LA Safety Catalogue - Issue 6

WHAT IS ELECTRIC ARC?
WHAT IS ELECTRIC ARC?
Everyone is talking about it and lots of companies need to protect their workers
from the risk of it - but what exactly is an Electric Arc?
An Electric Arc is a type of explosion involving the discharge
of voltage and energy from electrical equipment. The Arc
itself happens when the current flows through an air gap
between conductors.
An Arc Flash generates extremely high levels of energy and
heat and happens within a fraction of a second, almost like
a bomb explosion. The consequences of an Arc Flash can
be extremely severe for the worker and many injuries can
be life changing or life threatening. As well as the risk of
2nd and 3rd degree burns from the flame, high heat and
molten debris, other Arc Flash hazards include damage or
loss of sight through radiation / flash, hearing damage (due
to explosion), internal burns and damage to respiratory
system through inhalation of toxic gases, physical injuries
from flying debris and blast pressure waves.
By it's nature an Arc Flash incident is an accident - the risk
cannot be engineered out completely. Indeed, many Arc
Flash incidents occur through human error - believing a
circuit is dead, opening the wrong panel, touching the
wrong thing - over 50% of Arc Flash incidents are caused
by human error. Other factors include maintenance faults,
equipment faults, wear and tear of components and cable
strike. You cannot see it or hear it until it's too late.
So if we cannot eliminate, reduce, isolate or
control the risk and therefore have to use PPE,
what should you do?
If a company has a risk of Electric Arc then it is required by
law to carry out an Arc Flash assessment which calculates
the likely incident energy (expressed in cal/cm2) and also
measures that can be take to minimise the risk of Arc Flash.
Please contact us if you need any further information on
this.
All our FR / ARC workwear is shown on the following pages
and meets these standards. The garments are made by
Tranemo Workwear who are Europe's leading manufacturer
of FR / ARC workwear and have been making the highest
quality workwear since 1934.
A quality manufacturer is very important for FR / ARC as you
want your workwear to be as comfortable, durable and long
lasting as possible.
Secondly - wear layers!! The transfer of heat from an Arc
Flash is dramatically reduced when you wear layers of FR
clothing. The layers not only act as a 'barrier' themselves but
also trap air, which is a poor conductor of heat. Tranemo's
SKINSAFE programme on the next page highlights the
importance of this.
Thirdly - wear correct PPE!! Providing the correct FR /
Electirc Arc workwear isn't the only protection a worker
needs. It is vital that any supporting garments & PPE must
also meet the correct standards to protect against Electric
Arc - especially for protecting the hands and face. 60% of Arc
Flash injuries result in life changing damage to the hands
and face, as these are generally the areas of your body that
receive the full force of an Arc Flash and have the least
protection. Make sure you wear an Arc rated helmet with
visor and Arc Rated gloves - you will see these on the
following pages. And if you are working outside, never put on
non FR / ARC Rainwear - this will ignite instantly in an Arc
Flash. Always make sure you have FR / ARC Rainwear - we
are delighted to work with Lyngsoe Rainwear who make
some of the best FR / ARC Rainwear garments available
today - protecting you against the risk of Arc as well as the
wind and rain!
Finally - EDUCATE! Make sure your workwear understands
the importance of FR / ARC clothing & PPE and why they
need it - and why it is so important to wear it correctly!
WHAT IS TRANEMO SKINSAFE?
THE MULTI-LAYER PROTECTION SYSTEM
Tranemo Skinsafe is the name of our multi-layer system designed to protect
against flame, heat and Electric Arc injuries. Starting at skin level, Tranemo has taken a human-centric
approach to design, putting the individual at the focus of protection.
The use of multiple thin layers instead of one thick layer, offers the wearer Flame Retardant protective clothing that is
lightweight and gives a better freedom of movement. This allows the wearer to work more effectively and for longer periods.
LAYER 1 – SKIN PROTECTION
In the event of an accident, wearing the wrong underwear can lead to the fabric burning and melting onto your skin. To protect against this, our Flame
Retardant underwear offer the following benefits:
• Inherent Flame Retardant safety
• Soft and comfortable
• Anti-static
• Does not give bad odour
LAYER 2 – INSULATION
An insulating mid-layer should be worn to increase comfort during the colder months of the year.
This layer creates a distance between layer 1 and 3 which insulates against heat as well as low temperatures.
LAYER 3 – SHIELD
The primary function of any outer layer must be protection – however, to be worn every day, these garments should also fit the
body snugly and offer comfort, freedom of movement and meet practical needs such as storage.
AIR GAP
The air gaps between the layers of the Tranemo Skinsafe system have a low conductivity which increases the ability to block
heat, insulate against cold and provide extra safety in demanding work situations.
YOU
AIR GAP
SKIN
PROTECTION
AIR GAP
INSULATION
AIR GAP
SHIELD
FLAME RETARDANT / ELECTRIC ARC
SAMPLE SPREADS
FLAME & ARC PROTECTION
Firstly, it is imperative to wear the correct workwear - you
should only wear clothing made from Inherent FR fabrics
and that has been certified to the Electric Arc standards.
You should be looking for workwear that conforms to EN
ISO 11612 (FR standard) and EN ISO 61482 (Electric Arc
standard) and gives an Arc Rating (expressed in cal/cm2)
that meets your likely incident energy requirements.
Electric Arc can be very confusing but we are here
to help! By working with Europe's leading
manufacturers of FR / ARC workwear & PPE, we
can help you ensure that you provide the best
levels of FR / ARC protection for your employees.
Please get in touch if you need any help or
guidance on your Arc Flash programme.
Together we CAN make a difference and help to create a safer workplace!
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TRANEMO
SKINSAFE