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Most companies assume their electrical personnel are safety conscious. Yet, an informal poll of electrical
maintenance personnel involved with power quality troubleshooting and other forms of electrical testing found
almost all of them had violated safety rules on more than one occasion. Some of the respondents even
experienced electrical shock incidents in the field as a result of their actions; without informing company
personnel or seeking medical attention.
Contributing factors
One of the most common complaints of electrical testing personnel is the pressure to complete the job as quickly
as possible. This "hurried pace" usually leads to shortcuts, such as the omission of safety gloves and glasses, the
improper use of test equipment, and the overriding of interlock switches.
A lack of technical expertise during a power quality investigation can also lead to trouble. In this age of "boardswapping" and software analysis, there's less emphasis on basic principles such as Ohm's and Kirchoff's laws.
Another dangerous mindset is the continued adherence to the myth that current flows through the path of least
resistance. Early last year, a test equipment manufacturer delivered a bogus statement in a product bulletin
claiming it was acceptable to touch live, bare 480V terminations, provided it wasn't with both hands. It claimed
AC current would only flow between the fingers and not the rest of the body.
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levels of inspection.
Other considerations
Here's a list of common-sense rules for performing electrical measurements.
Don't work alone. If you're working in pairs, make sure each of you knows what the other is doing at all
times.
Be sure to inspect all meter leads for damage. Also, check to make sure the meter is in good operating
condition.
Select the proper range and function for the test instrument.
Make sure all equipment is properly grounded.
Do not override interlock switches. These devices are in circuits for your protection.
Remove all jewelry and loose-fitting clothing, including ties.
Do not rush or cut corners when doing a survey.
Summary
To prevent accidents and obtain reliability during a power quality investigation, approach each site survey
step-by-step, as if you were doing one for the first time. Remember, all the experience in the world means
nothing if you don't perform the job safely.
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13-12-14 5:10 PM