Workplace safety is a top priority in any industry, especially when employees work on or interact with electrical systems. Switchgear plays a critical role in protecting workers and equipment from electrical hazards.
While modern switchgear design can improve workplace safety, outdated switchgear can pose serious risks, including arc flashes, equipment failure, and non-compliance with safety standards. EMI builds compliant switchgear with advanced safety features and remote monitoring capabilities to create a safer work environment. Let’s take a closer look at how modern switchgear design can protect your workers and equipment.
Switchgear Safety Functions
Switchgear manages power distribution and prevents faults. As an essential component of electrical distribution systems, switchgear is responsible for controlling, isolating, and protecting circuits in the following ways:
- Circuit protection prevents overloads and short circuits from damaging equipment and causing electrical fires.
- Fault isolation quickly disconnects faulty sections to prevent widespread outages.
- Load management ensures power is distributed efficiently and safely across the system.
If your older switchgear is starting to fail or does not perform these safety functions, your facility may experience an electrical accident, damage to equipment, costly downtime, or employee injury.
Modern Switchgear Design Key Features
Modern switchgear design incorporates four main safety features to keep your workers and workplace safe.
Insulated and Shielded Components
High-quality insulation and shielding prevent accidental contact with live components. We design switchgear to contain extensive barriers, including equipment that shutters over the primary circuit elements when the interrupter is withdrawn. We can design your switchgear to include insulated busbars where appropriate. Finger-safe switch designs minimize the risk of accidental shock.
Enhanced Fault Detection and Protection Systems
Advanced protective relays and circuit breakers rapidly respond to electrical faults, reducing the risk of fire, equipment damage, and worker injury at your facility. EMI fault detection and protection systems detect and isolate faulty circuits to prevent widespread outages and reduce downtime.
Remote Monitoring and Operation
EMI can incorporate programmable logic controllers (PLC) into your switchgear. This technology provides an operator interface for your switchgear with a variety of instrumentation that provides data on PLC use, system status monitoring, data logging, and overall system control.
Electrical Safety Standard Compliance
Modern switchgear is designed to meet stringent safety regulations. EMI’s switchgear complies with all NEC requirements for switchgear installation and maintenance as well as OSHA regulations for electrical safety. We also design our switchgear to comply with NFPA 70E guidelines for arc flash protection and safe work practices. Not only is our switchgear safer, its compliance with regulations may protect you from workplace risks that expose you to legal liability and fines.
Implementing Modern Switchgear at Your Workplace
If your facility relies on outdated switchgear, it’s time to upgrade to modern switchgear design. Work with EMI to identify potential hazards in your current electrical system and design a custom solution that provides enhanced safety and protection while updating your equipment to the latest code requirements. Depending on your current situation, we may be able to design a retrofit solution, or we may recommend a full replacement.
Modern switchgear plays a crucial role in keeping your workers and facility safe. Upgrading your switchgear can minimize downtime, optimize energy distribution, and protect employees and equipment from electrical hazards. Contact EMI today to learn more about what we can build for you.
