Thermograph survey

[rmonroe]

Recently we had Thermographic Survey of our plant electrical system. I?ve been with the company of about seven mouths and it was apparent that over the years of self-train electricians that this was the first step toward changes in the plant.

The Thermographer states during the survey that there were major abnormalities with our electrical system throughout the plant. After receiving the survey report there is no questions from the IR Image that we have serious problems. One example is a 225 Amp busway through the infrared scanning was detected over-current draw of 290 Amp.

The IR Images according to the Thermographer are ?The holy grail of violations?. He also would like to use them, under complete anonymous, as instructional propose. I am also working with this electrical company on upgrade cost. I realize that this will not be cheap.

I am very concern with the company?s top management. I am afraid that their attitudes will be ?We operated just fine over the years why change now? My question is?after making them (The High Management) aware of these issues am I personally legally liable?

My position with this company is the Maintenance Manager. Note; If these issues are not addressed than I will look for new employment.

Thanks

rmonroe

 

[charlie b]

Re: Thermograph survey

I see it as the duty of any person who becomes aware of a potential hazard to inform the management of the circumstances, and to express you own opinion of the degree of the hazard. If you fear for your personal liability, then I would strongly suggest that you give the notification in writing, and keep a copy.

As to the notion of, ?We operated just fine over the years why change now,? my response is that they have been lucky so far. Consider this experiment: Cover your head with a bag, and start driving on the highway. If you manage to go five minutes without hitting anything, would you declare this practice to be safe? If a person who has smoked for 20 years gets an annual physical, and the doctor reports that their health is good, can that person declare that smoking presents no health hazard?

Also, many of the issues found by thermography need not be expensive to repair. Often it is a simple matter of tightening connections.

 

[charlie tuna]

Re: Thermograph survey

i am a certified thermographer--been doing it since 1989. your company and bosses payed for this infrared survey, if they don't want to correct the problems found thats they're dicision. i do large office towers and they will select certain items or ask me "whats the most important item". you and i know that a 225 amp bus duct can run for a long time with a load of 290 amps, especially if it's torqued correctly. i give a complete list of all the items found, manufacturer's parts numbers and our recommendation for repair. they get a black and white (infrared)photo and a color print which allows them to relate the hot area to the color print. sometimes we fix it and other times they will do the repair "in house". i have had customers laugh at some recommendations and have the equipment blow up that same night! infrared works if the customer corrects problems each time the equipment is scanned. i have a 55 story building we scan every year--originally found over eighty items requiring repair--now we find six or seven items! i have gone behind other thermographers and quickly realize it's important to have electrical knowledge to correctly interpert electrical system scans. the ecconomy changes and so do the repair dollars--i can only provide them with the best information--if they react fine--if they don't "oh well". if your company reacts --you will soon find out how they operate. my job gets a little hairy when you tell them a 4000 amp bus duct is bad--and it looks like brand new on the outside? and the repair cost might be sixty grand! when the time comes to shut it down and replace it i'll have ten people looking over my shoulder when i cut into the damaged bus! elevator disconnect switches should "require" scanning a minimum of once every two years! i have tried to convince elevator contractors to have this done to no avail! it would save them money on service contracts. the disconnect is not their responsibility but too many times we find problems in the switch that have caused major failures for years in their equipment....