We first began to ask questions about arc flash fumes when our CEO, Jake Weidert, attended an Arc Flash Training Seminar. Exposure topics included: temperature, pressure, light, sound, radiation, and toxic fumes. All the topics were supported by diagrams, graphs, injury reports, and facts except for the arc flash’s toxic fume. He casually asked, “What is an arc flash fume made of?” and the answer disturbed us. “We’re not sure,” the speaker replied. And now, after years of digging into the composition of switch gear, contacting the senior-most engineers, and the best safety professionals in the industry we were confronted with a toxic truth: Nobody knows.

OTEX AR does not know.

NFPA does not know.

ASTM does not know.

OSHA does not know.

Our goal is to raise $150,000 in federal and state grants to complete a comprehensive study into the chemical composition of arc flash fumes, including their exceptions and phenomena. We will partner with global testing labs, renowned universities, and medical experts to create duplicatable experiments. The results of our study will help to determine the estimated chronic and acute impact on our health. The results will be made public and available to everyone. In addition to the general benefit this will offer to our industry, and the health of our friends, anyone who signs the petition will receive a copy of the study’s findings before they are released publicly.

Objectives:

• Author a comprehensive academic research paper explaining the detailed composition of arc flash fumes.
• Author a comprehensive medical research paper based on the above findings examining the relationship between fume inhalation and the potential chronic and acute health effects.
• Release findings to regulatory bodies like OSHA, NFPA, and ASTM.
• Make findings public by sending to major publications, industry leaders and manufacturers, and publishing online.

Funding goals:

• Instrumentation
• Switchgear
• Electricity
• PPE
• Laboratory time
• Consultation
• Medical review

Answering questions like the ones posed in this petition is our greater purpose as safety professionals and PPE manufacturers. Those who have entrusted us with their health deserve our laser focus and demand for knowledge. If we do not push the boundary of our knowledge, no one else will -- it is our duty. Your signature here means that you stand with the ultimate ideals as a safety professional.

Sincerely,

Jake Weidert

CEO, OTEX AR