Extreme Workplace Hazards
Arc Flash | Arc Blast | Flash Fire
Arc Flash, Arc Blast and Flash Fire are extremely dangerous, often fatal, workplace hazards.
Extreme Workplace Hazards can kill through direct fatal incidents or by causing or worsening illness over time. Electricity is known as a silent killer because it is invisible and can cause death through electric shock without warning. However, arc flash and arc blast, often referred to as the most dangerous electrical hazards, can also be fatal. A third significant electrical hazard is flash fire, which occurs when the intense heat and energy from an arc flash ignite flammable materials.
The most common extreme hazards addressed by FR/AR clothing are arc flash and flash fire. These sudden, intense events expose workers to severe risk, including third-degree burns from extreme heat and dangerous pressure waves. Employer organisations must be equipped to deal with these hazards to fulfill their legal obligation to provide a safe workplace, prevent severe injuries and fatalities and avoid significant financial loss and business disruption. Proactive management of these hazards protects employees, maintains productivity and builds a responsible safety culture.
FR/AR clothing provides a critical barrier between a worker's skin and the hazards of an arc flash or flash fire. The fabrics do not contribute to the burning process, protecting the wearer from severe skin damage that would occur with normal clothing. While FR/AR clothing does not directly protect against the pressure wave, it helps prevent clothing from igniting and becoming a source of further injury.
Dangerous Workplace Hazards
Arc Flash
An Arc Flash is a sudden, uncontrolled and powerful electrical discharge through the air that produces intense heat, bright light, pressure waves and rapidly ejected molten metal. It occurs when an electrical fault creates a short circuit, causing a catastrophic release of energy that can vaporise conductors, ignite clothing, cause severe burns, rupture eardrums, collapse lungs and lead to death for those nearby.
Arc Blast
An Arc Blast is a powerful, high-pressure, supersonic shock wave that results from the extremely rapid expansion of air and vaporised metal during an arc fault. It is the mechanical force aspect of an arc flash event, which also produces intense heat and light. The concussive force of an arc blast can cause severe injuries by throwing people, collapsing lungs, rupturing eardrums and propelling shrapnel and debris at high speeds, which can penetrate protective equipment.
Flash Fire
A Flash Fire is a sudden, short-duration fire caused by the ignition of a dispersed, flammable substance (gas, dust or fine mist) that premixes with air, creating a flammable cloud that burns rapidly. Characterised by high-temperature and a rapidly moving flame front, a flash fire lasts only a few seconds and its primary danger comes from severe burn injuries to people and damage from extreme heat. Industries like oil and gas and chemical manufacturing, where combustible vapours can accumulate, are prone to flash fires, making FR and AR clothing essential for worker protection.
Arc flash, arc blast and flash fire are significant and dangerous hazards in specific high-risk sectors, including manufacturing, utilities, oil and gas, construction and mining. Workers in these environments are particularly at risk due to high-voltage electrical equipment, combustible dust or flammable materials. Proper training, personal protective equipment and strict safety protocols are crucial to prevent and mitigate the severe injuries, fatalities and equipment damage these incidents can cause.
Arc Flash, Arc Blast and Flash Fire hazards are primarily found in industries with high-voltage electrical systems.
