An infrared camera is a very effective tool to detect people infected with a viral disease at a very early stage. Leading this technology are FLIR Infrared cameras developed in Sweden.  Several major airports in Asia discovered the benefit of infrared cameras in conjunction with the outbreak of  SARS a couple of years ago. They now use FLIR infrared cameras to scan whether arriving travelers can be contaminated with the ´N1H1 virus – the correct name of the virus behind the Swine Flu.

The infrared cameras used at the airports are specifically developed to detect individuals with high body temperatures in only a
couple of seconds. The cameras have been developed based on experience from previous Flu outbreaks such as SARS and Bird Flu
and are present in many airports in South East Asia, where the presence and threat of Bird Flu was the highest.

The camera produces infrared images or heat pictures of a person’s face and detects  whether the body temperature exceeds a
certain value or not. The symptoms of Swine Flu are sore throat, nausea, cough and of course fever.

“The aim is to efficiently identify and differentiate  individuals in good health from individuals with fever who might be
contaminated with the Swine Flu. After that, further medical analyses within the Public Health care will determine whether it is
Swine Flu or not”, says Arne Almerfors, Vice President FLIR Thermography.

The infrared cameras are very easy to use and have proven themselves as tools that can be operated by non-specialists after a few
hours of training.

“The camera needs no active monitoring as it has both color and sound alarm functions making staff aware of any passing
individuals with a body temperature exceeding a predefined value. On the camera display an infrared image of the individuals face
is produced, clearly marking different temperature areas as different colors. The highest temperature spot will be automatically
displayed and measured with one decimal accuracy”, says Arne Almerfors.

The infrared cameras from FLIR are very sensitive devices and measure temperature differences as small as 0.08 ºC. Ideally the
camera is set up at places with long queues such as passport or customs control. To achieve the correct temperature the camera
should focus on the most reliable temperature spot on the body – the corner of the eyes. Infrared cameras can play a vital role in
the efforts of keeping the spread of the Swine Flu or any other viral infection under control.

- Infrared cameras can be used in any environment where large numbers of  people are passing or staying, such as airports, train
stations, the underground or building lobby’s. “An infrared camera enables a quick and accurate identification of individuals that
might be infected by the virus”, says Arne Almerfors.

More details regarding Infrared cameras for temperature scanning, and Infrared images showing subjects with high body
temperatures can be found at http://www.flir-press.com/swineflu.html

Arc Flash Protective Personal Equipment (PPE)

Arc Flash Protection

Personal protective equipment, or PPE is designed to protect employees from serious workplace injuries or illnesses resulting from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards. Besides face shields, safety glasses, hard hats, and safety shoes, personal protective equipment, or PPE includes a variety of devices and garments such as goggles, coveralls, gloves, vests, earplugs, and respirators.

In order to select the proper PPE, incident energy must be known at every point where workers may be required to perform work on energized equipment. These calculations need to be performed by a qualified person such as an electrical engineer. All parts of the body that may be exposed to the arc flash need to be covered by the appropriate type and quality of PPE. Proper PPE can include Flame Resistant clothing, helmet or headgear, face shield, safety glasses, gloves, shoes, etc. depending upon the magnitude of the arc energy.

What is my risk to being exposed to arc flash? The exposure to arc flash depends on the following:

• Number of times the workers perform a task involving exposed live equipment
• Complexity of the task performed, need to use force, available space, safety margins, reach, etc.
• Training, skills, mental and physical agility, coordination with helper
• Tools used
• Condition of equipment

Exposure to an arc flash frequently results in a variety of serious injuries and in some cases death. Workers have been injured even though they were ten feet or more away from the arc center. Worker injuries can include damaged hearing, eyesight, and severe burns requiring years of skin grafting and rehabilitation.

Equipment can be destroyed causing extensive downtime and requiring expensive replacement and repair. The cost of treatment for the injured worker can exceed $1,000,000/case. This does not include very significant litigation fees, insurance increases, fines, accident investigation, etc. This also does not include process loss to the employer.

Preventive maintenance, worker training, and an effective safety program can significantly reduce arc flash exposure. Preventive maintenance should be conducted on a routine basis to ensure safe operation. As part of a preventive maintenance program, equipment should be thoroughly cleaned and routine inspections should be conducted by qualified personnel who understand how to uncover loose connections, overheated terminals, discoloration of nearby insulation, and pitted contacts.

