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Arc Flash Awareness

An arc flash is a sudden release of electrical energy through the air, with intense light, heat and pressure. Farm owners do not need to calculate it, but they do need to know why panels are not for casual work.

What is an arc flash?

An arc flash happens when electric current jumps through the air between conductors or from a conductor to ground. The result can be a bright flash, extreme heat, a loud blast, flying fragments and molten metal. It can occur in a fraction of a second and can seriously injure or kill people standing near equipment, even without touching it.

Arc flash is different from a shock. A shock is current passing through the body. An arc flash is an energy release that can burn and injure from a distance.

Where can it happen on a farm?

Anywhere there is a main service panel, a large disconnect, a motor control center, a big feeder or a transformer connection. Larger operations with grain systems, dairies, packing sheds and irrigation pumps have more equipment capable of causing one. Smaller farms still have panels that can cause one if something fails while a cover is off or a tool slips.

Dust, moisture, rodents, loose connections, corrosion and damaged insulation are common contributors. Dropped tools and improper work practices are others.

Think about where people stand. A worker who routinely opens a panel to reset a breaker is standing in the zone where an arc flash would do the most harm, so make the routine safer by keeping covers on and by calling a professional when breakers keep tripping.

What can start an arc flash?

Common causes include opening a live panel, using the wrong tool, a component failing as a breaker is switched, loose or corroded terminals, and contact from a conductive object or animal. Poor maintenance raises the chance that something fails when equipment is operated.

Because the energy is released so fast, there is no time to react. That is why prevention and keeping unqualified people away are the main defenses.

How is the hazard reduced?

Prevention comes in layers. Qualified electricians apply their training, procedures and equipment to evaluate the hazard, and they decide when work must be done with power off. The preferred approach is to de-energize equipment, lock it out and verify it is off before working. That process is covered in OSHA and electrical safety standards and in recognized training.

Ask your electrician whether your main equipment has been labeled with the information that qualified workers need, and whether a review of your system is advisable. Larger farms with big service equipment may benefit from a formal evaluation by an electrical engineer.

• Keep panel covers closed and in place
• Do not open, probe or repair panels unless you are qualified
• Maintain wiring, connections and enclosures regularly
• Label equipment so people know what is behind each door
• Keep storage and clutter away from panels
• Arrange regular inspections and thermal checks by qualified professionals

What does protective clothing have to do with it?

Qualified workers may wear special protective clothing and gear selected using formal evaluation and standards. Ratings and categories are technical and depend on the equipment. They should come from a qualified person and official sources, not from guesses or from general advice online.

Protective gear is the last line of defense, not a permission slip to work on live equipment. Regular work clothing that melts or burns can make injuries worse.

What should unqualified people do?

Stay away from open panels. Do not flip large disconnects while standing directly in front, in a hurry or with wet hands, unless you have been shown how and the equipment is labeled for that use. If a breaker trips repeatedly, a panel buzzes, crackles, smells burnt or looks scorched, do not touch it. Call a licensed electrician and keep others away.

Teach all workers that panels are not storage spaces and not places for experiments.

Good housekeeping helps. Keep the floor in front of panels dry, clear and well lit, and keep the area free of tripping hazards so a person can step away calmly.

What if someone is injured?

Call 911. Do not touch a person who may still be in contact with energized equipment. Power must be confirmed off by a qualified person or responders. Do not attempt improvised rescue, because a second injury is possible.

Learn first aid and CPR through the American Red Cross or another recognized provider. Ask a trainer how burns and injuries from electricity are managed, rather than relying on this page or memory.

After any incident, even one with no injury, have the equipment inspected by a qualified person before it is used again. Hidden damage can make the next failure worse.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.