Staged tests increase awareness of arc-flash hazards in electricalequipment

摘要

The cause and prevention of electrical arcs have been explorednsince the early 1960s. Engineering design, construction of equipmentnenclosure, modifications with structural protections and, more recently,nrequirements for employee safe work practices have all targeted thenrisks of electrical arc hazards. Yet arcs accompanied by explosionsncontinue to occur in electrical systems. Both human factors andnequipment malfunctions contribute to the unexpected release of explosivenelectrical energy in the workplace. This paper presents experimentalnresults of staged tests simulating the participation of workers in thentest scene. Observations regarding the intensities of electrical arcnflash events, variances between predicted and observed measurements andnimplications for safety management are discussed. The intent is tonimprove the understanding of how people are exposed to electricalnhazards in industrial settings so that prevention strategies may benenhanced