A comprehensive preventive maintenance plan should also include:

• Using corrosion resistant terminals and insulate exposed metal parts if possible
• Sealing all open areas of equipment to ensure rodents and birds cannot enter
• Verifying that all relays and breakers operate properly

Arc Flash first became popular in the early 1980’s with the publication by Ralph Lee titled, “The Other Electrical Hazard: Electric Arc Blast Burns.” Similar studies illustrated that too many people were suffering injuries as a result of arc flash incidents. Therefore, early adopters in the petrochemical industry took steps to establish the first set of practices designed to better protect employees and electrical contractors. Soon other industries recognized the need for additional protection against arc flash hazards. These new industry standards developed by the NEC and others were designed to keep electrical workers free from the hazards of shock, electrocution, arc flash, and arc blast.

Flame resistant (FR) clothing is designed as a means or protection against potentially fatal flash fire and arc flash environments.  The main source of fatal and serious burn injuries are usually due to the igniting of an individual’s clothing.  Flame resistant clothing allows precious time for the person wearing the clothes and also helps to prevent clothing ignition.  Keep in mind, no garment of fabric exists to provide 100% protection; however, high quality flame resistant clothing will lower the risk of injury and death.

In North Carolina, a local electric company sent a request for a replacement of a high voltage distribution switch for an underground system with another switch that included a disconnect on the load side.   The existing switch had only been in service for one year, but a new switch was needed, stemming from rapid growth of the area.  The new switch would allow the isolation of circuits on the load side independently of each other.

Shortly before 9:00am on a crisp spring morning, two electricians showed up to make the switch.  When they arrived, no one from the electric company was present.  They discussed whether or not the distribution switch was de-energized.  They opened the door of one of the cabinets, and one of the men started guiding a tic tracer.  He allowed it to make contact with a 23,000 volt source, sending 13,200 volts through the ground and into his body.  Paramedics arrived quickly on the scene, but he was pronounced dead at 10:20am.  The other worker received minor flash burns of the eyes and face and stated that he was “electrified,” shaken, and proceeded to run.

When the investigation of the incident was performed, it was determined the man who did not survive was not wearing the required personal protective equipment.  The system was not de-energized or properly grounded.  Written company work procedures require both of these factors.  To add to the tragedy, both workers were present at a safety demonstration that discussed the exact job being performed only two days prior to this incident.  Laws can be written and procedures outlined, but it is up to every individual to follow the rules and guidelines.  Personal protective equipment is designed to prevent accidents like this from happening.  It will do no good if it is not worn when needed.

What is the distance from which I can detect voltage using a hot stick tester?

The distance of detecting voltage will depend on how high the voltage is, and how much of an area is exposed and not covered by shields.  The higher the voltage is, the larger the distance will be for detection.  A car in contact with 120 VAC is detected from about 8 feet, but a “hot” 7500 V overhead distribution line can be picked up from 200 feet away.

What batteries does the AC Hot Stick Tester run on?

Hot stick testers run on four AA batteries, and will last for about 300 hours of continuous use.  A good rule of thumb is to switch the batteries every year.

Does the unit require recalibration?

The unit does not require recalibration, for it runs a three second self-test.  The battery voltage is also monitored continuously.  When and if the batteries run down, a continuous tone is heard.

How do I know when AC is present?

The hot stick tester will start to beep and an LED will blink when AC is present.

How do I locate the source of the AC?

When locating the source of AC, the hot stick tester will beep faster as the front part of the AC Hot Stick is moved closer to the source. The sensitivity can be changed between high and low to narrow in.  In a third setting called “Front Focused” the unit is made directional and picks up primarily from the front.

Can I detect live wires in the ground, in metal conduits or inside walls?

Live wires in the ground or in metal conduits cannot be detected.  The hot stick tester will give a warning however if the current is running in the soil or a metal conduit becomes ungrounded.  Plastic enclosed wires which run in dry walls can usually be traced.

How sturdy is the unit? Is it fireman proof?

Hot stick testers are not fireman proof, but they are “firemen resistant” and can easily take dust, shocks, vibration, splash water, and high and low temperatures.

Can I overload the unit electrically?

The unit can not be overloaded for it is protected against damage from high voltage nearby.

Does the AC Hot Stick Tester indicate DC e.g. from a car battery or the third rail of a subway?

The hot stick tester will not detect DC voltages.  At times, electrostatic charges from rubbing on clothing or even leaves on trees can produce irregular beeps.  These beeps will stop when the hot stick tester is held still.

Arc Thermal Performance Value (ATPV): This value is presented in calories per square centimeter and represents the maximum capability for arc-flash protection of a particular garment.  This rating also applies to fabrics.  A garment made from more than one layer of arc-flash rated fabric will have a calories per square centimeter rating greater than the sum of the ATPV ratings of the original fabrics.  The calories per square centimeter rating of most arc-flash protective suits, coveralls, and coats is commonly sewn into the fabric in large letters on the outside of the garment.

