Electrical work requires training for safety reasons. Completing electrical work correctly is about more than correcting an electrical issue: it is about ensuring your safety and the safety of those involved throughout the process and even after the project is completed. Without applying strict practices taught through official training programs, electricians do not have the skills to complete electrical work safely and effectively.
Thankfully, there are courses electricians and related professionals can take to ensure that they’re following the best practices for staying clear of hazards with their work. These practices save lives, and damage to buildings and equipment can be avoided by implementing these teachings. The specific course that offers a complete breakdown of the standards and practices for arc flash training is the NFPA 70E Arc Flash Electrical Safety Course.
The Arc Flash training program is an 8-hour comprehensive course that reviews an overview of each article of the official safety document. Standard applications that prepare the Qualified Worker are also conducted in a 4-hour session time frame. For more information on the importance of NFPA 70E training, continue reading.
What are flash explosions?
You must understand arc flashes to recognize the importance of NFPA 70E training. Arc flashes are bursts of electric energy released into the air. Faults or interruptions within the electrical current most often cause arc flashes. When the energy of the arc flash is released, it creates severe heat, pressure, and light that can result in significant injuries to electricians and other workers by the equipment, including burns, blindness, and even death.
Why is completing NFPA 70E training so important?
NFPA 70E prepares for the worst so workers can return to the field safely and use their newfound knowledge. It is also necessary to ensure that workers are equipped with the skills and techniques required to:
- identify various parts of electric equipment
- identify the nominal voltage of exposed live parts
- decide on the level of hazard and planning required to perform the task safely
What does the course accomplish?
NFPA 70E training guides the requirements for the safety practices, equipment, and protective gear needed to work on or around electric equipment and related systems. Beyond personal safety and practical task completion, having the skills outlined in NFPA 70E training is essential because it increases the workers’ awareness of hazards, decreasing the potential for workplace accidents. It also ensures workers adapt to work safety guidelines and risk assessment skills.
It also allows for advanced protection and safety gear to be utilized with the right equipment. When workers complete training every year, they stay aware of the equipment they need to reduce the chance of accidents. Many employers are now legally required to provide this training.
Is your electrical work set up for success?
The more workers know about safety and hazard prevention, the better workplace safety is for everyone. Completing training informs workers of how to complete safe electrical work. Check out NFPA 70E training courses to set yourself up for success with your electrical work.