Featured Videos

Spring 2022

Understanding The Arc Flash Danger: How Bad Could It Be?

May 3, 2022

By Derek Vigstol, Contributor The importance of the risk assessment method used takes a back seat to the reality that a labeled work environment is a safer environment with respect to arc flash because it removes the pressure to accurately assess the arc flash risk on the fly. It’s no secret that arc flash and…

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Lockout/Tagout Compliance: Implementing a World-Class Management System

May 3, 2022

By: Ricky Rodriguez, Contributor Implementing a Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) is often mistaken as just developing procedures and training. This article will help explain what encompasses an effective Lockout/Tagout management system and best practices. Lockout/Tagout compliance prevents 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries a year, with injuries that can vary from amputations to electrocution. LOTO applies to both…

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Protecting People, Property, and Production with Proper Electrical Grounding

May 3, 2022

By: Dave Hernandez, Contributor Ground fault protection is the most important safety mechanism to decrease shock hazards and prevent loss of life for workers or unqualified individuals who may inadvertently come into contact with equipment, frames, and enclosures. Grounding plays a critical role in any electrical power system. The grounding system is a network that…

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Avoid Arc Flash Occurrences with Preventive Measures

May 3, 2022

Adhering to NFPA standards and safety best practices are the best deterrents. By John Foged, Contributor Today’s dependence on electrical energy has led to a lower tolerance for any outage. To meet these expectations, electrical workers are being pressed to perform maintenance work on energized electrical equipment. In addition to the electrical shock hazard that…

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Electrical Safety Statistics: Why Are Workers Still Dying on the Job

May 3, 2022

By Lee Marchessault, Contributor Since the beginning of the American Industrial Revolution, workers have died on the job. In the latter part of the 1800s several states adopted different variations of state job safety and health legislation to protect workers, but there was limited enforcement. The introduction of electricity to the workplace provided a more…

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One Electrician’s Life Lesson: The Case for Electrical Safety Training for both Electricians and Non-Electricians

May 3, 2022

By Corey Hannahs, Contributor The sirens were deafening, even to my 13-year-old ears. My good friend, Heath, and I were playing an intense game of summer basketball in my driveway. The fact that I was losing and, as always, determined to win, should have been reason enough for my focus to be on the game…

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Arc Flash Labels: What You Need to Know

May 3, 2022

By Brandon Smoak, Contributor OSHA requires employers to ensure that each employee exposed to hazards from electric arcs wears personal protective equipment (PPE) with an arc rating greater than or equal to the estimated heat energy that could be released. [3] Taken at face value, this OSHA requirement seems straightforward; however, accomplishing this outcome requires…

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OSHA Arc Flash Update and the Myth of De-Energized Work

May 3, 2022

By Scott Margolin, Contributor The Partnership for Electrical Safety (PES) has been working with OSHA to understand NFPA 70E compliance rates and the resultant frequency and consequences of arc flash among commercial and industrial electricians in the United States. We’ve written in this space about the bipartisan letters from the House and Senate urging OSHA action…

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Risk Management in Electrical Utilities: How to Boost Operational Resilience and Respond to Emergencies

May 3, 2022

By Roger Guerrero, Contributor Electric utility companies face threats every day, whether natural disasters or emergencies caused by people. Historic cold streaks have battered power systems in the South and glitches have shut down three times more power than expected during rolling blackouts in Louisiana. Devastating wildfires have downed, and been caused by, electric utilities…

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Five Ways to Protect Workers During Plant Turn-Around or Shutdowns

May 3, 2022

By Brian Earl, Contributor When creating a project plan for plant shutdowns, there is one aspect you can’t compromise on: employee safety. Although each facility is different, there are several common denominators when it comes to safety concerns. Below are 5 ways you can protect your workers on the job site: Wet Location Protection Anywhere…

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