Visit MikeHolt.com
When A Company Almost Has An Incident - Is NFPA 70E the Law?   

 

SPECIAL REPORT: When A Company Almost Has An Incident

Is NFPA 70E the Law?

By Brandi Fuller, Chief Editor for The Current Monitor Image

After making safety advancements to the electrical system, the maintenance crew at Pittsburgh Corning in Sedalia, Missouri began powering upthe plant after a company-wide shutdown. While doing so, they were surprised to see power restored to both the line and load side of a disconnect even though the panel was locked and tagged out.

"Seeing the LEDs [of the voltage indicators] flashing on both sides of the disconnect...caused immediate concern," says MJ Anderson, a maintenance repairman with Pittsburgh Corning. The team took the necessary precautions and began investigating why power was restored.

After confirming the voltage indicators were wired correctly, they opened the cabinet door and discovered the handle to the disconnect had broken away from the knives, which had been welded in place over time.

"...all we could think about, really, was if somebody had turned that on, it might have been ugly," shutters Terry Logan, a maintenance repairman with Pittsburgh Corning.

CLICK HERE to watch the Pittsburgh Corning team recount this incident in the Current Monitor Special Report.

Click Here to Post a Comment
Click Here to View Comments

 
Visit: Exam Preparation | Continuing Education | Code Products | Newsletters | and more
 

If you wish to unsubscribe from this newsletter Click Here

 
Copyright© Mike Holt Enterprises All Rights Reserved This article is protected by United States copyright and other intellectual property laws and may not be displayed or published on the Internet without the prior written permission of Mike Holt Enterprises, Inc.
"... as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" [Joshua 24:15]
 
Comments
  • While over my 30 years of startup and commissioning along with re-energizing and backfeeds, your suppose to visually perform an inspection and test all items for any type of power before and after the system is worked on. Then prior to energizing, you are suppose to verify again visually that all items are open prior to loading the gear. Basic 101 stuff.

    Jim  November 29 2014, 10:27 am EST
  • Reply from: Doug   November 29 2014, 11:23 am EST
    It happen to me before indicators were offered thru heart into afibe

    Reply from: Walter Croteau   November 30 2014, 9:25 am EST
    I completely agree with you Jim.


Reply to this comment
* Your Name:
   Your name will appear under your comments.

* Your Email:
   Your email address is not displayed.
* Comments:

Email Notification Options:
Notify me when a reply is posted to this comment
Notify me whenever a comment is posted to this newsletter