White Paper

Safety Program For Electrical Measurement

fluke

Everett, WA - Fluke has introduced a comprehensive, multi-part information program designed to help reduce hazards for people measuring electrical energy, and to help reduce risk and liability for employers. The program is based on the most recent safety guidelines from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), International Electrotechnical Conference (IEC) and other leading safety organizations.

"Fluke has a strong commitment to safety, and we believe this program will help our customers complete their important work safely," said Larry Eccleston, product testing manager at Fluke and a member of the IEC Standards Committee. "Electrical accidents can injure or kill. People and their loved ones suffer, and the organizational cost in damaged morale, insurance claims and lost production can be huge. Yet most accidents are preventable. If this program saves just one person from injury or death, we will have achieved our goal."

Industry sources estimate that arc flash explosions serious enough to send victims to a special burn center occur in the US between five and ten times a day. Voltage kickback spikes common in electrical systems can damage or destroy measurement tools and if these spikes occur during the measurement process they can trigger an arc flash.

The Fluke electrical measurement safety program includes:

  • Safety Video -- This 25-minute video describes the hazards of electrical measurement and the precautions that can help defend against dangers including arc flash.
  • Model Safety Policy provides guidance for selecting test tools that meet current standards, protect users and help reduce liability for the organization.
  • Model Training Program includes ideas on measuring the effectiveness of a safety program.
  • Safety Application Notes – Each of these brief notes is designed to serve as the basis of a safety meeting discussion or as a chapter in the electrical safety reference library. They cover such topics as "ABCs of Electrical Measurement Safety," "Think ‘Test Instruments' When You Think of Personal Protective Equipment," "Are Your Test Tools Safety-Ready?" "10 Dumb Things Smart People Do When Testing Electricity," "Don't Risk CAT IV Areas Without the Right Leads," and "ABCs of Multimeter Safety".
  • Electrical Measurement Safety Presentation -- This PowerPoint presentation shows why measurement can be dangerous, and how to help avoid those hazards and work safely.
  • Electrical Measurement Safety White Paper provides an in-depth look at the safety standards that govern electrical measurement, explains the role transient voltage spikes play in creating arc flash hazards and provides guidance for choosing test tools.
  • Safety Resource List – Useful Internet resources to expand your safety understanding and enhance a safety program.

SOURCE: Fluke Corporation