Flame Resistant (FR): Flame resistant can describe a fabric naturally resistant to burning but also can represent a material with special treatment applied to the fabric.  Occasionally, the letters FR are used to represent flame retardant. This can lead to some confusion because a flame-retardant treated fabric is flame resistant, but a flame-resistant fabric is not necessarily flame retardant.

Flame Retardant: This term could be used to describe a fabric made up of a flammable fabric treated in such a way that it will provide arc-flash protection.

Fabric Weight: This is usually represented in one of two ways: ounces per square yard or grams per square meter. Both of these values essentially refer to the thickness of the fabric. The more ounces per square yard, the more material exists in the same square yard of fabric.

Heat Attenuation Factor (HAF): This is the amount of heat blocked by the fabric. Even though a fabric may be 100 per cent flame resistant, that does not mean it will block all of the heat to which it is exposed. An HAF of 85 percent means that it will block 85 percent of the heat the fabric encounters. This applies to a short burst of heat – typically less than one second. In the event of prolonged heat exposure, the HAF would be much lower.

Calories per Centimeter Squared: This is a number identifying the amount of energy that can be delivered to a point at a particular distance from an explosion. Once this value is known, the ATPV rating of the required for work at that distance from the potential flash hazard is also known.

Energy Break-Open Threshold (EBT): Primarily, this addresses the physical strength of the fabric with respect to thermal energy and at what value the fabric will fail.

Hazard Risk Category (HRC): This is a 2004 NFPA 70E rating of exposure levels for particular types of equipment. The values range from zero to four, with a zero HRC with a zero HRC not requiring any ATPV-rated. The minimum ATPV rating for Categories One through Four are as follows:

• Category One: five calories per square centimeter
• Category Two: eight calories per square centimeter
• Category Three: 25 calories per square centimeter
• Category Four: 40 calories per square centimeter

Arc flash clothing has been around for years now.  Early personal protective equipment was typically made of one or two fabric layers.  Heavier clothing was used when the need for greater protection existed.  Today’s arc flash clothing is made with a multi-layered construction, making the clothes lighter and easier to wear.  Wearing layers of clothing increases the ability of the PPE to dissipate the heat from arc flash.   It is important to view PPE as a system, because of the need to use individual articles of clothing and equipment together to improve performance against arc flash hazards.

A general guideline is that for every layer of clothing worn under arc-rated clothing, heat will drop by fifty percent per layer.  Keep in mind this is for bodily areas that are covered.  The air between the layers of clothing will increase the ability of the arc-clothing to dissipate heat.  Now, if a person wears an underlayer made of meltable fabrics such as spandex, the chance greatly increases of residual burns from arc flash.  Spandax, being a synthetic fabric can melt even at 180 degrees F. temperatures.    Enough heat can transfer through arc-rated clothing to melt underlayers.  For this reason, cotton underlayers are recommended in most cases although fire resistant underlayers are ideal.

Understanding the importance of a layered system of protective clothing and additional PPE is part of being a qualified electrical worker as well as providing protection in the case of electrical incident.  Layering clothing provides extended performance of arc-rated clothing and offers a method to minimize burns to heat transfer during an arc flash.

Insulating rubber gloves are one of the most important articles of personal protection for electrical workers.

Combining high dielectric and physical strength, flexibility and durability, Texso’s insulating rubber gloves are the superior performance meeting and exceeding the requirements of current ASTM D120 specifications and NFPA 70E standards.

Texso offers some of the most complete selection of gloves.

Texso recommends testing all gloves to assure they meet OSHA and ASTM requirements.

If your not sure what gloves you need you can call us direct (760) 444-0032.

Thermographer Arc Flash Gloves

All the materials and threads used in the construction of the Thermographer Gloves are inherently flame resistant (FR). We carry the unique Oberon Thermographer Gloves that provide the highest level of flash protection in the market for gloves.

STANDARDS: Complies with NFPA 70E-2004. Tested according to ASTM F1959-04.

SIZES: Regular and Large, specify size when ordering.

Rubber Insulating Gloves

We also offer 100% natural rubber, smooth finish gloves. Available as single items or in complete kits (Rubber Glove, Leather Protector and Glove Bag).

• Class 00 (500 Volts)
• Class 0 (1000 Volts)
• Class 1 (7500 Volts)
• Class 2 (17000 Volts)