Calendar
Monthly Archives: June 2009
Arc Flash Safety: History and Requirements
History and Awareness
Arc flash was first identified by Dr. Ralph Lee in his 1982 “The Other Electrical Hazard: Electric Arc Blast Burns.” Dr. Lee found that as many as 80% of electrical injuries resulted from arc flash rather than from shock, which had always been thought to be the major risk associated with live electrical work.
By 1990 the threat of arc flash was well established, and OSHA updated 29 CFR 1910 Subpart S to recognize the need for arc flash safety. NFPA 70E, the Electrical Safety Workplace Standard, was revised to include the calculations necessary to establish arc flash protection boundaries, and equipment manufacturers began to offer arc-resistant switchgear as a means to minimize arc flash hazards.
Posted in Health and Safety Compliance
Tagged "1926 subpart k", "29cfr 1910 subpart s", "arc blast", "arc flash", "Dr. Scott Harris", "electrical hazards", "electrical safety", "ieso llc", "iesollc", "kenneth Harris", "Kenneth Scott Harris", "nfpa 70", "nfpa 70e", "Scott Harris PHD", "Scott Harris", "standard 1584", "subpart s", 1584, arcflash, IESO, nec, NFPA, nfpa70, nfpa70e, OSHA, ppe
1 Comment
Another IESO Client Receives State Grant to Pay for ISO 14001
An IESO client in southcentral KY will develop and implement their ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS), joining world-class operations around the globe in embracing progressive, reliable environmental management. Luvata – Franklin will be the first facility in their corporation to implement the EMS, and expects real benefits from their new program.
Luvata is a world-leader in metal fabrication, component manufacturing and related engineering and design services, with around 8,000 employees in 18 countries. The Franklin facility is a leading producer of copper and specialty tubing products for the residential and commercial HVAC industry.
Posted in Environmental Compliance, Hot List, Management Systems, Risk Management
Tagged "bluegrass skills", "bluegrass state skills", "Dr. Scott Harris", "environmental management system", "environmental management systems", "environmental management", "iesollc", "iso 14001", "kenneth Harris", "Kenneth Scott Harris", "luvata franklin", "Scott Harris", bssc, EMS, IESO, ISO, iso14001, luvata
Leave a comment
Pending “Drinking Water System Security Act of 2009″
A new bill covering drinking water facility security is being considered by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and will shortly be introduced. Until now, water facilities have been exempt from the requirements of Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS), which expires in late 2009. The Drinking Water System Security Act of 2009 will apparently replace or update those requirements and remove the water facility exemption.
At most water facilities the “substance of concern” is gaseous chlorine, frequently held in one-ton cylinders. Like many hazardous substances, chlorine is a very useful material that also poses significant risk. In this case it is a long-established component of clean drinking water, providing disinfection. It creates the “bleach” smell we might note in our tap water. On the other hand, both sides also used it as a weapon in WWI, though not a particularly effective one.
Posted in Hot List, Management Systems, Risk Management
Tagged "chemical facility", "chemical of concern", "Dr. Scott Harris", "drinking water security act", "drinking water security", "drinking water system security act of 2009", "drinking water system security act", "drinking water", "iesollc", "kenneth Harris", "Kenneth Scott Harris", "public health", "risk management", "rmp chlorine", "Scott Harris PHD", "Scott Harris", "vulnerability assessment", "vulnerability assessments", "water system security", "water systems", cfats, chlorine, csat, EPA, IESO, rmp
Leave a comment
Plastics in Construction? Talk with Your Carrier!
Some insurance companies, for example IF Group (http://www.if-insurance.com/web/industrial/Pages/default.aspx), recently added a “Plastics in Construction” clause to their coverage requirements for industrial clients. They are concerned about composite panels with combustible isolation materials such as polyurethane (PU), polystyrene (EPS) or polyisocyanureate (PIR), and indicate recent severe losses related to this.
In the case of IF Group, the new clause is still a recommendation, but it looks certain to become a requirement, since they are already referring to it as a “regulation.” Other Carriers may or may not follow suit, but if they see risk or exposure on the issue, expect them to aggressively manage it with this or a similar tool. Either way, none of us want plastics fires in the workplace, and those that have seen them especially understand that.
Posted in Health and Safety Compliance, Hot List, Risk Management
Tagged "composite panels", "Dr. Scott Harris", "iesollc", "insurance carriers", "insurance clause", "kenneth Harris", "Kenneth Scott Harris", "non-combustible", "plastics in construction", "Scott Harris", carriers, composite, EPS, fire, IESO, insurance, PIR, plastics, polyisocyanureate, polystyrene, polyurethane, PU, sandwich
Leave a comment