Discussing the Safety and Efficiency of Today's Workplace and Workforce

Welcome to the sounding board for facility managers, maintenance directors, safety managers and operations executives with concerns and questions about workplace electrical safety and efficiency. This forum should open subjects and minds to understanding of OSHA, NFPA and common sence electrical management. And, in conjuntion, it will serve as a source of information on the latest facility management techniques for full operational efficiency.

Look for discussions about Arc Flash Analysis, developing Electrical Safety Programs, compliance issues, Infrared Inspections, Energy Audits, Employee Assessment, Lean Management in Maintenance and Facilities and where to find the help you need.

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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Don't Take These Arc Flash Analysis Shortcuts!

Eliminate Short Circuit Analysis and Coordination Device Study

Problems: The short circuit analysis and coordination device study accurately model your electrical distribution system, and without knowing this, engineers are guessing. There are a few inherent dangers here. First off, the danger of the arc flash and blast is calculated both in terms of energy AND time. An arc flash incident point with a lower level of energy may be more dangerous that a higher voltage area because of the time for the breaker to pop. Without knowing this, engineers must take a guess and make one of two decisions; A) assume the best case scenario and rate the category based on that, leaving someone with category 2 clothing and equipment exposed to a category 3 or 4 situation. Should an accident happen here, an investigator may find your company to blame for excessive damages that could have been avoided. B) assume the worst case scenario and base the categories on this. This is the path that most engineers take because it covers them and the maintenance technician. Here’s the problem – this might actually be a category 2 situation and the engineer will make it category 3 to cover everyone. You now just saved $3K on engineering, but now need to go out and buy $10K in PPE & tools to meet category 3. The other big factor is that the higher the category of PPE, the more hot and restrictive it is for the technician to work and the longer it takes. One of the goals of your program is to get everyone in the best possible situation to do their job safely, not to overburden them and the company with unnecessary equipment.

Eliminate corrective actions investigation

Problems: The reality is that few companies actually do this, primarily because they do not understand the real world applications of an electrical distribution system and how electrical technicians work on them. When engineers identify a design flaw that either makes your system less efficient or puts workers at higher risk for shock or arc flash, they should make corrective recommendations to you before the arc flash analysis is completed. There is a reason that the breaker in your lunch room keeps popping when you plug in the coffee pot that requires a call to maintenance! A corrective actions investigation will make your system more efficient and safe, but this too can only be done if the short circuit analysis and coordination device study is completed. Simply changing a breaker out for a different one could save you tens of thousands of dollars over time.

Be sure your analysis provider provides you with the complete study. Work Safely!

1 comment:

  1. I am not sure how you would be able to provide a energy analysis without a coordination or SC study. They provide the required inputs into the entire study.

    ReplyDelete