DESCRIPTION
A risk analysis at Cauldon Cement Plant highlighted that a high- risk task was the opening and closing of High Voltage (HV) circuit breakers. Almost all these units at Cauldon could only be opened or closed using the switch on the front of the circuit breaker.
It was recognised that this exposed operators to the risk of serious injury in the event of an arc flash incident, this risk had to be minimised. A simple and low-cost solution was designed and implemented by the team at Cauldon. The objective was to devise a system that would allow the operator to be outside the substation or circa 13 metres away from the circuit breaker when opening or closing it.
A socket was installed and connected to each HV circuit breaker. Each switchboard was provided with an umbilical with a pendant. The pendant could be connected to the sockets on the circuit breakers. The system allows the circuit breakers to be switched ‘remotely’ from outside the substation.
BENEFITS
- Removes people from area of risk when opening/closing HV circuit breakers
- Reduces potential risk of significant injury
- Reduces risk of fire
- Low cost solution that can be replicated.