Arc Flash Protection at Heights
Workers at heights must wear fall protection equipment to help reduce the risk of falling and consequent injuries. While fall protection equipment dramatically reduces the risk of fall hazards, some workers may still be confronted with other types of dangers, like arc flash.
Suppose you find yourself working in such conditions where you’re subjected to extreme heat or working on energized equipment. In that case, you’ll need a complete fall protection system that not only protects you from falling but will also resist arc flash exposure.
What is an Arc Flash?
In short, arc flash is a dangerous release of energy created by an electric fault.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines it as a phenomenon where a flashover of electric current leaves its intended path and travels through the air from one conductor to another or the ground.
The results are often violent, and when a worker is near the arc flash, serious injury and even death can occur.
What is frightening is that due to an arc flash exposure’s violent nature, even when a worker is ten feet away from the blast site, fatal burns could still occur, hence the importance of prevention and proper personal protective equipment (PPE).
What Causes Arc Flashes?
What provokes arc flash can be broken down into two categories:
Objects that are foreign to the electrical system that gets too close to exposed conductors which initiates a short circuit:
- Small animals like a mouse or snake
- Dust
- Dropped tools
- Water infiltration or condensation
- Corrosion
- Accidental touching
The equipment itself malfunctions, is misused, or was wrongly installed:
- Material failure
- A faulty voltage detector
- Equipment stabs
What determines the severity of an arc flash injury?
- How close the worker is from the hazard
- The temperature
- Time for a circuit to break
What kind of injury or damage can an arc flash cause?
- Burns (non-fire-resistant clothing can also melt or burn onto the skin)
- Fire (can spread rapidly through a building)
- Flying objects (often molten metal)
- Blast pressure
- Sound blast (noise can reach 140 dB – loud as a gun)
Who should wear arc flash PPE?
Arc flash (AF) products are designed to resist high heat and energy. They’re tested to the applicable standard to ensure they’ll remain intact when confronted with high heat, so they don’t melt, burn, or conduct energy in the event of an arc flash.
Lineworkers, scissor lift and bucket truck operators, or anyone working in the construction, utility, or oil and gas industry will greatly benefit from wearing these full-body arc flash harnesses and fall protection systems.
Want to know if your fall protection equipment is arc rated? Look for the arc flash symbol.
Testing requirements:
- No electric arc ignition
- No melting or dripping of material
- Must self-extinguish in 5 seconds or less
The CSA Z259 Revision Impact
As you probably know, the CSA Z259 standard for working at heights has recently been revised. Along with these recent changes related to fall protection equipment−such as self-retracting devices and personal energy absorbers, the CSA Z259.10 was also updated with a significant change: the addition of a new class of full-body harnesses.
Class R full-body harnesses are resistant to arc flash. Designed to protect workers who could be exposed to thermal hazards of momentary electric arc or flame, class R harnesses can be included with any other class configurations (A, D, E, L, P) permitted by the current standard.
The Ultimate Arc-Resistant Full-Body Harness
3M™ DBI-SALA® ExoFit™ NEX harnesses offer you complete confidence−just what you need to get the job done around high-voltage electricity or hot work.
With the integration of state-of-the-art materials and technology, they’re the most advanced harnesses in the industry, following years of experience and ongoing research.
If you’re looking for gear that’s proven and built for the task, look no further. The ExoFit™ NEX Arc Flash Full-Body Harness offers flame resistance and non-conductive construction in addition to all the comfort, function, and durability features of the original ExoFit™ NEX Full-Body Harness.
- Flame-resistant webbing: Nomex® fiber exterior with Kevlar® fiber core and thread provides 7,000 lb. (3,175.1 kg) strength and flame resistance.
- Revolver™ vertical torso adjusters: make fast and straightforward adjustments to your harness to eliminate loose ends and prevent slippage.
- PVC coated Tech-Lite™ aluminum D-rings: these rings are non-conductive and made of extremely lightweight aluminum to offer comfort and safety.
- Flame-resistant trauma straps: crucial for workers at heights, the flame-resistant trauma straps help reduce the risk of further injury after a fall.
- Integrated insulators: you’ll find leather insulators placed behind exposed hardware to prevent contact in extreme heat situations.
- Ultra-soft edging: the edging moves with you, without rubbing or chaffing.
