M.C. Dean Inc., one of the nation’s largest electrical construction and engineering firms, on August 27 released a white paper, Establishing an Arc Flash Loss Prevention Program, that outlines the six steps businesses should follow to protect their workers and companies from arc flash explosions.
Written specifically for non-technical managers and executives, the white paper uses easy-to-understand language to discuss arc flashes, arc flash loss and the importance of having a definitive arc flash loss prevention (AFLP) program in place.
“In the U.S. each day, five to ten people are severely injured and one to two killed by arc flash electrical explosions,” says Mark Tibbetts, co-author of the white paper and president/general manager, M.C. Dean Atlanta. “Because of the dangers of these electrical explosions, OSHA now legally requires employers to follow the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) recommended practices to protect workers from arc flash exposure. Having a proper program in place to protect workers is beyond being the right thing to do. Now arc flash loss prevention is mandatory.”
“The financial impact of an arc flash accident can be devastating, and because the stakes are so high, risk managers who typically do not have an engineering or technical background need to understand the exposure, the methods needed to prevent these accidents, and the costs associated with initiating an AFLP program,” says co-author Dr. Robert E. Hoyt.
“An AFLP program goes beyond engineering and risk identification offered by many firms today and fills the risk management gap by instilling processes to train, track and update,” adds Dr. Hoyt, Moore Chair of Risk Management and Insurance in the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia. Dr. Hoyt has more than 20 years of academic and consulting experience in the field of risk management.
The M.C. Dean white paper explains the impact and causes of arc flashes, includes a glossary of key terms, answers frequently asked questions, and outlines the six core steps for a thorough arc flash prevention (AFLP) program:
1. Discovery and Engineering
2. Identification and Documentation
3. Program Preparation and Administration
4. Program Training and Certification
5. Field Execution and Document Review and
6. Program Review and Update.
Authoring the arc flash white paper with Tibbetts and Dr. Hoyt are John Welch, a nationally known critical power expert and manager of M.C. Dean’s Critical Power Group Atlanta, and Apostolos (Tolis) Vranis, P.E., an electrical engineer with more than 25 years of experience and vice president of electrical engineering for M.C. Dean.
“Because our clients are asking us what they need to meet OSHA and NFPA regulations, we decided to write a white paper that would give executives and middle management the answers required to manage arc flash loss prevention,” says Welch.
“Establishing an Arc Flash Loss Prevention Program gives management the ability to put measures in place to hold their technical resources responsible for safety, asset management and document control,” adds Vranis.
To obtain a copy of Establishing an Arc Flash Loss Prevention Program or for more information on arc flash loss prevention (AFLP), e-mail john.welch@mcdean.com.