Switchgear Safety: 5 Questions to Ask Before a Technician Works on Energized Switchgear

 by Laurence Grodsky

Like any critical system, the operational capability of a facility’s emergency and/or standby power systems is absolute at a moment’s notice. The failure of such a system is not acceptable. To best ensure the functionality of switchgear, regular testing of the switchgear should be executed by trained service technicians. And safety during that testing should be top priority, not only for a facility’s personnel but also for all service vendors.
If your business requires uninterrupted business-as-usual activities during the testing, it is very important that any safety challenges be addressed with both proper system design and proper testing methodologies with respect to safety equipment and prevailing safety processes. Safety standards NFPA 70E, IEE 1584, OSHA CFR 1910 and CFR 1926 are considered the minimum level for safety practices and an organization can be considered negligent if minimum levels are not achieved.
Remember, an arc flash hazard analysis must be performed by an independent expert in order to provide the appropriate information needed by a trained technician to determine the correct safety processes and personal protective equipment (PPE) needed to inspect and maintain that switchgear.
Here are questions to ask before a technician works on energized switchgear. 
1. Is the technician trained to work on an energized system? Both a facility’s own employees and all third-party service technicians, especially those working with electricity, need to follow safe working practices without compromise.
2. Is the technician following a strict safety guideline (minimum NFPA 70E and IEEE 1584)? A service provider should, at minimum, follow all safety guidelines set by NFPA 70E and IEEE 1584, as well as the facility’s safety guidelines where they provide additional safety demands above and beyond the standards and guidelines identified.
3. Does the technician have access to the properly specified PPE for the work required? Servicing limitations of energized systems are limited by the available PPE in which a trained service technician can effectively and safely maintain the product and availability of appropriate tools. Systems designed outside these limits will need to be de-energized in order to allow for the proper maintenance to be performed. All technicians working on an energized system should be provided a PPE Category 4 (40 CAL/cm2) Suit. The suit is designed for protection for an arc flash hazard up to 50kV. The service vendor’s technician should not perform any service on energized equipment that exceeds the specifications of the currently available and effective PPE. And take note: PPE suits greater than category 4 (40 CAL/cm2) require ventilation and are extremely restrictive to maneuver when completing an inspection or maintenance activity. The technician should not perform any service on energized equipment that exceeds the specifications of the currently available and effective tools.
4. Does the technician understand the safety guidelines of my organization and is he or she willing to adhere to those guidelines? The liability and exposure of an organization remains the same if that organization only achieves 1 percent compliance with the safety standards or 99 percent compliance with the standards. To meet its safety compliance requirement, 100 percent compliance with the standards is required.
Furthermore, noncompliance can be very expensive. The total costs of arc flash incidents due to noncompliance with safety standards have been estimated to be $12 - $15 million, which includes the following:
•  Medical expenses
• Lost productivity
• Equipment/facility down time
• Equipment replacement
• Insurance complications
• Fines and fees
• Litigation
• Poor safety reputation
5. Is safety the HIGHEST priority for the technician?  Organizations are responsible for the safety and well-being of all people within its facilities and properties. From its employees to external service technicians, organizations need to ensure that safe working practices are followed. It is unacceptable for third party service technicians, specifically those working with electricity, to compromise these practices. So make sure you get the commitment that safety is first and foremost a priority of the service vendor you select.

Laurence Grodsky is the director, marketing, ATS/PCS/CAM at ASCO Power Technologies. 800-800-ASCO. customercare@asco.com