Choosing the Right Arc Flash Corporate Program

At Herzig Engineering, we’re proud to be the longest-standing national provider of arc flash studies and compliance. We work with businesses in a wide range of industries and sizes to help keep their equipment and personnel safe from dangerous arc flash events. When it comes to compliance, companies can choose to centralize their efforts at the corporate level, assign responsibility to individual locations, or adopt a hybrid approach. 

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Today, we’ll be going over the unique benefits and challenges of each approach to help you make the best decision for your workplace. If you need expert arc flash studies, audits, or training done right the first time, give our team at Herzig Engineering a call today. 

Centralized Arc Flash Compliance

Corporate-level arc flash studies can be a reliable choice for companies looking to standardize their arc flash studies and safety policies. This approach brings several unique benefits, including:

Consistency Across Locations

Having a centralized approach helps keep facilities and personnel adhering to the same standard of arc flash studies, labeling, training, and PPE. This can help reduce the risk of compliance gaps resulting from varying interpretations of NFPA 70E, NEC, and OSHA requirements. 

Cost Savings

From streamlined processes to negotiated pricing for bulk arc flash studies, having a centralized approach can eliminate redundancies and reduce costs. 

Improved Oversight

A corporate-level team can help increase accountability and oversight to ensure that every facility meets the same standards. 

Efficient Resource Allocation

Having a central team that manages arc flash compliance empowers local teams to focus on their day-to-day operations without worrying about technical safety requirements. 

Access to Expertise

A corporate-level approach enables companies to employ arc flash professionals, led by expert engineers with proper legal licensing and certified electrical safety experts, rather than relying on location-specific staff. 

Although centralized arc flash compliance brings many benefits, some companies may prefer other methods. Having standards at the corporate level may mean that local site-specific nuances are overlooked. Often, the decision-making process can be drawn out with centralized management, which may affect urgent compliance needs at the individual site level. 

The Decentralized Approach

This brings us to another option companies can take regarding arc flash compliance: the decentralized approach. This approach gives individual locations the authority to manage and implement their arc flash programs independently, bringing unique benefits that include:

Faster Response Times

With the need for prior corporate approval out of the way, local teams can quickly address arc flash compliance needs, such as updating labels and employee training. 

On-Site Expertise

Having compliance experts who are familiar with the location’s specific equipment can better identify and mitigate risks. 

Just like with the centralized approach, the decentralized arc flash compliance has its own unique challenges. The lack of centralized oversight could lead to different interpretations of regulation, resulting in inconsistent labeling, training, and compliance amongst locations. Site-specific efforts can lead to forgetting compliances or duplicate processes that can result in higher costs.

The Case for the Hybrid Model

Most organizations we work with have found the most success with a hybrid model that combines centralized and decentralized approaches. Combining oversight at the corporate level while leaving execution to the local sites can maximize efficiency and reduce costs. 

With the hybrid model, corporate teams define company-wide standards, select vendors for arc flash studies, and manage the training programs to ensure consistency. Local teams then handle all the implementation and ensure the corporate-level compliance standards are tailored to their specific equipment and workflows. With proper implementation and communication, the hybrid approach can yield some of the best results for corporations, including:

Consistency With Flexibility

Hybrid approaches empower local teams to have the agility to address site-specific needs while corporate teams ensure compliance standards are met. 

Cost Efficiency

Corporations benefit from bulk purchasing and vendor standardization to reduce costs, while local execution minimizes delays.

Shared Expertise

Corporate experts can provide support and guidance to local teams who are already familiar with the equipment, ensuring the highest level of compliance for each site. 

Get Started with Herzig Engineering

Ultimately, the best approach for your corporate arc flash program depends on your unique needs and processes. At Herzig Engineering, we are trusted by companies nationwide as the electrical safety partner of choice. Our commitment to accurate assessments, expert review, and upholding the highest compliance standards helps ensure corporations can protect their equipment and that their personnel can “Go Home Safely” every day. If you need help determining which approach to arc flash compliance is best for your corporation, speak with our Herzig Engineering team, and we can help develop a customized plan to meet your electrical safety goals.

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