Arc Flash Hazard Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Proper PPE is important and life saving. Qualified workers utilize the PPE Category Method or Arc Flash Hazard Warning Labels to choose the appropriate PPE needed to safely accomplish a task.

When equipment does not have a warning label a qualified worker must determine if there is a likelihood of an arc flash occurrence for a task, and then, if PPE is required, use the PPE Category Method. This determination of the risk is task-based, and purely an estimate of the risk and does not take in to account the whole electrical system.

The NFPA 70E warns about this method:

“The estimate of the likelihood of occurrence contained in this table does not cover every possible condition or situation [task], nor does it address severity of injury or damage to health.”

incident energy analysis method: the safest way

Instead of estimating the risk, exact incident energy can be determined through a comprehensive Arc Flash Risk Assessment (including an Incident Energy Analysis) on a facility. Accurate, specific incident energy is indicated on arc flash warning labels and used by a qualified worker to select the safest PPE for their task on energized equipment.

If the goal is to keep people safe then the safest choice is to use the Incident Energy Analysis Method.

Don’t take the risk of not knowing the real risk!

When do you use the PPE category chart provided by NFPA 70E?

If an Incident Energy Analysis (part of an Arc Flash Risk Assessment) has not been performed, you should refer to the 2018 Edition of NFPA 70E for the Arc Flash PPE Category Method -
Table 130.7 (C)(15)(c).