ednj
Member
- Location
- belleville
Hello everyone I am hoping that someone can help me with my current problem.
I been working as an medical air compressor tech for 8 years and just this week at a product training from the OEM they talked about use PPE for cat2 compressor control panels. My current company (about 10 employees) just issued us safety glasses and ear plugs. I am sure my boss will buy the rest for me that is not the problem. The problem is working with the full PPE on.
The control panel I work on are located in Hospital and it controls the medical air compressors. Main power to the panels are usually 460v.
I understand I must wear the cat2 PPE with the face shield, and double golves once I open the panel.
Here comes the problem.
Because it is a life support equipment (air compressors) I can't just turn the main feed to all the compressors off to work on them. (ie change out ice cube relays or test the motor overload. All medical air compressors come with at least 2 motors/pumps. I can shut one side off and work on that side while putting the other motor into full power so it can still supply the hospital with air.
Because I still have 460v on one side of the panel and the other side is "off" it is still inside of the same control panel. Some of the computer control wires and relays are small 18ga or 20ga wires and there is no way for me to test or replace broken parts with the full PPE gloves on. (these control wires are 120v)
I was told by the OEM trainer that I can be fined and the company I work for be fined if I did not follow the 70e, maybe by OSHA???
I asked the trainer why did they (all medical air companies uses 1 control panel) make it only one panel knowing that I can't work on it with full PPE on? He said he understand my problem but their design team would have to produce a new product line where each motor gets its own control panel and he does not think that will happen any time soon. I think he just said we have to use PPE in class to cover his own behind.
So what do i do here? not wear the PPE as maybe get hit with a fine? or wear the PPE and just stand there because i have lost the use of my finger with small tools?
thanks very much.
I been working as an medical air compressor tech for 8 years and just this week at a product training from the OEM they talked about use PPE for cat2 compressor control panels. My current company (about 10 employees) just issued us safety glasses and ear plugs. I am sure my boss will buy the rest for me that is not the problem. The problem is working with the full PPE on.
The control panel I work on are located in Hospital and it controls the medical air compressors. Main power to the panels are usually 460v.
I understand I must wear the cat2 PPE with the face shield, and double golves once I open the panel.
Here comes the problem.
Because it is a life support equipment (air compressors) I can't just turn the main feed to all the compressors off to work on them. (ie change out ice cube relays or test the motor overload. All medical air compressors come with at least 2 motors/pumps. I can shut one side off and work on that side while putting the other motor into full power so it can still supply the hospital with air.
Because I still have 460v on one side of the panel and the other side is "off" it is still inside of the same control panel. Some of the computer control wires and relays are small 18ga or 20ga wires and there is no way for me to test or replace broken parts with the full PPE gloves on. (these control wires are 120v)
I was told by the OEM trainer that I can be fined and the company I work for be fined if I did not follow the 70e, maybe by OSHA???
I asked the trainer why did they (all medical air companies uses 1 control panel) make it only one panel knowing that I can't work on it with full PPE on? He said he understand my problem but their design team would have to produce a new product line where each motor gets its own control panel and he does not think that will happen any time soon. I think he just said we have to use PPE in class to cover his own behind.
So what do i do here? not wear the PPE as maybe get hit with a fine? or wear the PPE and just stand there because i have lost the use of my finger with small tools?
thanks very much.