Intelligent Power Today Magazine

Avoid hazards with these suggestions

BY ROB PROSSER & DANIELLE GALLO, Brady

With an increase in accidents and injuries occurring in a variety of industries, employers are looking for ways to reduce hazards and improve safety within their facilities. Even with a plethora of information available to supervisors, the inundation of all of these safety recommendations can be overwhelming and can result in even the most basic of mistakes. If you or your employees can relate, it is important to go back to the basics and review the most common issues contributing to electrical risks within facilities.

DE-ENERGIZE ALL EQUIPMENT...

While most discussions about arc flash involve the calculation methods and associated personal protective equipment (PPE), electricians have a number of ways to protect themselves and their gear, including arc-resistant equipment and remote actuation and racking systems that eliminate—rather than reduce—electrical arc-related dangers while providing quantifiable force and other preventive maintenance data that can help avoid future catastrophes.

Similar to any energy source, an electrical circuit is a ticking bomb. It is simply waiting for the right conditions to blow. A twisted pole, faulty interlock, and enough energy will turn an electrical firecracker into a mortal lightning strike. Moreover, what...