Arc Flash Labels

Arc flash labels are critical to safety in your facility... whether it is an electric power plant or an office building. Arc flash has injured people in retail stores and in coal mines. If there is electricity, there is the potential for an arc flash.

The problem is that people are in many cases not aware of the danger. That's why arc flash labels are so important. They warn people about the hazard and inform workers about what needs to be done to protect themselves. This helps prevent someone from working on the source of a potential arc flash, without the proper PPE.

But, arc flash labels must be correct and this usually requires that an arc flash analysis be done. The Arc Flash Solutions Handbook provides the detailed information needed to make your workplace save from arc flash hazards. Graphic Products makes a copy of this handbook available free. Use this link to request your copy: Free Arc Flash Solutions Handbook.

Related Past Posts:
Arc Flash Labeling Best Practices
NFPA 70E Labeling Web Site
CSA Z462 - Canadian Arc Flash Standard

What about pipe markers?

If you have a facility, then you must have pipe markers. Pipe markers are a crucial component of safety in any facility. They immediately separate (identify) a water pipe from a natural gas pipe -- and in an emergency knowing which is which can be a life or death matter.

In most cases, however, piper makers provide needed information -- identifying the contents, hazard level and flow direction of pipe contents. This allows your staff to immediately know what's happening, and what valves are the right valves to close (or open). Pipe markers save time as well as saving lives.

There are standards that apply to pipe markers. The most common is the ANSI A13.1 code. For ammonia pipe markers the IIAR sets the standards and CGA publishes the standards for medical gas pipe markers and cylinder labeling. Graphic products offers labeling guides for all of these types of pipe markers and more... and the guides are available free. Call 1-888-326-9244.

Or use our pipe marker online form to request your free pipe marker guide, as well as other safety related guides.

Related Past Posts:
DuraLabel Supplies - Huge Selection
Reflective Pipe Markers

SAFETY LABELER BLOGS

This post provides links to other blogs that are about safety and blogs about using the leading printers for making safety labels, DuraLabel printers.

An excellent blog with information about workplace safety is the Safe Workplace Safety Blog. This blog covers safety news, and usually has safety news not found elsewhere.

To help you find good safety related articles, and for information about safety labels and communication, the DuraLabel Safety and Labeling blog is a good resource. It combines announcements about DuraLabel products, label making tips and summaries of current safety related articles.

A good resource for short summaries about labeling and DuraLabel printers is the Industrial And Manufacturing Labeling blog. It features concise summaries with the latest information about labeling, free resources, and label printers and supplies.

DuraLabel is the brand of labeling and sign making equipment to stay in touch with. They already have more types of supplies available than any other industrial label printer manufacturer, and their R&D teams have more in the pipeline. Their printers are at the top of the quality rankings. And they top of this outstanding selection and quality with incredible, direct from the manufacturer prices.

You can spend more, but you don't get any more. You can spend less and not get the selection, quality, in-depth quality control and unbeatable customer service you get from DuraLabel. Call 1-888-326-9244 today. You'll be glad you did.

Top Ten OSHA Violations For 2008

What are the most often violated OSHA requirements?

The new guide from Graphic Products provides two lists giving the top ten OSHA requirements that were violated in 2008. The first lists the violations based on the number of violations. The second gives the top ten violations based on the total dollar value of the fines assessed.

Order your copy of this Top Ten OSHA Violations In 2008 Guide today.

In addition to listing the top ten violations, this guide references the appropriate OSHA regulations and provides a description of the safety concerns.

You can get a free copy of this guide to the Top Ten OSHA Violations In 2008. Use the above link to go to an order form. This guide is provided by the makers of DuraLabel industrial sign and label printers. DuraLabel printers and supplies are available for a wider range of applications than any other printers. With a DuraLabel printer you'll get the job done, and get it done right.

What Is The Required PPE?

PPE Definition: clothing and protective equipment such as goggles, a face shield and ear plugs, worn as protection against safety and health hazards. PPE is the acronym for Personal Protective Equipment. PPE is used to reduce exposure to hazards when engineering and administrative controls are not feasible or effective in reducing these exposures to acceptable levels.

