The electrical industry has its own list of potential risks that can cause disasters within a few seconds. Therefore, there is a need to handle the current with care so that no harm comes to the people or property. The equipment used, practices followed, and everything else needs utmost attention; that is what every electrical company ensures.
If you are also in a similar business domain, know that people working in electrical companies require protection from direct flashlights and currents. Out of these, arc flash switchgear protection is a significant aspect. One has to be careful of the electric current that flows between two bus phase bars or between the bus bar and the ground. If a human comes in the path of this current, it may cause severe injuries and may lead to death.
Table of Contents
5 best practices for arc flash switchgear protection
Stick to the Industry Standards
There are fixed industry standards that you can follow to carry out the operations involving arc flashes. Preventive measures like installing the PLC panels are sufficient to ensure the fast electric current doesn’t harm anything or anyone.
Use Resistant Switchgear
You can switch to resistant switchgear, which is structurally strong and have pressure-relief properties. These features help avoid sudden explosions in switchgear. Moreover, it also helps protect people around from arc flash currents by mitigating the current direction. Another benefit of the resistant arc flash switchgear is that it reduces downtime and increases the efficiency of operations, as there is no risk of disasters. Therefore, your entire focus would be on operations, due to which productivity will automatically follow! Additionally, when there are no potential accident risks, expect zero downtime while using this equipment.
Staff Training
The next significant thing you can do is train your staff, making them capable enough to understand how dangerous things can get. Additionally, you can train the team to adopt preventive measures in their operations to stay protected against potential disasters. These training programs should be frequent to ensure your staff has clarity about protecting themselves from the arc flash current. Moreover, as the industry standards for operational safety keep changing, conducting these training programs regularly would ensure that your team is aware of the changes.
Remote Operations
Another preventive measure is to carry out dangerous operations remotely. Assign a far-off place for these tasks where you create a safer environment and where there is no intrusion of the outside elements. This way, only trained and qualified professionals can enter here, considerably reducing the risk of disasters. If you have space constraints, you can even go for a separate space, as you only have to ensure restricted access.
Redirect the Energy
You can use equipment that helps redirect the current or the energy that travels between two bush buses. Some examples of equipment that you can use are our Arc resistant or PLC panels. Hire experts to do the installation and once everything is on track, rest assured that the dangerous current cannot cause any harm to people or things. The equipment installation should be done by a proficient expert, as anything wrong can prove fatal. It is significant to ensure that you pick reliable and premium quality equipment for assured protection.
These are the best practices used to protect people and property from arc flash. The ideal way is to do a deeper analysis of your operations, identify the areas where you can improvise, and make necessary changes accordingly. You would have to decide which preventive measures would work best for you. You can also appoint experts who hold expertise in handling these things. They will analyze the operational scenarios, identify potential risks and take preventive measures to ensure the safety of property and people.
