Electrical Safety

Electrical Hazard
‫الخطر الكهربائي‬

VS

Electrical Safety
‫السالمة الكهربائية‬
Arc Flash
Molten Metal
20,000 °C

Pressure Waves

Sound Waves

Copper Vapor: Shrapnels

Solid to Vapor
Expands by
Hot Air-Rapid Expansion
67,000 times

Two
Intense Light
Conductors
480 volt
3 phase
30 Amp
Motor Starter

6 cycles clearing time

22.5 kAIC
20,000 °C
Intense UV Light
Copper Vapor:
Copper Vapor:
Solidto
Solid toVapor
Vapor
Expansion
 Sound Waves

Pressure Waves

Hot Air-Rapid Expansion

 Molten Metal

Little Shrapnel
(Copper Bullets)
Major Burn Victim
 Understanding Personal Hazards
Associated With Arc Flash & Arc Blast
• Heat – Burns & Ignition of materials:
– Arc temperature of 20,000oC.
– Molten metal, Copper vapor, Heated air.

Second degree burn threshold:

– 80oC (0.1 sec), 2nd degree burn.

Third degree burn threshold:

– 96oC (0.1 sec), 3rd degree burn.
 Understanding Personal Hazards
Associated With Arc Flash & Arc Blast

• Intense light:
– Eye damage, Cataracts.

• Eardrum rupture threshold:

– 135 db impulse noise (like gun shot sounds).

• Lung damage threshold:

– 1728 - 2160 lbs/ft2.
 Arc Blast
Expansion Ratio
• Copper expands by a factor of 67,000 times as it
vaporizes, in the same way that water expands
about 1670 times when it becomes steam.

(1 inch3 copper )
At 800 amp Rated Copper Bus

Same expansion ratio as

a stick of Dynamite!
What are the Factors that Determine
the Electrical Injury?
 Five Factors Determine the Injury

1. Amount of Available Fault Current.

2. Time or Duration of the Arc.
3. Enclosed or in Open Air.
4. Distance from the Arc.
5. Type of Clothing Worn.
Every time you deal with Electricity…

Think of the work environment?

Think of your PPE?
Think of your tools?
Think of the possible injuries?
Think of your Attitude?
• Safety is not about PPE,
Safety is All about your mind…

• Safety is not IN your helmet,

Safety is INSIDE your helmet…
Questions ???