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    Instructions. Answer The Following Cases. 15 Points Each Case

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    aleanne
    This document describes two electrical safety incidents that occurred during equipment maintenance. In the first case, an electrician was fatally injured when he contacted energized parts inside an open circuit breaker. In the second case, a contractor was injured when an explosion occurred after opening an electrical disconnect switch in a room filled with combustible cork dust. To prevent such injuries, policies should require: 1) de-energizing equipment before maintenance, 2) conducting hazard assessments, 3) using protective equipment, and 4) establishing safety procedures for high-risk maintenance tasks. Communication and adherence to safety policies are also important to avoid damage to reputation and limit liability.

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    Instructions. Answer The Following Cases. 15 Points Each Case

    Uploaded by

    aleanne
    711 views7 pages
    This document describes two electrical safety incidents that occurred during equipment maintenance. In the first case, an electrician was fatally injured when he contacted energized parts inside an open circuit breaker. In the second case, a contractor was injured when an explosion occurred after opening an electrical disconnect switch in a room filled with combustible cork dust. To prevent such injuries, policies should require: 1) de-energizing equipment before maintenance, 2) conducting hazard assessments, 3) using protective equipment, and 4) establishing safety procedures for high-risk maintenance tasks. Communication and adherence to safety policies are also important to avoid damage to reputation and limit liability.

    Original Description:

    FA6 - Electrical Safety (2nd Set)

    Original Title

    FA6 - Electrical Safety (2nd Set)

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    This document describes two electrical safety incidents that occurred during equipment maintenance. In the first case, an electrician was fatally injured when he contacted energized parts inside an open circuit breaker. In the second case, a contractor was injured when an explosion occurred after opening an electrical disconnect switch in a room filled with combustible cork dust. To prevent such injuries, policies should require: 1) de-energizing equipment before maintenance, 2) conducting hazard assessments, 3) using protective equipment, and 4) establishing safety procedures for high-risk maintenance tasks. Communication and adherence to safety policies are also important to avoid damage to reputation and limit liability.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    711 views7 pages

    Instructions. Answer The Following Cases. 15 Points Each Case

    Uploaded by

    aleanne
    This document describes two electrical safety incidents that occurred during equipment maintenance. In the first case, an electrician was fatally injured when he contacted energized parts inside an open circuit breaker. In the second case, a contractor was injured when an explosion occurred after opening an electrical disconnect switch in a room filled with combustible cork dust. To prevent such injuries, policies should require: 1) de-energizing equipment before maintenance, 2) conducting hazard assessments, 3) using protective equipment, and 4) establishing safety procedures for high-risk maintenance tasks. Communication and adherence to safety policies are also important to avoid damage to reputation and limit liability.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 7

    Name: CAGAS, ALTHEA GEANNE

    Class/Schedule: 5-291 | ESM 2040 | 7:20 PM – 8:50 PM FSa

    Instructions. Answer the following cases. 15 points each case.

    1. An oriented-strand board manufacturer operated its plant on a 24-hour, 7-day work week with

    two 12-hours shifts. Shift changes occurred at 8:00 am and 8:00 pm. At approximately 8:30

    pm on January 18, 2001, a wet hog, which was located in a wood room, dropped off line and

    would not operate.

    The wet hog was used to grind tree bark and wood residue into a wet fuel used in wet-fuel burners

    in the plant. The wet hog was not essential to the operation of the plant, and whether or not it was

    operating had no effect on other operations in the plant.

    An electrician was assigned to repair the hog. At approximately 10:30 pm, he entered the motor

    control room and opened a 2300-volt motor circuit breaker. He caused an electrical fault in the

    circuit breaker, apparently by contacting energized parts inside the circuit breaker cubicle, and the

    ensuing electric arc burned the employee and ignited his clothing.

    He sustained burns over 90 percent of his body, 60 percent of which were third-degree burns. Even

    thought he was badly burned, he departed the motor control center and walked approximately 43

    meters to the first aid room. A nearby employee doused the remaining flames with water from a

    water cooler.
    Two emergency medical technicians who worked at the plant went to the first aid room and

    administered first aid to the injured employee. Emergency medical services arrived a few minutes

    later and transported the electrician to a hospital where he was admitted for treatment. The

    electrician died the next day at 12:11 pm.

    What actions could have been implemented to prevent this fatality?

    Every day we hear about fires that occur across the world due to short circuits that can

    cause damaged properties, destroy electrical devices due to mains double-phasing, faults,

    inadequate electricity supply, and so on.

