Author: Toni Guerrero

Arc Flash!

Posted on April 4, 2017 by Toni Guerrero

If you thought an electrical shock was bad, you haven’t seen anything yet. With 30,000 electrical shocks/arc flash accidents occurring each year, it benefits you to know the facts.

First of all, what is Arc Flash?: Where as a normal electrical shock will send an electrical current through your body on contact, Arc Flash sends the short circuit current through the flow of air. This results in an explosion that will go in through your body and find an exit point through your hands, feet or head. The results will not be pretty.

Why is Arc Flash so dangerous?: The temperature rises to 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This is 4 times hotter than the sun 18″ from your body.

      

 

With all jokes aside the statistics for Arc Flash are alarming.

*There are 1000 fatalities due to electrocution that occur each year.

*About 10 Arc Flash explosions happen in electrical equipment each day.

*2000 workers are treated yearly for burns.

This is not only for high voltage. Fatalities can occur at only 7 1/2 Watts @ 110 Volts.

 

What can be done to protect yourself?: Only qualified, trained personnel may perform energized electrical systems. All that handle these kind of systems must wear proper PPE.  Inspect all PPE before use. Must be rated for voltages they are being used on.

Proper PPE:

1. Tools (insulated)
2. Clothes
3. Labels
4. Training
5. Eye, Ear, Face

 

How to select proper PPE:

• Non-melting, flammable materials
• Fire Rated shirt, pants, coverall
• Cotton underwear – shorts & shirts plus Fire Rated shirt and pants

NOTE:  double layer switching hood and hearing protection required

• Cotton underwear, FR shirt, pants, and coverall or cotton underwear plus two FR coveralls
• Cotton underwear plus FR shirt and pants plus multilayer flash suit

Safety Procedures:

osha lock out tag out

 

OSHA Lock out Tag out Procedures:

8 step shut down

1. Create a Work order describing work to be done
2. Inform operator and supervisor about work to be done
3. Prepare for shut down
4. Shutdown/turn off equipment
5. Isolate from energy source
6. Apply Lock out/tag out
7. Release all potentially hazardous stored or potential energy
8. Verify the isolation

 

5 step restart

1. Assure equipment operationally intact, clear all personnel & tools
2. Ensure employees are safely positioned
3. Assure lock out/tag out is removed from each energy-isolating device by authorized employee only
4. Notify affected employees of lock out/tag out removal and that work has been completed
5. Completed work order must be signed off by employee and manager

So in conclusion, be safe, wear proper PPE, call a professional…Wink Wink…Nudge Nudge…Us (G Technology) and don’t get electrocuted!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electrical Safety

Posted on January 17, 2017 by Toni Guerrero

On a daily basis, we all come into contact with electrical appliances, equipment, devices…and it’s helpful to have basic Electrical Safety Knowledge.  Here’s a mini lesson on what to do and what not to do in case of an electrical shock.

FIRST AND FOREMOST:

The most important thing to have in mind is NEVER TOUCH THE PERSON RECEIVING THE ELECTRICAL SHOCK!!!  This goes against all human nature, as our first instinct would be to try to grab the person to safety.  However, electricity requires a continuous flow and will always look for it’s way out.  For example, if you touch or step on something energized and receive an electric shock, the current will automatically follow the quickest path to the heart and look for an exit.  This means that the electrical  current generally exits the body thru one of the extremities…hands, feet, or head.  The point of exit will always receive the brunt of the electrical shock.  Therefore, if you try to grab the person being shocked, you can be sure you will receive more severe injuries than they will.

With that being said, what should you do in the case of an electric shock?

1. Call 911
2. Try to locate source of power and turn it off as quickly as possible.  Appliances, breakers, devices…
3. Do your best to separate the person from the source of electricity with a non-conductive object…a wooden broom handle, plastic or cardboard.
4. While waiting for EMS to arrive, try to determine whether the casualty is responsive without moving them.
5. Check for any electrical burns and treat accordingly.  NOTE:  electrical burns may vary depending on how long the body is in contact with electrical current, the strength of current, type of current, and the direction the current takes through the body.
6. If the casualty is not breathing, you may have to conduct CPR.

Always take the necessary precautions to work safely.  Wear PPE and never work alone.

 

UPS Systems: Why you need them

Posted on December 23, 2016 by Toni Guerrero

WHAT IS A UPS SYSTEM?

An Uninterruptible Power Supply, or more commonly known as a UPS System is essentially a battery back up in the case of a power outage.  A UPS System can be relatively small, to back up computers and electronic equipment, or they can be big enough to power an entire town, and everything in between.

BENEFITS:

The benefits of a UPS System are that there is a virtually seamless interruption of power, meaning if your building has a power surge or outage, you equipment load will switch to rechargeable batteries within the UPS System, giving you uninterrupted power.  This allows equipment, machinery, and personnel to continue working, even if the power goes out.

SCENARIO:

Imagine you have employees operating forklifts, heavy machinery, up on ladders and scaffolding… The power goes out.  Think of the potential injuries, damaged goods, trip hazards and heaven forbid, fatalities that could occur.  Simply because of a power outage.  The benefits of having a back up system are priceless.

PHOTO:

The attached photo is an example of a Myers 2800VA Inverter powered by 10 Rechargeable batteries.

Lighting Maintenance Contracts

Posted on December 2, 2016 by Toni Guerrero

Lighting maintenance is imperative in order to have a properly functioning facility.  Imagine employees working in a dark warehouse.  The potential trip hazards could incur grave consequences, including lawsuits.  However, having a routine maintenance contract ensures lighting systems are performing efficiently, all year round.

G Technology services interior/exterior lighting on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis, customized according to your facility’s needs.

Transfer Switches

Posted on December 2, 2016 by Toni Guerrero

Many people are familiar with Transfer Switches for backup Generators.  A transfer switch is essentially a switch that switches between 2 loads.  The purpose of a transfer switch is to provide power in the event of a power outage or if a utility source fails.  There are Manual Transfer Switches where you would physically have to throw a switch in order to turn on the backup Generator.  Then there are Automatic Transfer Switches, which will automatically switch over to the backup Generator.

Within Automatic Transfer Switches there are Open Transition Switches and Closed Transition Switches.  The most common is Open Transition, also known as break-before-make Transfer Switch because it breaks contact with one load before making contact with the other load.  That would cause a momentary interruption of power before the load switches to the backup power source.  Closed Transition Switches are known as make-before-break Transfer Switches, meaning the backup power source switches on before breaking contact with the existing load.  This is most commonly used for critical loads such as Elevators or Hospital equipment.

This is a photo of a Closed Transition Transfer Switch used to feed critical circuits in an Institutional Facility.  The momentary interruption of power is less than 1/6 of a second .