With arc flashes being one of the most dangerous events in electrical systems, it’s important to know what you can do to prevent them from happening. The workplace is meant to be a safe environment. Arc flash assessments, which identify hazards and calculate risks, are the key to this safety. An arc flash assessment is conducted to determine the arc flash boundary. In turn, this boundary determines the PPE category needed to keep a worker safe when dealing with electrical hazards to reduce the risk of injury in case of an arc flash or shock. There are four categories of PPE. The farther from the electrical hazard you can be to sustain second-degree burns, the higher PPE category must be selected. The selected PPE must meet or exceed the potential incident energy level determined by the assessment.