DC Electrical Safety, Part 1: Introduction to Electrical Shock, Thermal, and Arc Flash Hazards -- Occupational Health & Safety

DC Electrical Safety, Part 1: Introduction to Electrical Shock, Thermal, and Arc Flash Hazards

Date: Thursday October 9, 2025 at 2:00pm ET - 1:00pm CT - 11:00am PT

Electrical safety in direct current (DC) systems is not as well understood or regulated as alternating current (AC) systems. This is due to the new and diverse forms of DC sources, lower prevalence of DC systems in industry, and the relatively limited data available from DC electrical safety incidents and investigations. However, the rapid expansion of DC applications—ranging from solar power and electric vehicles to data centers and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) – has made DC safety a growing concern. DC hazards can present in the form of electrical shock, thermal injury, and arc flash. Some of these are not adequately studied or standardized due to several reasons, ranging from evolving technology or lack of destructive testing for human safety. Comprehensive guidance on DC arc flash and DC shock is scarce when compared to AC electrical hazards. Are these DC hazards significant, and if so, at what thresholds of voltage, current, or system configurations do these become dangerous?

As industrial adoption of DC systems accelerates, more workers are exposed to these environments, making the creation of clear safety guidelines essential. This webinar introduces the fundamentals of DC systems and the unique hazards they present. It outlines OSHA and consensus standards requirements for DC electrical safety. Attendees will gain an understanding of the basics of DC systems, how DC differs from AC, and the safety requirements specific to DC environments. Future sessions will explore each hazard in depth and examine the performance of AC-rated arc flash personal protective equipment (PPE) when used in DC applications.

About the Speaker:

Zarheer Jooma, P.E., IEEE (SM’17)

Zarheer Jooma is a professional engineer and partner at e-Hazard. He holds a master’s degree (cum-laude) in electrical engineering, is a senior member of the IEEE, has convened and chaired arc flash safety standards, and is a member of both ASTM F18 and IEC TC-78. Zarheer performs electrical network design, arc flash studies, electrical safety training, incident investigations, and auditing. He has published several peer-reviewed papers on Electrical Safety, spoke at numerous conferences both locally and internationally, contributed to wording on the NFPA70E standard, and is actively engaged as a subject matter expert on the IEEE1584 suite of standards. He is the technical paper review chair for two of the IEEE journals and chair for the IEEE Electrical Safety Workshop 2025.

Sponsors:

Salisbury Electrical Safety provides industry-leading solutions for electrical safety, specializing in personal protective equipment (PPE) and grounding equipment. Committed to protecting workers from electrical hazards, Salisbury offers high-quality, reliable products that meet strict safety standards, ensuring compliance and peace of mind for professionals in utilities, construction, and commercial & industrial sectors. www.automation.honeywell.com.

Duration: 1 hour

First Name

Last Name

Job Title

Company

Country

State/Province

Address

City

Postal Code

Phone

Phone ext

Please select the primary function for which you are responsible.

Which category best describes the primary end product manufactured or service performed at your business?

Your e-mail address is used to communicate with you about your registration, related products and services, and offers from select vendors. Refer to our Privacy Policy for additional information.