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Data record gloss.working-distance.osha1910-269.distance-relation

Verified 2026-10-28 Confidence: High

Appendix E to 29 CFR 1910.269 explains that the heat energy calculated by any of the estimating methods is approximately inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the employee and the arc, so that a small increase in distance lowers the heat energy substantially and estimating that distance is key to protecting employees. The explanation sits in section III.A of the appendix.

Provenance29 CFR 1910.269 supports data record gloss.working-distance.osha1910-269.distance-relation, which is cited on the entry Working distance.SOURCE29 CFR 1910.26929 CFR 1910.269Regulation, clause Appendix E, III.ADATA RECORDgloss.working-distance.osha1910-269.distance-relationgloss.working-distance.o..Verified 2026-10-28ENTRYWorking distanceWorking distanceNo revisions
Provenance. Where this record comes from and where it is used: the cited source, the record itself and the entry that cites it.
Provenance: the chain from source to entry.
StepItemDetail
Source29 CFR 1910.269Regulation, clause Appendix E, III.A
Data recordgloss.working-distance.osha1910-269.distance-relationVerified 2026-10-28
EntryWorking distanceNo revisions
Subject
Working distance (Glossary)
Kind
Standard scope
Source
29 CFR 1910.269, current edition, clause Appendix E, III.A, 1910.269 - Electric power generation, transmission, and distribution (with Appendices A to G; Appendix B, Working on Exposed Energized Parts), OSHA. Regulation text. Agency copy of 29 CFR 1910.269
Also stated in
  • 29 CFR 1910.269, Appendix E, section III.A (the table of methods above it is incorporated) (eCFR current as of 2026-10-26).
    Read the reference passage
    "The amount of heat energy calculated by any of the methods is approximately inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the employee and the arc. In other words, if the employee is very close to the arc, the heat energy is very high; but if the employee is just a few more centimeters away, the heat energy drops substantially. Thus, estimating the distance from the arc to the employee is key to protecting employees."

    29 CFR 1910.269, Appendix E, section III.A (the table of methods above it is incorporated), eCFR current as of 2026-10-26. Agency copy of 29 CFR 1910.269

    The current standard governs; this passage is a public-domain description of the practice dated eCFR current as of 2026-10-26.

Beside
gloss.working-distance.nfpa70e.use; gloss.working-distance.definition

History

Every recorded change to this data record, oldest first.
DateChange
2026-10-28created

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Cite the governing standard for the fact itself; cite this page as the finding aid.

"Data record gloss.working-distance.osha1910-269.distance-relation." Arc Flash Reference. 2026-10-28. https://www.arcflashreference.com/data/gloss.working-distance.osha1910-269.distance-relation/.