Electical Contractor

On the job, We pay close attention to numerous electrical safety basics. This is a good thing. Unfortunately, we seem to forget all about many of these once we get home. Although safety is very important on the job, safety at home is just as crucial.

Much has been written about the dangers of electricity and the importance of following proper work practices. This includes the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), which is the last line of defense. Clothing is somewhat of a different story.

Would you like to know a little secret about how to simplify an arc flash calculation study? Perform the study backward. Well, not actually backward, it just seems that way.

Just about anyone working on a job site, as well as most do-it-yourselfers, has experienced an injury caused by a hand tool. Many seem to expect a minor injury, such as a scrape or a bang on a knuckle.

A Catch-22 occurs when circumstances emerge that place one in a no-win situation; let’s take a look at an arc flash safety Catch-22.

Right in front of you on the switchboard, a bright orange label reads: “WARNING Arc Flash Hazard, Appropriate PPE Required.” As you look closer at the label, you also see: “6.5 cal/cm2 at a working distance of 18 inches.”

Most contractors install strobe lights to comply with the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code by simply using a combination audible-visible appliance everywhere one or the other is shown on the plans.

Powder-actuated tools (PATs) are common at virtually every job site. A PAT is a nail gun used to join hard materials, such as steel, masonry and concrete.

Since 1998, the national construction fatality rate declined 47 percent, and the number of recordable safety incidents dropped 38 percent since the federal government switched to a safety oversight approach known as “collaborative safety,” according to an analysis of federal safety data released by