What type of PPE is required? That depends on the hazard. It is important to use PPE that is appropriate for the hazard. Insufficient or incorrect PPE can result in injury or death. Excessive PPE makes it difficult to work and may lead to noncompliance with PPE requirements.

An important use of labels and signs is to inform people about the required PPE. For example, signs are used to inform people that hearing protection is required. Labels inform people about arc flash hazards and the required PPE. Providing needed information about PPE, at the point where it is needed, is an important function of safety labels and signs.

How do you know what PPE is required? There is a Guide To Required PPE that can help. It shows the 12 major hazard categories and the PPE that is required for each. It serves as a good starting point for determining what PPE is required. The Guide To Required PPE is available free. Use the above link to order your copy.

OSHA And Arc Flash Labels

When OSHA was asked about using arc flash labels to be in compliance with NFPA 70E-2004, here is what they said:

Question: "When work must be performed on energized electric equipment that is capable of exposing employees to arc-flash hazards, does OSHA require the marking of the electric equipment to warn qualified persons of potential electric arc-flash hazards — i.e., as required by NFPA 70E-2004?

OSHA's Reply: OSHA has no specific requirement for such marking. A requirement to mark equipment with flash hazard warnings was not included in the 1981 Subpart S revision. However, paragraph (e) of §1910.303 requires employers to mark electrical equipment with descriptive markings, including the equipment's voltage, current, wattage, or other ratings as necessary. OSHA believes that this information, along with the training requirements for qualified persons, will provide employees the necessary information to protect themselves from arc-flash hazards.

Additionally, in §1910.335(b), OSHA requires employers to use alerting techniques (safety signs and tags, barricades, and attendants) . . . to warn and protect employees from hazards which could cause injury due to electric shock, burns or failure of electric equipment parts. Although these Subpart S electrical provisions do not specifically require that electric equipment be marked to warn qualified persons of arc-flash hazards, §1910.335(b)(1) requires the use of safety signs, safety symbols, or accident prevention tags to warn employees about electrical hazards (e.g., electric-arc-flash hazards) which may endanger them as required by §1910.145.

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While they do not specifically require arc flash labels, they do require arc flash label and signs. NFPA 70E and the NEC, which OSHA would most likely use to determine if there is proper labeling, requires that the following be labeled, using labels that are large enough to be read outside the hazard boundary:

• Fuse Panels
• MCC (Motor Control centers)
• MCC Buckets
• Breaker Boxes and Switches
• Meter Sockets
• Hard Wired Disconnects
• Machine control Disconnects
• Electrical Panels That Might Be Serviced In An Energized Condition

4" x 6" labels are typically large enough to be seen from outside the hazard area. Information about arc flash labeling is available from the Arc Flash Information Resource Center.

Valve Tags Best Practices

The need for valve tags is often missed. After all everyone knows what each valve does. And the valves are seldom used, they just remain open all the time. There are many excuses for not having valves properly labeled. But code requires that all valves be labeled to the same standards as piping, and with good reason. Labeling is important during emergency situations, so that valves that need to be closed (or opened) can be quickly and easily located. Proper labeling also helps to prevent mistakes during normal operations and can improve productivity.

I have not seen a best practice guide for valve tags before, but one is now available as a free download from Graphic Products (http://www.graphicproducts.com/free-gifts/free-valve-tag-best-practices.php). This is a comprehensive guide that starts with a facility inspection to identify damaged valves tags and unlabeled valves. It then describes how to make valve tags, including a discussion about the information that should be included on a valve tag. It tells how valve tags are applied and the gives the locations in which they should or should not be applied.

Overall this Valve Tag Best Practices Guide is a valuable tool that helps make your facility safer and more productive.

Arc Flash Labeling

A labeling issue that is growing is that of arc flash labeling.

Arc flash is a hazard that results from the rapid release of energy resulting from an electrical arc. An arc flash vaporizes metal and creates a violent explosion. An arc flash happens when dirt, debris builds up or a tool falls to create a short circuit.

Every potential source of an arc flash must be labeled to warn of the danger and supply information about that danager.

There is an excellent web site and blog that provides information about arc flash labeling. The blog in particular is good as it provides topic specific information, as well as current arc flash news. The blog allows you to subscribe to receive email copies of postings, so you'll receive the latest arc flash news in your inbox.