Page 35 - OHS, October 2021

critical), manufacturing, food processing, pharmaceuticals, the hospitality industry (especially important as occupancy rates increase), retail and any other industry using electrical assets.
Facilities operate advanced machinery and complex systems using substantial amounts of electricity. In manufacturing facilities, complex robotics and machinery as well as electrical systems such as compressors and control sensors are essential to maintain efficient production. In the hospitality industry, mechanical systems such as elevators and HVAC
equipment run 24/7.
In any facility, electrical systems and
components include, but are not limited to: ■ Power distribution
■ Breakers
■ Fuses
■ Panelboards
■ Transformers
■ Relays
■ Transfer switches
■ Distribution panels/sub panels
■ Mechanical/motors and drives/
bearings/belts/anything as directed Virtually any electrical asset, from
switchgear to a breaker, can experience issues from wear and tear, manufacturer defects or improper installation and maintenance. According to Aberdeen Research, 82 percent of manufacturers have experienced unplanned equipment downtime in the past three years. The cost reaches as much as $260,00 per hour.
More importantly, electrical asset problems can cause employees to suffer painful, disfiguring burns, arc flash exposures, serious injuries and fatalities. Electrocutions are one of the “Fatal Four,” the leading causes of workplace deaths cited by OSHA. Fatal Four incidents were responsible for almost 60 percent of worker deaths in 2018.
Inspection Findings
Electrical inspections on average find problems in five to 10 percent of assets. This includes generating excess heat due to a poor connection, a fault within a circuit or the environment in which the asset is located. For example, dust particles can enter the inner workings of electrical assets and, if left undiscovered, can create risks that inevitably become problems leading to employee injuries or fatalities.
Heat is one immediate indicator of an electrical asset that is experiencing problems. Thermal anomalies exist in about five to eight percent of all equipment on average, and none of these problems get better on their own. Infrared inspections are a proactive method for identifying and resolving these hazards and others before they turn into life-threatening, costly problems. Electrical problems in assets are not easily detectable. The risk is usually in a component contained within a cabinet or otherwise is not visible. Infrared inspections are the universally accepted method of exposing and identifying electrical issues.
Infrared Inspection Benefits
A properly conducted infrared inspection is a comprehensive electrical asset predictive maintenance management tool—not just the practice of looking for hot spots on the largest equipment. Infrared inspections:
■ Reduce risk of fire
■ Increase safety
■ Reduce energy consumption
■ Detect problems quickly without
interrupting operations
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OCTOBER 2021 | Occupational Health & Safety 31
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