The most effective and foolproof way to eliminate the risk of electrical shock or arc flash is to simply de-energize the equipment. Incidents often occur when workers fail to make certain equipment has been properly de-energized. Even these nonfatal arc flash incidents consistently result in many serious burns and injuries requiring weeks to months of intensive care hospital stays and many months of painful rehabilitation.Īn arc flash may be caused by an element in a breaker or service area that could compromise the distance between energized components. Fatalities occur at a rate of approximately one per day in the United States, with nonfatal arc flash incidents occurring approximately 5 to 10 times per day. The flash is immediate, but the result of these incidents can damage equipment and cause severe injury, including burns.Īccording to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E (2012), more than 2,000 people are admitted to intensive care burn units each year as a result of severe arc flash burns they received during an arc flash incident.

An arc flash is an undesired electric discharge that travels through the air between conductors or from a conductor to a ground.