NTT Blog

Industrial Generators: Safety Tips and Ideas to Keep Your Business Running

Industrial generators are employed to ensure that there is continuous supply of power in the event of failure of the main grid systems. Thus, these industrial equipment have the capacity to guarantee efficient performance of all industrial equipment, in case there are power outages. There are numerous generators for industrial application with different solutions to cater for the needs of an uninterrupted power supply and according to the types of need or emergency.

How do Industrial Generators Work?

Industrial generators are unique from residential models. These generators are designed to cope up with extreme usage for longer periods in less than ideal situations or conditions. Most industrial generator sizes range from 150hp to 4000hp engines with 20kW to 2500kW in output, the types of industrial generators also vary.

Industrial generators are robust equipment that are uniquely designed. Some run on diesel, gasoline and others run on Natural gas. Diesel generators are constantly used due to its durability and lower maintenance needs. A diesel engine running at 1800rpm can operate from 12,000 to 30,000 hours between major maintenance services.

As for the gas-powered engine, it requires servicing after 6,000 to 10,000 hours of running. Diesel dissipates relatively low heat compared to gasoline thus reducing wear and tear on the engine. Power generated by diesel generators can also be lower in costs because of its higher density, thus increasing efficiency.

Safety Tips to Consider When Working Around Industrial Generators

Workers should perform any installation, maintenance, and repairs in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations and instructions. Exhaust fumes produced by the generator are packed with poisonous gases like carbon monoxide that can threaten the life of your workers. It is therefore necessary that you properly install exhaust systems that provide sufficient ventilation to ensure that there is an unobstructed flow of ventilating and cooling air, as well as emissions directly away from the inhabited regions.

The employees are required to keep the areas around the generator clean and free from clutter as well as any combustible material that could be life threatening. They are also required to regularly inspect the generators and replace any defective parts within a timely manner.

It is required that the operating personnel remain vigilant at all times when working with the generators. When conducting repairs, your workers must not dismantle the unit while it is operational; hot or moving parts can cause harm. All the battery cables should be disconnected to avoid any mishap.

How can You Help Your Workers Prevent Dangerous Incidents?

Your employees should ensure that all power voltage supplies are turned off during the servicing or maintenance of the generator. The terminals, wires and cables should be properly covered and insulated, and all the workers cautioned from touching it with bare hands or while in contact with water. The above precaution will prevent your workers from electric shock.

When performing any installations or repairs, ensuring that the generator frame and its external conducting parts are properly grounded using an earthing wire help avert any accident. This should never be disconnected. Your employees must ensure to utilize cable, wiring and cord sets that are of the recommended capacity.

Tips Worth Repeating in the Industrial Workplace

Your workers should refrain from smoking in the vicinity of the equipment. Any oil or fuel spills around the generator, leakage from the unit’s fuels supply and systems, and presence of any combustible materials surrounding the generator will pose a high risk of explosion.

It is also a requirement to have a fire extinguisher within the vicinity. The fire extinguisher that operate on carbon tetra-chloride are strictly prohibited since they are packed with toxic fumes that can deteriorate/corrode the insulation and wiring of the generators.

Your workers ought to follow strict quarterly or semi-annual maintenance schedules to increase the reliability of the equipment. When your generators are exercised and inspected regularly, it continues to deliver consistent power output as per the expectations.

Employing a proactive maintenance on your generators will help prevent damages by detecting defects at an early stage allowing preventative action to be conducted within a timely manner.

Do Your Employees Need More Instruction on How to Be Safe Around Generators?

While the above tips are just generic guidelines that your workers can adhere to ensure safety when working around industrial generators it is a necessity that your employees understand the application and operation of industrial generators both on-site and standby.

At NTT, we offer NFPA approved Emergency & Standby Power Systems training program that conforms to the requirements needed for operation, maintenance and installation of standby/ on site industrial generators, batteries, transfer switches and UPS Systems. Contact us today and learn more.