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PPE: ELECTRICAL SAFETY Q&A: Preventing Arc Flash and Shock Hazards A safety expert sits down with OH&S magazine to discuss why implementing proper risk assessment goes hand-in-glove with having the right PPE. BY DAVID KOPF Arc flash and shock hazards continue to take their toll. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), five to 10 arc flash incidents occur every day, and more than 2,000 people are treated annually in burn centers with arc flash injuries. One electrical safety expert who regularly addresses this subject is Zarheer Jooma, P.E., IEEE (SM’17), an electrical engineer with e-Hazard (e-hazard.com), which provides arc flash and electrical safety training, shares insights into adequate risk assessment, the kinds of necessary PPE, common human errors that often lead to arch flash incidents, and key elements that go into effective electrical safety training programs. Jooma recently sat down with Occupational Health & Safety magazine to discuss why companies need to ensure they are implementing the proper risk assessment, as well as the right PPE. OH&S magazine: What goes into adequate risk assessment when it comes to judging the possibility of an arc flash incident? Jooma: That’s a great place to start off this discussion. One of the governing standards, which is the 2023 version of NFPA 70E, actually breaks risk assessment up into three steps. They are, firstly, identifying the hazards; then, moving on to the proper 60 Occupational Health & Safety | JUNE 2023 www.ohsonline.com Martin Capek/Shutterstock.com