Application Note

An engineering control:
REASONS TO BELIEVE
Occupational Health and Safety Organization
(OSHA) and the National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA) recommend the system of
Hierarchy of Controls to minimize or eliminate
exposure to occupational hazards.
Elimination/substitution – method that
removes a hazard all together or controls a
hazard by substituting something in its place
that would be non-hazardous or less hazardous.
Engineering Controls – physical changes or
modifications designed to eliminate or reduce
hazardous exposure to equipment or a work
environment. The use of engineering controls
is the preferred method for eliminating and
reducing workplace hazards.
Safe Work Practice Controls – safe work
practices are designed to change the way
a job is performed to remove the employee
from exposure to the workplace hazard.
Administrative Controls – changes to
include additional backup workers,
breaks and the rotation of workers to
reduce exposure to work hazards.
Personal Protective
Equipment – protective
equipment or clothing worn by
employees to reduce injuries
or exposure to hazardous or
toxic substances.
Hierarchy of controls
Risks
1. 2,576 US workers died from electrical shock and
burn injuries (US Department of Labor, during a
seven year period).
2. 32,000 US workers suffered from electrical shock
and burn injuries (US Department of Labor, during
a seven year period).
3. 77
% of recorded electrical injuries were due to arc
flash incidents.
4. 5-10 Arc Flash incidents in the US every day
(CapSchell Inc.).
Benefit of IR Windows
1. Safety–OSHA Engineering Control that places a
solid barrier between the thermographer and a
live conductor.
2. Limits the exposure to energized equipment,
reduces the hazard of both electrocution and
arc flash.
3. Significantly reduces the need for bulky PPE.
4. Lowers long term operating costs and improves
process efficiencies.
©2013 Fluke Corporation. 5/2013 4315580B_EN
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