The importance of effective and total energy isolation cannot be over-emphasised at every possible instance, given the heavy damage accidental re-energisation of equipment under maintenance continues to cause. Be it due to the lack of awareness, the absence of clear-cut processes and guidelines, or poor implementation of Lockout Tagout processes, it has been observed that de-energisation is a key contender for close attention, especially when working with automated and integrated processing systems. Energy Isolation in Complex Systems It is but natural for complex and integrated systems comprising a series of heavy machinery to be powered by multiple energy sources – … Continue reading →

Our customers for Lockout Tagout often ask us to help them formulate & customise Lockout Tagout Procedure that helps them comply with latest regulations and best practice. To assist you, I have put together the following information that I hope will improve your understanding of the legal requirements relating to Lockout Tagout:   Legalities related to the universally applicable Lockout Tagout (LOTO) process tend to vary from one country to another, and so do the penalties for any violations. While standard OSHA regulations are implemented worldwide, there are country-specific legal requirements that also need attention.   There are a few … Continue reading →

Substations require a predictive maintenance approach as a failure could spell disaster for consumers, in the form of lost revenues and production, and result in lower utility revenues from lost sales courtesy unreliable service. As overheating and also extremely frigid operating temperatures could signal electrical component degradation, thermal imaging tools offer predictive capabilities necessary for switchgear and substation maintenance. Substation Overview Within the power distribution and generation industries, substation could be referred to or may get used in multiple ways. Different outdoor environments, right from equipment at industrial setups for modifying or switching voltage to generating station switchyards, characteristics such … Continue reading →

Substations can often be high-risk environments. Accidents can easily occur that may ultimately result in damage to assets and infrastructure, endangering personnel and interruption to power transmission. Because of this, putting the correct procedures in place and controlling access to the premises is imperative in ensuring safe navigation. There is always the risk of unauthorised access which must be mandatorily addressed but aside from that, following the guidelines below will help in greatly increasing Substation Safety. Continue reading →

Calibration has become a neccessity in Ireland in recent years due to health and safety regulations and quality control. It is critical that every company and service supplier under- stands their role in relation to calibration. Calibration has been a daily occur-rence in the manufactur-ing industry for many years as an essential tool for ensuring their methods are held to a high standard and allowing them to obtain high quality certification, i.e. ISO9001 etc.. Due to Health and Safety regulations, the need for calibration with service providers has increased dramatically. The CER has been devoting themselves to raise the standard … Continue reading →

From minor control trips right down to compressor and transformer failures, harmonics can have an impact on every type of HVAC equipment. Surprisingly, harmonics is something that quite often can be overlooked. Harmonic currents and the electrical distribution system Harmonic currents flow in a circuit at multiples of the fundamental 60 hertz (Hz) frequency. For example, current flowing in a circuit at 180 Hz is the third harmonic (60 Hz multiplied by 3). These currents are not indicated on multimeters and therefore are usually not detected until unusual control and equipment problems start to happen. Comparing these current readings from … Continue reading →

Powerpoint Engineering are proud to introduce the Electrically Insulated Safety Helmet with Integrated Arc Flash Face Shield. This innovative product protects the face and head against thermal effects from Arc Flash. Available in 8.0 cal/cm² – Class 2 (Part No. ARC 8 HELMET) or 24.0 cal/cm² – Class 2 (Part No. ARC 24 HELMET) ELECTRICALLY INSULATING SAFETY HELMET The Electrically Insulating Safety Helmet with integrated face shield is available in 8.0 cal/cm² (Class 2) or 24.0 cal/cm² (Class 2). The helmet has been constructed using Modified High Impact Polyamide and is suitable for live working with electrical connections.

Thermal imaging has been in use for several years now to identify and remedy problems in electrical systems and automated industrial facilities. Infrared cameras can detect potentially problematic components from their heat patterns, making it possible to prevent electrical hazards in time. However, accurate imaging happens only when the electrical components are in the camera’s direct line of sight, with no obstructions, away from other dielectric interferences, and emissivity in the environment has been standardised.

Our customers for Arc Flash PPE regularly ask us questions regarding Arc Flash Rated Underwear and if there is a need for it. We have put together the following information that we hope will help in providing a better understanding of why you should consider Arc Flash Rated Underwear and the benefits it provides to the wearer. The IEC offers comprehensive directions on how to establish an electrically safe work environment, right from identifying and evaluating the risks involved, choosing suitable protective clothing and accessories, taking all precautions and safety measures to protect the workplace and its inhabitants, and imparting … Continue reading →

In the present day, when energy drives our lives, we need to keep a check on our consumption and control the same. Our customers at Powerpoint Engineering regularly pose questions relating to Energy Metering. In this article, I have put together the following information that I hope will give you a better understanding of Energy Metering and the process of monitoring and tracking energy consumption.

  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and standards regarding lockout/tagout are aimed at protecting the workplace, staff and machinery from accidents that may occur during maintenance or repairs. Despite elaborate recommendations and audits, fatalities still continue and their severities range from mild shocks and missing fingers to lost lives. While using suitable lockout/tagout devices from specialist dealers such as lockoutsafety.com is a must to ensure adequate safety, it is equally important for the staff and technicians to strictly follow charted lockout processes to prevent any accidental damages. A comprehensive range of lockout devices at lockoutsafety.com can help … Continue reading →

New Safety at Work regulations and the recent insistance of insurance companies and standards authorities call for Portable Appliance Testing procedures to be in place within companies. But what are the penalties for not having PAT testing approved equipment? In short, non-compliance organisations run the risk of injury or death, fire, private legal action and invalidating your commercial insurance policy.

Calibration is a comparison between two measurements – one of known level or correctness with one device (known as the standard) and another measurement made in as similar a way as possible with a second device (known as the unit under test).

Portable Appliance Testing for Offices – here’s what you need to know… Most office staff use electrical equipment, but if electrical equipment is unsafe it could cause personal injury, workplace fires or even kill. Portable appliance testing in offices aims to prevent electrical injury, such as electric shock, burns and fires of electrical origin.

OSHA standards related to control of hazardous energy require companies to formulate effective energy isolation processes that best suit their workplace, after careful consideration of the different energy sources being used in the manufacturing facility. When Locking Out an Energy Source each type of energy source should be locked out by applying the right lockout device and tagged appropriately to visually warn people who share or use the same work area. While ball, gate and butterfly valves serve to lockout pneumatic and hydraulic systems, electrical energy is isolated by using suitable Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) lockout toggles or pin-in/pin-out devices … Continue reading →

Studies show that over 85% of disruptive failures in high voltage (HV) and medium voltage (MV) equipment are Partial Discharge related. Partial Discharge action ultimately leads to failure. Our PD testing service does not require shutdown and is the best way to plan maintenance, repair or replacement activities in a cost effective and efficient way. You can learn more about PD Testing by viewing our range of Partial Discharge videos here.

With all the new Safety at Work regulations and the recent insistance of insurance companies and standards authorities for PAT Testing procedures to be in place within companies, you have to ask: “Which PAT Tester is the right one?”

Calibration is generally done for instruments that are used for obtaining accurate results. The outcome of a measurement is referenced with some standard values and checked for precision. Many manufacturers offer to pre-calibrate instruments prior to sale. The calibration documents are given with the device for the safety of the customer and for service purposes. Calibration enables both the users and businesses to be assured in the results that they record and control. Calibration is starting to diminish within domestic confinements and has taken over the field of manufacturing. As a result, devices in the market have become highly reliable, since the possibility … Continue reading →