Shock is the passage of electrical current through the body. Protecting oneself from electrical shock is simple:

• Establish an Electrical Safe Work Condition
• Maintain a safe shock approach boundary if the circuit or equipment is not deenergized
• If you must work or approach energized circuits or equipment, you must be QUALIFIED according to OSHA guidelines, select and wear the proper voltage-rated PPE

An Arc Flash is created when a great amount of current arcs through conductive air from one energized conductor to another, or from one energized conductor to a grounded part.

In an arc flash incident within an enclosure such as a panel or panelboard, a large amount of concentrated radiant energy (incident energy) explodes outward from the involved electrical equipment, creating pressure waves (Arc Blast) that can damage a person’s hearing, a high-intensity flash that can damage eyesight, and a superheated ball of gas that can severely burn a worker’s body and melt metal.

Protecting oneself from arc flash and arc blast is not as simple as shock protection unless an arc flash analysis has been completed and the circuit or equipment has a label affixed on the exterior cover that identifies the Hazard Risk Category, Arc Flash Boundary, and the PPE required when opening and exposing the energized parts.