SafetyTechnical
Arc Flash Awareness for Electricians
Recognise arc flash hazards, understand incident energy and boundaries, and apply the hierarchy of controls.
Estimated time2 Hours
FormatOnline, self-paced
On completionCPD certificate
Course Overview
Arc Flash Awareness for Electricians is an online, self-paced course for electricians, electrical workers and supervisors responsible for electrical safety. An arc flash is the sudden release of energy when a fault arcs through the air; the heat, pressure wave and debris it produces can injure people and damage equipment at HV, LV and ELV. The course covers how to recognise the hazard, how to judge its severity, and which controls apply.
Where the risk sits
Arc flash is not limited to high voltage systems. The hazard exists across LV and ELV equipment too, and it changes with how equipment is used and maintained. The course covers where arc flash hazards exist across equipment types, usage patterns and maintenance conditions, so a risk assessment can start from an accurate picture.
From calculation to controls
You will see how incident energy is calculated using the IEEE 1584 and NENS 09 approaches, what influences the result, and how arc flash boundaries fall with distance and feed into a risk assessment. The course then applies the hierarchy of controls in sequence: de-energised work, then substitution and isolation, then engineering controls that limit fault current and shorten arc duration, then the administrative controls and safe work practices that supplement them. Arc-rated PPE is selected last, from the calculated incident energy, with its limits and layering understood. The final section covers how an arc flash safety program is implemented through documentation, labelling and review, and how human factors, competency and safety culture affect arc flash risk.
This is awareness training. It is not a substitute for a site-specific arc flash study or risk assessment, which remains the duty holder’s responsibility.
On completion you receive a certificate and a signed training record listing the topics covered.
NECA Learn also delivers Arc Flash Awareness face to face. Details are on the instructor-led course page.
What You’ll Learn
Describe what an arc flash is, how it develops, and the heat, pressure wave and debris it produces at HV, LV and ELV
Identify where arc flash hazards exist across equipment types, usage patterns and maintenance conditions, not only high voltage systems
Understand how incident energy is calculated (IEEE 1584 and NENS 09) and what drives the result
Understand arc flash boundaries and how they feed into a risk assessment
Apply the hierarchy of controls in sequence, from de-energised work through substitution, isolation, engineering and administrative controls
Select arc-rated PPE from the calculated incident energy, understanding its limits and layering
Understand how an arc flash safety program is implemented and how human factors and competency affect risk
What’s Included
Self-paced online module
Knowledge assessment
Certificate on completion
Approx. 2 Hours
Records CPD hours
Records your CPD hours
On completion you’ll receive a certificate recording your CPD hours, ready to add to your professional development record.
Prefer face-to-face training?
NECA Training delivers this in person: Arc Flash Awareness in Brisbane, or as part of Electrical Safety Code of Practice training in Sydney.
Training a team?
Buy 2 or more seats and your company group is set up automatically.
One link for your whole team - Share it (or the QR code) and each person is enrolled as they join.
Everyone registers as themselves - Each certificate is issued in the learner’s own name.
You see everyone’s progress - Your purchase makes you the group manager.
Need more seats later - Buy the same course again and they’re added to your existing group.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an arc flash?
A fault that arcs through air rather than following a conductor. The arc reaches thousands of degrees and produces a pressure wave and molten debris, which is why the injuries are burns and blast trauma rather than electric shock. It can occur at HV, LV and ELV.
What is incident energy?
The thermal energy that would reach a worker at a given distance from an arc, measured in calories per square centimetre. The course covers the IEEE 1584 and NENS 09 approaches to calculating it, because that figure is what arc-rated PPE is selected against.
What is an arc flash boundary?
The distance from equipment at which incident energy falls to 1.2 cal/cm2, the threshold for a curable second-degree burn. Inside it, controls and PPE apply. The course shows how boundaries are derived and how they feed a risk assessment.
What PPE is used for arc flash protection?
Arc-rated clothing plus eye, face, head, hand and foot protection, chosen from the calculated incident energy rather than guessed. The course covers the limits of PPE, how layering changes the rating, and why PPE sits last in the hierarchy of controls.
Who should complete arc flash awareness training?
Anyone who opens or works near energised switchgear, distribution boards or LV equipment, not only high-voltage crews. The course is written for electricians and electrical workers, and for supervisors who plan or sign off that work.
Can I do arc flash awareness training online?
This course is fully online and self-paced on any device. If your team prefers a classroom, NECA Learn also runs an instructor-led Arc Flash Awareness session; see the face-to-face course page.
Does this course count toward my CPD or licence renewal?
This course records self-paced professional development, with a certificate of completion documenting your learning. It is not represented as an approved licence-renewal or skills-maintenance course. Renewal requirements are set by your state or territory regulator; see our state-by-state electrician licensing guide and confirm what applies to your licence before relying on any course for renewal.
