & shock equipment label specification NOT the engineers report issued.? Unfortunately most employers do not have Electrical Safety Programs developed and if they do they may not specify the arc flash & shock equipment label specification. It is important that the employer/electrical equipment owner control the arc flash & shock equipment label, and especially if they own more than one facility so they have consistency in the arc flash & shock equipment labels installed. In completing External Electrical Safety Audits I unfortunately identify to clients that the arc flash & shock equipment labels are not compliant, are not consistent and may be difficult for the QEW to interpret correctly.
Director at GP Technologies Ltd
4 年Colour of the warning banner is not compliant per Z462
Instructor for Page Electrical Safety
4 年It needs the date that it was attached to the equipment so the hazard analysis can be reviewed in five years.
ANSI Z535.4....Lime green? Should be Safety Orange Warning background.