- Arc flash rated: tested to perform per the ASTM F887 standard for personal climbing equipment.
- Arc flash hybrid padding: stay comfortable with shoulder, hip, and leg padding.
- Auto-resetting lanyard keepers: the auto-resetting lanyard keepers reposition easily along the chest area of harness webbing.
- Reflective material: stay visible and safe with this material integrated on legs, chest, shoulders, and back.
- Built-in carrying pocket: meet your new convenient phone holder.
- Duo-Lok™ quick-connect buckles: easy one-handed use with memory fit web lock for quick and safe connections.
- Stand-up dorsal D-ring: lightweight PVC-coated aluminum D-ring is non-conductive and spring-loaded for easy and quick connections.
Pick your harness
ExoFit Nex Arc Flash Positioning Harness
The 3M™ DBI-SALA® ExoFit NEX™ Arc Flash Positioning Harness features Tech-Lite™ stand-up PVC coated aluminum back and side D-ring along with Nomex® and Kevlar® material that provides your shoulder, back, and leg extra comfort.
- SPI product number:
- 3M model numbers: 1103070C, 1103071C, 1103072C, 1103073C, 1103074C
- Available in S, M, L, XL, XXL
- Arc flash rated
- Impact Indicator
- Integrated flame-resistant trauma straps
- Protected labels, equipped with 3M™ Connected Safety ID (CSID)
- This harness meets CSA Z259.10 requirements
ExoFit NEX Arc Flash safety harness
The 3M™ DBI-SALA® ExoFit NEX™ Arc Flash Harness features PVC coated aluminum back D-ring, Nomex®/Kevlar® fiber webbing and comfort padding. This safety harness also has locking quick-connect buckle leg straps.
- SPI product number: CHAE01
- 3M model numbers: 1103085C, 1103086C, 1103087C, 1103088C, 1103089C
- Available in S, M, L, XL, XXL
- Arc flash rated
- Belt loops
- Built-in lanyard keepers
- Built-in reflective materials
- Protected labels, equipped with 3M™ Connected Safety ID (CSID)
- This harness meets CSA Z259.10 requirements
3M™ DBI-SALA® ExoFit NEX™ Arc Flash Construction-Style Harness
This construction safety harness is designed for use in construction or in any industry where hot work – such as welding or high-voltage electricity is a concern. Its integrated hip pad and body belt offer excellent tool-carrying capabilities.
Its sleek design allows work positioning and provides added back support. Never worry about tangling! The locking quick-connect buckle leg straps and triangular design offer this harness a shape of its own for easy donning.
- SPI product number: CHAE06
- 3M model numbers: 1113315C, 1113316C, 1113317C, 1113318, 1113319C
- Available in S, M, L, XL, XXL
- Arc flash rated
- Tech-Lite™ stand-up PVC coated aluminum back D-ring
- Body belt/hip pad with PVC coated Tech-Lite™ aluminum side D-rings
- Impact Indicator
- Protected labels, equipped with 3M™ Connected Safety ID (CSID)
- This harness meets CSA Z259.10 requirements
3M™ DBI-SALA® ExoFit NEX™ Arc Flash Rescue Harness
Ideal for rescue, this harness features back and front web rescue loops, Nomex®/Kevlar® fiber webbing, and comfort padding, along with locking quick-connect buckle leg straps.
- SPI product number: CHA258
- 3M model numbers: 1113325C, 1113326C, 1113327, 1113328C, 1113329C
- Available in S, M, L, XL, XXL
- Arc flash rated
- Back web loop
- Front web rescue loops
- Belt loops
- Integrated flame-resistant trauma straps
- Protected labels, equipped with 3M™ Connected Safety ID (CSID)
- This harness meets CSA Z259.10 requirements
3M™ DBI-SALA® ExoFit NEX™ Arc Flash Positioning/Climbing Harness
Ideal for positioning or climbing, this harness features PVC-coated aluminum back, front and side D-rings. This harness is flame-resistant and non-conductive.
