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[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] OSHA's job is to ensure safety in the workplace, but in many cases, the agency leaves the methods for achieving safety to other standard-setting bodies. An excellent example […]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Wouldn't it be nice to know exactly what OSHA is training its inspectors to look for during an inspection that includes electrical safety, including surprising new areas of […]

When it comes to specifying circuit protection, many appliance engineers are designing equipment without considering all the aspects of this technology. But when all the options are known and understood, [...]

When working on energized equipment, electricians and maintenance technicians can find themselves in a catch-22 situation: Wearing too much personal protective equipment (PPE) can impair movement or slow down work, [...]

Switch-mode power supplies have many advantages, but when used to power industrial controls they can have one serious drawback. When a fault or overload occurs on one control circuit fed [...]

I continue to be surprised by how many equipment designers are confused by UL circuit protection standards. In trying to meet conflicting standards, engineers may actually decrease the level of […]

The article examines the position of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on personal protective equipment (PPE) for electrical workers. According to the agency, it is the responsibility of employers to provide PPE, such as fire resistant clothing, to electrical employees. OSHA's 1910.132(d) requires employers to assess for workplace hazards and choose appropriate PPE. It also demands employers to train workers on what to wear for each task at each piece of equipment.

The article discusses a requirement from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that all qualified workers be properly trained to work on or near electrical equipment. Workers such as maintenance personnel, painters, cleanup crews, and others, are not expected to work on electrical equipment, but must receive sufficient training to ensure their safety and the safety of others in the facility.

The article presents the five misconceptions in the application of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Volunteer Fire Council (NFPA) Standards and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) guidelines regarding arc flash hazards. Among the misapprehensions include OSHA does not enforce NFPA 70E, it is assumed that all the equipment is a Hazard Risk Category 0 and the arc flash hazard assessment is enough for OSHA compliance.

The article discusses the importance of selective coordination of circuit protection for emergency circuits and legally-required standby systems. According to the author, the point of selective coordination is to isolate the faulted portion of the circuit while maintaining power to the rest of the electrical system. The author also discusses fuse limitation, current-limiting benefits, load comparisons and coordinating circuit protection.

The article talks about the increasing concerns on electrical safety in the U.S. It highlights the seven common-sense best practices that can help ensure plant safety and minimize unnecessary downtime. The best practices include assuring selective coordination, use current-limiting protective devices, perform an electrical hazard assessment, turn it off, document it, maintain protective devices, and update and consolidate fuses.

The article discusses the need to understand the difference between short-circuit current rating (SCCR) and interrupting rating (IR). It notes that specifiers using the terms interchangeably without understanding their difference could lead to under-protection or death. To obtain protection and compliance with the National Electrical Code (NEC), the circuit designer must calculate available fault current. Moreover, NEC Article 409 demands the SCCR to be displayed on industrial control panels.

Focuses on the development of new types of circuit protection devices from the electronic industry in the U.S. Response of circuit breaker manufacturers to demands for industrial safety; Need for the improvement of circuit protection devices; Benefits of using power delay devices for industrial safety.