A Summary of Arc Flash Hazard Assessments and Safety Improvements

The authors and their colleagues have used the methods in IEEE 1584 "guide for performing arc flash hazard calculations" to complete electrical hazard assessments for over 90 industrial sites, from small warehouse and office facilities to large chemical plants. This paper provides analysis of the results of those assessments, with an emphasis on the safety improvements that were made in design, work practices, and application of personal protective equipment. Modifying electrical equipment design, choosing good work practices, and applying sound engineering judgment can help to minimize arc flash hazard exposures, and reduce costs due to injury and process downtime.