480 v industrial disconnect

[arcblast]

Hello all,

We have a steel grate type platform at work which provides access to overhead conveyor systems...when you walk up the stairs there is a bank of disconnects so that the conveyor motors can be de-energized for maint.
A person walking up to this area cannot see 1 of the motors that the disconnect operates due to the addition of several other conveyors in the line of sight and the motor in question is mounted on the opposite side that the tech would be approaching the disconnect bank from.
In addition, since the platform area ends under the conveyor frame, the motor can only be maintained from a personnel lift and if a tech were to approach the motor in question from a lift, he would never be able to "see" the disconnect unless he raised the lift 3 feet above the interfering conveyors...(still with me ?)

I guess my question is, would this disconnect need to be located near the other side of the conveyor in "view" of the motor it de-energizes ?
I mean since you can't see it from a lift and there is no way to perform maintenance on the motor from the platform ?

any and all help would be great...Thanx

Mike

 

[bphgravity]

Re: 480 v industrial disconnect

You are correct when stating that the motor disconnect should be located in sight of the motor. Section 430.102(B) does provide an exception to this requirement under certain guidelines.

Your situation may fall under the (b) allowance if LOTO procedures have been established at your facility.

I personaly would rather have the disconnect relocated if at all possible.

 

[arcblast]

Re: 480 v industrial disconnect

Hey, Thanks for the reply,

We do have LOTO proceedures that we must follow, but I was just un-sure of the NEC's stand on it...I found the reference you pointed to in my book and it seems to be O.K., but you and I know how lazy people can get hurt...Imagine a worker going to find a lift , puting on a harness then getting all the way up to the motor only to find the disconnect is not accessable from the lift...sounds like an accident waiting for the right person !!!...I think for the sake of safety , I will recommend this disconnect be re-located...an ounce of prevention kinda' thing...

Thanks again for your reply and have great weekend !!!

Mike