    In Layman's terms, it is a fault when something bad happens with the normal mains

    supply—using proper protection electric devices at the main board of our house. We can prework

    such responsibilities to a great extent.

    There are various ways of protecting people from the hazards caused by electricity,

    including insulation, grounding, and electrical protection devices. Laboratory users can

    significantly reduce electrical risks following precautions:

    • Inspect wiring of equipment before starting, replace damaged electrical cords

    immediately.

    • Use safe cook precautions every time electrical equipment is used

    • Know the location and how to operate shut-off switches and or circuit breaker

    panels; use these devices to shut off the equipment in the event of a fire or

    electrocution.
    • Limit the use of extension cords.

    • Multiplug adapters must have circuit breakers of fuses

    • Place exposed electrical conductors behind shields

    • Minimize the potential for water or chemical splits on or near electrical equipment.

    • Keep away from the energized or loaded circuits

    • sources of electricity and exposed circuits must be guarded

    • disconnect the device from the start in the period service or maintenance of the

    device.

    • Disconnect the power source before servicing or repairing electrical equipment.

    • The utilization of electrical equipment in cold rooms must be minimized due to

    condensation issues. If it is imperative to use such areas, the equipment must be

    fixed on a wall or vertical panel.


    2. A sole owner (without employees) of a contracting firm was performing maintenance and repair

    work for a cork processing company.

    He was working on the motor for a Nu Vac 480-volt, 14.9-kilowatt pneumatic roof-mounted

    conveyor system. He found the motor to be running roughly. As he was examining it, the motor

    tripped the electric starter.

    He went to the electrical room on the third floor of the building to open the Square D 60-ampere,

    standard-duty disconnect switch rated at 600 volts. An explosion and electrical fault occurred,

    involving not only the switch but also a portion of the surrounding electric equipment.

    The ensuing electric arc burned the contractor. He was hospitalized with first- and second-degree

    burns to his right hand and arm and his face.

    The company processed cork, including grinding, sifting, and blending cork. Because of

    inadequate housekeeping, combustible cork dust was present throughout the electrical room. The

    open-type electric equipment was unsuitable for use in Class II, Division 1 or 2 locations.
    What procedures AND policies could have been put in place to prevent this injury?

    To prevent this issue, the firm should:

    Take all measures must be undertaken to establish and assure safety before the maintenance

    procedures are conducted. This is a critical approach that will ensure that the process of

    maintenance is free from hazards.

    For example, it is switching off any connectivity in line. This will prevent any potential electric

    faults that could lead to such accidents as these. When all assessments are complete, and the green

    light is given, then the process should start.

    Explanation

    The policies and procures are:

    1. Periodic audit risk and hazard assessments. This will help keep the room clean and minimize

    the potential issues of health hazards. A periodic audit can detect these issues before they happen.

    2. Always ensure that the electric or mechanical connection is switched off. If the electric

    starters were switched off, then the electric explosion could not have happened. So, as a safety

    policy, all maintenance should be done while electricity is switched off.

    3. Wear protective gear when doing any maintenance. The contractor was burnt in hand and its

    face. However, with protective equipment, then the magnitude of these issues and accidents will

    be minimized.

    4. Standards and procedures for opening the Square D 60-ampere are done to minimize

    potential accidents. If this policy is adhered to, then the contractor follows the safety procedures

    in handling this issue.


    The reputation of Cork processing company will be damaged because of the accidents. It indicates

    that there may be miscommunication between the contractor and the company. During such kinds

    of maintenances, communication is critical. Moreover, compliance issues will also arise, and fines

    from the authorities could be underway.

    Similarly, the reputation of the electrician's contracting firm will be damaged because it indicates

    a lack of competence in doing such maintenances. For example, the safety measures were not

    followed, and the contractor was not adequately protected.


    References

    Noroozi, A., Khan, F., MacKinnon, S., Amyotte, P., & Deacon, T. (2014). Determination of human

    error probabilities in maintenance procedures of a pump. Process Safety and Environmental

    Protection, 92(2), 131-141.

    Qingfeng, W., Wenbin, L., Xin, Z., Jianfeng, Y., & Qingbin, Y. (2011). Development and

    application of equipment maintenance and safety integrity management system. Journal of Loss

    Prevention in the Process Industries, 24(4), 321-332.

    Shin, J. H., & Jun, H. B. (2015). On condition-based maintenance policy. Journal of

    Computational Design and Engineering, 2(2), 119-127.

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