electrical protection-Arc flash protection

Arc flash protection first became a matter of serious study in early 1980 when the IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications appeared an article by Ralph Lee titled "The Other Electrical Hazard:. Electric Arc Blast Burns" These early studies convinced several companies, particularly those in the petrochemical industry, that too many workers were suffering from burns, accidents related to electrical safety. One consequence was that several companies took steps to establish the first known set of practices designed to better protect employees and electrical personnel who were working on live electrical equipment
While petrochemical companies were some of the first to recognize the need for electrical safety defence, because the dangers apply to all electrical installations. Although the amount of energy released in an electrical safety explosion may be greater for higher voltage installations found in some petrochemical and other industrial plants, the sheer volume of low voltage equipment in commercial and industrial facilities means that installations like these account for the greatest number of electrical safety incidents.

The best way to prevent personal protection injuries from occurring is to de-energize equipment before beginning work. Standards are designed to protect workers and the workplace in the few instances where turning off the power could create a greater hazard to people or processes than leaving it on. These standards place responsibility on employers and facility owners for establishing safe practices to protect their workers against arc flash incidents.
The objective of these rules, such as NFPA 70E, is to keep electrical workers free from risk of shock, electrocution, arc flash and arc blast. And 'therefore important to understand the requirements in the standards for employee safety, the importance of electrical safety program, the responsibilities of employer and employee, and processes and best practices in various industry standards and regulations.
This regulation states, in part, "Safety related work practices shall be employed to prevent electric shock or other injuries resulting from either direct or indirect electrical contacts… ." OSHA also addresses the qualification of workers exposed to electrical shock hazards and the provision for protective equipment appropriate for the work to be performed. OSHA enforces safety practices and cites to the NFPA requirements.
Section 110.16 requires that companies place a warning label on electrical equipment likely to consitute a risk of electrical safety. This field marking may be general or very specific, depending on what the company selects. Future revisions of the NEC may require more detailed information on this label.