Volume 2 Issue 2 of Connected.
In the world of manufacturing, electrical safety hazards on the plant floor can vary from a severe electrical shock to a catastrophic and deadly arc flash. In a decade-long study conducted by ESFI, nearly 45 percent of reported electrical fatalities were caused by working on or near energized conductors/parts. These hazards can happen due to several reasons, the most common being a lack of preventative measures.
Preventing worker injury and minimizing safety hazards starts at the design level for areas, equipment, processes and duties. This type of preventative method is a popular principle adopted by manufacturers and is defined as Prevention through Design (PtD). PtD is used to reduce the potential of being exposed to electrical hazards before it happens. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) writes, “The Prevention through Design (PtD) Program seeks to prevent or reduce occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities through the inclusion of prevention considerations in all designs that impact workers. 'Designing out' occupational hazards and risks is the most effective way to protect workers.”
Using the PtD method, manufacturers look for new ways to reduce exposure to electrical hazards by turning to new technologies. Companies have now turned to finding innovative ways to automate potentially dangerous tasks to reduce the possibility of injuries caused by human error. One specific area that has been impacted by PtD is how electrical testing is done when checking for voltage in a device. Electrical testing has a high potential for users to be exposed to serious electrical hazards.
The traditional and manual method of ensuring a device is properly deenergized is by using a portable electrical tester to indicate the presence of voltage. This method requires a user to be fully equipped with the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), follow entire hazardous energy control steps and then open a device's enclosure to begin testing for voltage. By manually testing and verifying a device's voltage, this puts a user at a higher risk for being exposed to electrical hazards. On average, traditional testing can be very time consuming and can take around 10 to 20 minutes to safely complete. Through the development of innovative technologies, traditional electrical testing methods now can be automated while reducing any exposure to electrical hazards.
New testing technologies such as Panduit's VeriSafe Absence of Voltage Testers (AVTs) allows users to scan for the presence of voltage without even opening the enclosure. These electrical testers can be permanently mounted directly on the outside panel of an electrical enclosure. With a simple press of a button and in a matter of seconds, the AVT will quickly indicate to the user whether voltage is dedicated or not. AVTs are quick and efficient testing solutions that have had a positive impact on electrical safety in manufacturing environments. This advancement in testing technology is vital in saving time, protecting equipment, minimizing human error that could lead to injury and reducing a worker's exposure to electrical hazards.
To learn more about how devices like AVTs can impact your plant floor, connect with our team! We have the knowledge, experience and products to maximize safety in your facility.