- SPI product number: CHA231
- 3M product number: 1113330C, 1113331C, 1113332C, 1113333C, 1113334C
- Available in: S, M, L, XL, XXL
- Arc flash rated
- Tech-Lite™ stand-up PVC-coated aluminum back D-ring
- Tech-Lite™ PVC-coated front and side D-rings
- Tech-Lite™ PVC coated aluminum front D-ring
- Duo-Lok™ quick connect chest and leg straps
- Protected labels, equipped with 3M™ Connected Safety ID (CSID)
- This harness meets CSA Z259.10 requirements
3M™ DBI-SALA® Delta™ Arc Flash Harness, dorsal web loop
This harness features PVC-coated aluminum back, front, and side D-rings that connect to a self-retracting lifeline or a shock-absorbing lanyard.
A patented Delta™ triangular design gives this harness a shape of its own, so you can don it quickly and easily without worrying about tangling.
- SPI product number:
- 3M model numbers: 1110820C, 1110821C
- Available in
- Arc flash rated
- No-tangle design
- Back web loop
- Quick connect buckle leg straps
- Parachute torso buckles
- Protected labels, equipped with 3M™ Connected Safety ID (CSID)
- This harness meets CSA Z259.10 requirements
3M™ DBI-SALA® Delta™ Arc Flash Harness
Designed for high voltage electric environments, this harness features a back D-ring, PVC coated hardware, and pass-thru buckles leg straps. This safety harness features coated, corrosion-resistant hardware and webbing that is water-repellant and abrasion-resistant.
3M™ DBI-SALA® Delta™ Arc Flash Harness resists tangling, regardless of how it is stored. The patented triangular design gives Delta™ Harnesses a shape of their own and makes the harness easy to use.
- SPI product number: CHAE08
- 3M model numbers: 1110830C
- Universal size
- Arc Flash rated
- PVC coated pass-thru buckle leg straps
- PVC coated pass-thru torso buckles
- Nomex®/Kevlar® fibre webbing
- Protected labels, equipped with 3M™ Connected Safety ID (CSID)
- Thisharness meets CSA Z259.10 requirements
Even more protection: choose your self-retracting lifeline
3M™ DBI-SALA® Nano-Lok™ Arc Flash Self-Retracting Lifeline
This arc flash self-retracting lifeline (SRL) is designed to lock quickly and stop a fall within inches to keep you safe when you're working at heights.
Equipped with 8 ft (2.4 m) of 3/4 in (19 mm) Kevlar® fibre web and thermoplastic housing, this SRL is arc flash rated and safe to use in a high-voltage environment.
A snap hook, quick connect, 8 ft (2.4 m) web and built-in connector for single-leg SRL allow connection to most safety harnesses. Tension is always kept on the lifeline to reduce dragging, snapping, and trip falls.
- SPI product number: CDI120
- 3M model number: 3101541
- Arc flash rated
- 8 ft (2.4 m) 3/4 in (19 mm) Kevlar® fibre web lifeline
- Self-locking snap hook on lifeline
- 3/4" (19mm) Dyneema® fiber and polyester web lifeline
- Built-in connector for single-leg SRL direct attachment to harness
- Durable, impact-resistant thermoplastic housing
- Swiveling anchorage loop
- Quick activating speed-sensing brake system
- High capacity energy absorber and impact indicator with Kevlar® fibre cover
- Wide variety of configurations available
3M™ DBI-SALA® Nano-Lok™ Arc Flash Self-Retracting Lifeline with anchor hook
This self-retracting lifeline (SRL) is designed to lock quickly and stop a fall within inches to keep you safe when you're working at heights.
Equipped with 8 ft (2.4 m) of 3/4 in (19 mm) Kevlar® fibre web, thermoplastic housing, and a captive eye carabiner, this SRL is arc flash rated and safe for use in situations where high voltage electricity or hot work (such as welding) are a concern.
A self-locking snap hook, swiveling anchor loop, and built-in connector for single-leg SRL allow connection to most safety harnesses. Lightweight and compact, this SRL stays out of your way so you can get the job done.
- SPI product number: CDI155
- 3M model number: 3101548
- Arc flash rated
- 8 ft (2.4 m) 3/4 in (19 mm) Kevlar® fibre web lifeline
- Self-locking snap hook on lifeline
- 3/4" (19mm) Dyneema® fiber and polyester web lifeline
- Built-in connector for single-leg SRL direct attachment to harness
- Durable, impact-resistant thermoplastic housing
- Swiveling anchorage loop
- Quick activating speed-sensing brake system
- High capacity energy absorber and impact indicator with Kevlar® fibre cover
- Wide variety of configurations available