Is Safety a High Priority in Your Facility? It Should be!
How NFPA 70E Sparks New Approaches to Electrical Safety
Safety is the reduction of risk, not the absence of risk. This risk reduction defines true safety innovation. In 1979, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) published its first edition of NFPA® 70E to address the growing number of electrical shock injuries and fatalities. Over the years, NFPA 70E has developed a track record of minimizing incident energy in power distribution systems, thus reducing arc-flash and shock injuries.

The organization continues to further improve safety; the 2000 edition included quantifying the poorly understood physics of arc-flash incident energy and began to define methods and procedures for reducing risks to workers. A recent study showed that 57% of facilities reported noticeable safety improvements following their implementation of an NFPA 70E electrical safety program.

The upcoming NFPA 70E 2018 edition aims to further enhance electrical safety in the workplace. Its emphasis on risk management will continue to drive electrical safety innovation and keep the floodgates open for better risk reduction in the future.
Arc Flash Update
NFPA70 (National Electric Code) 2017 has a key revision in regards to Arc Flash compliance:

 

To continue raising awareness of incident energy hazards, service entrance equipment rated 1200 A or more must now be clearly labeled for fuse and circuit breaker selections. Reduction requirements continue to reduce incident energy at service entrance panels.


 
Where Man Meets Machine, Risks Follow. Know the Safety Hierarchy
Edward Blakemore, Assistant General Counsel, Rockwell Automation, explains that regardless of what your company makes, you face risk from safety-related issues. That's because where man meets machine, you face hazards.

Product liability law is local, and the law can vary from country to country (in New Zealand it's banned altogether) and from state to state (California law is different than Texas law, for example). 

Even within one jurisdiction, the application of the law can vary. Product liability cases often involve emotional or political reactions from judges or juries that can lead to unpredictable results.


See how the safety maturity index tool can help you achieve best-in-class results from your safety strategy.



OEMs: Are You Using Machine Safety as a Competitive Differentiator?
Mark Eitzman, Market Development Manager, Rockwell Automation, states that i n our performance-driven world, few machine builders use machine safety to differentiate their machines from the competition. Instead, the focus tends to be on new technologies, faster speeds and smaller footprints.

This is no surprise given that industrial end users are constantly looking for new opportunities to do more with less. However, safety shouldn't be ignored.

If anything, it should be given renewed attention as something that can add greater value to your products and serve as a competitive differentiator.
 
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Allen-Bradley Guardmaster Lifeline 5 Cable-Pull Switches
Rockwell Automation introduces the Allen-Bradley® Guardmaster® Lifeline™ 5 safety cable-pull switch. The new patented Lifeline 5 is a microprocessor-based solution that brings advanced features and diagnostics that help enhance safety while improving productivity.

The Lifeline 5 offers features and functions that simplify setup and allow for more efficient maintenance and troubleshooting, making it the most advanced switch on the market today. And it does all this while performing at the highest safety ratings (TÜV certified to Ple, Cat 4, SIL 3), even when connected in series.

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On-Demand Webinar Series From Rockwell Automation Safety Solutions
Rockwell Automation's  webinar series will present an overview of the latest safety and automation technologies, application techniques and tools to help you further your knowledge when designing, implementing, maintaining and using machines with integrated safety.

They currently have seven webinars that you can watch, whenever your schedule permits.  Simply click the link below and register to watch the recording. 

Revere Electric Supply  | (312) 738-3636  |  www.revereelectric.com

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