The Dangers of Arc Flashes
Arc flash injuries are common and account for almost 9% of all workplace fatalities. In the ten year period from 1992 through 2001 there were 17,101 arc flash caused injuries (from a NIOSH study). But the number of injuries has been climbing. According to statistics compiled by CapSchell, Inc., a Chicago-based research and consulting firm, there are now between five and ten arc flash injuries every day.

A single arc flash incident can cost a company as much as $15,000,000 in direct and indirect costs. An article in EC&M magazine states:

"Severe arc-flash burns can cause a slow, painful death, but even when they aren't lethal, they can do serious damage. Hot gases can injure lungs and impair breathing. Even curable burns can result in painful skin and tissue injury that can take weeks or months to heal. However, not all arc-flash injuries are physical. Psychological effects like depression, job apprehension, and family tension can also manifest themselves. Therefore, avoiding any burn is important in terms of time, money, and a person's well being."

Arc flash is a serious safety threat that needs to be properly addressed.

What Is Arc Flash?
An arc flash occurs when components fail or when conductive material gets too close to a current source. The resulting arc can heat the surrounding air to temperatures four times hotter than the surface of the sun, vaporizing metal in the equipment and causing severe injury to bystanders.

Report of an arc flash incident

Video of an arc flash incident

Observing arc flash safety standards is an effective way to reduce the risk of arc flash injuries.

NEC Article: 110.16 Flash Protection