EENG 130

Electrical Equipment Operation and Maintenance

de los Reyes, Melisa T. BSEE 502A 201410936 05/08/2019

Protective equipment, tools, and methods

Electrical protective equipment serves to eliminate or reduce hazard severity, reduce the likelihood
of an accident given that a hazard exists, and reduce the severity of the injury if an accident occurs.
ANSI American National Standards Institute, ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials
GFCI ground fault circuit interrupter, NFPA National Fire Protection Association, OSHA
Occupational Health and Safety Administration
Voltage-rated rubber gloves provide protection from hand contact with an energized source.
Gloves are available in various voltage classes and with different cuff lengths. These gloves shall be
used, inspected, and maintained to ensure their protective integrity.
Rubber blankets can be draped around conductors to provide a temporary insulating system. They
were designed for utility open lines, but can be used in some industrial applications. Insulated tools,
ladders, and switchsticks provide protection from both shock and arc-flash burns. The tools and
devices shall be rated for the voltage with which they may come in contact, and should be stored and
inspected to maintain insulation integrity. Doors, covers, shields, guards, and barriers serve to prevent
contact with, or limit approach to, energized conductors.
Any work on or near energized electrical equipment has the potential for an accident that could
result in serious injury or death, interruption of electric power, disruption of control systems, or
damage to critical equipment.
A plot-plan diagram is a necessary accompaniment to the one-line diagram for a complete
description and mapping of the industrial and commercial electric distribution system.
All too frequently, it is the top management that needs to be convinced that safety must be a part
of each job, even though it may not be particularly expedient. This is a difficult problem to overcome;
however, if safety doesn’t start at the top, it can never precipitate to the bottom.
EENG 130
Electrical Equipment Operation and Maintenance