The journey of an enterprise in a process industry toward improved electrical workplace safety

This paper is a case study outlining the experience of a multi-site cement producer and their experience in implementing an enterprise wide electrical workplace safety program including compliance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E-2012 standard. Following a brief primer regarding arc flash hazards, the paper outlines how the company first established a case for change and buy-in across the enterprise which includes 13 cement plants located across the USA and Canada, and then proceeds in describing the processes used to identify the defined work scope, select a supplier partner and then complete arc-flash studies at each site. Advantages of scale in areas including common methods of data collection, selected software, standardized labels, site training and energized work permits are addressed. Finally, lessons learned during this project and a phased remediation plan at each site, developed to reduce or eliminate potentially hazardous conditions will be discussed. Finally, a few concepts based on “safety by design” will be explored where there might be an opportunity to design the hazard out or down for new plant projects or expansion.