Arc Flash University resumes with an overview of NFPA 70E requirements

The types of major electrical faults that can occur in electrical equipment are presented, with a focus on arcing faults as particularly damaging and dangerous to workers and equipment. Statistical occurrences of arc flash accidents that cause significant injuries and fatalities are discussed in both human and financial terms.

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The third class in the 2010 Arc Flash University Series, sponsored by IRISS, Schneider Electric and UE Systems, will provide an overview of the NFPA 70E electrical safety standard and the responsibilities employers face in complying with the standard.

The session will take place Thursday, August 19 at 1 p.m. CST. Registration for the Webcast series is now open at under the Media Library tab on the home page or by clicking this registration link. Previous Arc Flash University attendees will be sent a link to the Webcast by email.

Presenting the Webcast will be Joe Weigel, a recognized industry expert on the subject of arc flash safety. Weigel is a 40-year veteran of the electrical industry in the United States and in China.  He currently works for Square D Services in Nashville Tennessee as their Product Manager for the arc flash awareness program.  He is a member of the NFPA and IEEE.

Weigel has had extensive experience leading the Square D Services program to help to develop the NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, and to increase awareness of these new evolving NFPA standards and OSHA requirements that affect Square D customers.  He has written and published more than 60 articles in electrical industry publications on strategies to mitigate arcing faults in electrical distribution equipment, and has lectured extensively in North America and Australia to increase awareness for these new safety standards and requirements.

The presentation covers all aspects of facility and employer responsibilities for compliance to the NFPA 70E standards, as well as the current status of OSHA enforcement of these standards.

Webcast topics will include:

• Characteristics and causes of arcing faults
• Statistics of arc flash accidents and results
• OSHA enforcement and legal responsibilities
• Employers responsibilities for compliance to the codes and standards
• Equipment hazard warning labels
• Training for qualified persons
• Hazard levels and Personal Protective Equipment requirements
• Methods of determining arc flash hazard levels (arc flash analysis)
• Purchasing an arc flash hazard analysis for your facility
• Recent changes in NFPA 70E 2009 and the National Electric Code 2008
• Mitigating high hazard levels in existing systems
• Design for Safety for new electrical distribution systems
• Anticipated changes to OSHA enforcement activities

The types of major electrical faults that can occur in electrical equipment are presented, with a focus on arcing faults as particularly damaging and dangerous to workers and equipment. Statistical occurrences of arc flash accidents that cause significant injuries and fatalities are discussed in both human and financial terms.