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The Importance of Substation Safety Equipment: Preventing the Risk of Injury at Work
Reducing the risk of workplace injuries is a high priority among industries, and is especially so in the electric power industry. Firms across all sectors are implementing safety programs to help employees avoid injury at work. This includes training workers on safe operating practices and equipping them with protective equipment. Operators, engineers and technicians all risk injury from electrical shock, burns, falls and cuts. To reduce the risk of injury at work and meet safety regulations, it’s essential to have the right safety equipment on hand. In recent years, industrial engineers have focused more on designing safer manufacturing processes instead of developing new machines that are faster or more compact. The risk of electric shock, fires, explosions, and dust explosions has increased as the process complexity has increased. Therefore, substation designers are required to incorporate safety measures into the design of substations in order to reduce the risks associated with substation operations. This article details some of these safety measures and their importance during routine maintenance procedures inside a substation.
What are some of the equipment used to prevent injury in substations?
Substations are primarily used to increase the capacity of electrical grids. They are used to increase or decrease the voltage on the grid between transmission and distribution levels to be used by customers. The design of substations varies depending on the application, but they often consist of voltage transformers, circuit breakers, and ancillary equipment such as surge arrestors, capacitor banks, and breakers for protection devices. In a substation, the voltage can be extremely high—as high as 400 kV (i.e. 400,000 Volts). To reduce the risk of injury from high voltages, workers must wear protective equipment such as rubber gloves, rubber-soled shoes, and full-length clothing. In addition, they must use insulated tools and appliances.
Electric Shock risk prevention
Electric shock is one of the most common causes of injury in electric power and energy industries. This is caused when the human body comes into contact with a source of electricity that is not properly insulated. When this happens, the current can travel through the body to the ground, causing a serious injury. Electrical injuries can result in death, traumatic injuries, or even long-term disabilities. There are different levels of severity based on the amount of current that passes through the body. Most severe injuries occur when the current is sufficient to cause the heart to stop beating or cause muscle spasms that lead to loss of limb.
Burns protection
Burns are a leading cause of injury in the power industry. Electrical arcs, sparks, and hot surfaces due to poor ventilation, equipment failure, or human error are all possible causes. For example, when workers are performing maintenance on equipment with faulty insulators, they may come in contact with live parts, causing injuries such as arc burns. Additionally, workers can receive burns from contact with hot transformer oil, electrical equipment, or fluid. While no amount of burns is acceptable, certain types of burns are more serious than others. Electrical burns, flash burns, and burns caused by hot liquids are more likely to be fatal than other types of burns. Electrical burns and flash burns are particularly dangerous because they can cause serious tissue damage very quickly. In these cases, workers should be sent to a hospital immediately because they are at risk of suffering serious, long-term injuries.
Life-Saving Kits
Life-saving equipment can be used by workers to prevent or treat electrical burns or shocks. One of the most important pieces of life-saving equipment is the rubber insulating gloves, which can be used to safely disconnect equipment with energized conductors. Another important piece of life-saving equipment is a pair of rubber boots, which can be used to step on a “live” conductor without coming into contact with it. Other life-saving equipment includes rubber gloves, rubber boots, and insulated matting. These items can be used to protect workers from touching energized equipment. They can also be used to isolate live equipment from workers. Finally, they can be used to help transport injured workers to safety.
