Training Scenario Failure Rate of Disconnects

[njose424]

Long time reader, first time poster.

I'm overhauling my Control of Hazardous Energy and Electrical Safety Training. I'm trying to build a slide reiterating the importance of verification of deenergized state using multimeter testing. The main tact I've used for this is that the potential failure of a disconnect leaving a circuit energized. One of the other pieces to this is ensuring you disconnected power at the correct location.

I'd like to reinforce the importance with some real world data. Some things I'm trying to find to support this are the...

UL 98 rating for mechanical endurance - how many cycles are the disconnects rated for safe operation?
IEC what is an industry common failure rate for a disconnect?
What are contributing factors to premature failure?

I'm getting stuck on building this because I don't have a good understanding of the requirements. I'm hoping someone could help provide some information to get me pointed in the right direction because I'll be presenting this to very intelligent people who will ask questions and I want to be prepared with a well rounded response to support it.

Please help!

 

[ron]

The main teaching point is that OSHA and NFPA 70E requires testing for de-energization per LOTO procedure. If they don't follow OSHA or 70E, they will be fired

From the Eaton website: https://www.eaton.com/ca/en-gb/prod...ches---disconnects/switching-devices-faq.html

Eaton designs to and meets NEMA KS-1 standards for endurance requirements for Heavy Duty switches:

Switch Size Heavy Duty Electrical + Mechanical Operations
30,60 Amp 15,000
100 Amp 14,000
200 Amp 12,000
400 Amp 7,500
600 Amp 6,000
800 Amp 3,500
1200 Amp 2,500

Switch Size General Duty Electrical + Mechanical Operations

30,60 Amp 6,000 + 4,000
100 Amp 6,000 + 4,000
200 Amp 6,000 + 2,000
400 Amp 1,000 + 5,000
600 Amp 1,000 + 4,000

 

[don_resqcapt19]

You can get disconnects with windows so you can visually verify all of the blades are open, but even with that type of disconnect, you still have to verify the absence of voltage with a meter.