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Industrial Circuits: How Can I Teach My Employees the Basics?

Circuit breakers are automated switches that are specially designed to protect electric circuits from incurring damage. They achieve this feat by actively interrupting the flow of current as soon as they sense a short circuit, an overload, or some other condition that causes a fault in the current flow. Ideally, a fuse should be considered a circuit breaker save for the fact that it only needs to operate once before it is replaced following such an operation.

Circuit breakers, conversely, just need an automatic or manual resetting after a circuit breaking operation to get them back at work. It is imperative that you make sure that your employees are well versed in industrial circuit breakers to make sure that these industrial circuits are installed properly, tested, and operating optimally.

The Difference between Industrial and Non-Industrial Circuit Breakers

Despite the fact that industrial circuit breakers and non-industrial (residential) circuit breakers virtually perform the same function, the differences arise from the capacity of electricity that either can handle. It is important to note that, in spite of the type of circuit breaker, the job it does involves electricity and therefore this is a sensitive device that needs to be handled with a lot of care. Training to understand the differences and the purpose of circuit breakers, which puts you in a better place to avoid fatal errors.

Just as the term suggests, residential (non-industrial) circuit breakers are designed to protect the wiring of a house from overheating because of sporadic increases in temperature, which are brought about by abnormally high current flows within a wire that is not made for such. The flow of high current in wires at home is usually because of many appliances using the same wire or output at the same time. By tripping, the non-industrial circuit breaker usually acts a safety mechanism that stops any or further damage to the appliances or even the entire home.

On the other hand, industrial circuit breakers are created to handle much larger currents than those you would have in a typical house or residence. Large industries, warehouses, and factories usually have industrial circuit breakers incorporated into their electrical systems. Industrial circuit breakers are typically classified according to their structural features, the volt class, the way the interruption happens, and how they are constructed.

Using Industrial Circuit Breakers

As a plant or facility manager, you toil towards protecting your premises, employees, and your equipment and this will involve the use of industrial circuit breakers to offer appropriate circuit protection. Therefore, it is imperative to ensure that these breakers are at the appropriate level to handle your facility’s electrical system. This will help avert the risk of overheating, premature failure, or other types of faults.

Consequently, you need to familiarize yourself with every facet of your facility’s electrical system. You also need to document all the particulars used in the plant’s electrical system as well as the supplier that your facility uses to purchase the plant’s replacement parts. This will only be facilitated if you have the well-trained personnel.

Training your Employees

All personnel that work on industrial circuit breakers require to be well-versed in Electric Circuit Breaker and Switch Operation Safety. In fact, OSHA’s regulations posit that a qualified employee is one who has training and the knowledge on how to avoid and recognize any dangers that might materialize when working with or on electrical parts. The primary concern during the repair and maintenance of industrial circuits is safety.

Proper maintenance and inspection of industrial circuit breakers are especially emphasized due to their important nature. These breakers are routinely involved in the protection of other equipment. Presence of dust and other materials on these devices shall result in secondary issues. The operating environment of an industrial circuit necessitates frequent maintenance.

By working with well-trained employees, a facility manager will be able to ensure that the plant’s electrical systems are functioning properly and are safe for use. Your premises’ electrical system is what keeps the entire facility in proper operating order. When this order is put at risk by utilizing incorrect parts and safety procedures, your employees, equipment, and entire plant are in danger of a catastrophic event. The proper equipment and training, as well as the routine examination of industrial circuit breakers, are vital for the safety of everybody. To begin with, dealing with electricity is extremely dangerous. Therefore, you need to take necessary precautions.

Do Your Employees Need More Training?

To learn more about employee safety and training, contact NTT Training today. We offer training workshops that adequately equip electrical personnel with the skills and knowledge necessary when working with circuits to enhance industrial safety.

For more information about National Technology Transfer or any of our programs click here: http://www.nttinc.com or http://www.nttinc.com/seminar-list-catalog/.