Working Clearance

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makoester1

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Hi All,

Please find picture of disconnect switch mounted on top of a cooling tower. Notice the cooling tower deck elevation change and conduit ran in front of the disconnect. Violation of working clearance? I say yes.IMG_0502.jpg
 
I agree. But this should be easy to fix. Install a board or sheet of metal of sufficient size to cover the working space, and support it such that it lays flat and stays in place.
 
Does it contain items that are "likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized"?

If it is only a switch - many places don't require it to have "working clearance".
 
kwired said:
Does it contain items that are "likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized"?

If it is only a switch - many places don't require it to have "working clearance".
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I believe there would be occasion to open this switch while energized. I would move the conduit.
 
Dale001289 said:
Have you ever heard of 'fall-back' clearance?
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No such thing in the code.

In any case you cannot fall back fast enough to do any good in the event of an arc blast, no matter how much clearance you have.

If you are truly concerned there is an actual risk of arc blast the only way to safely operate the switch is with some kind of remote device. Put a long pole or rope on the handle and open it while you are outside of the danger zone.

I don't see the arc flash warning sign in this picture. It must be at the top where the picture cuts off, but that distance might not be all that much. perhaps a few feet.
 
petersonra said:
No such thing in the code.

In any case you cannot fall back fast enough to do any good in the event of an arc blast, no matter how much clearance you have.

If you are truly concerned there is an actual risk of arc blast the only way to safely operate the switch is with some kind of remote device. Put a long pole or rope on the handle and open it while you are outside of the danger zone.

I don't see the arc flash warning sign in this picture. It must be at the top where the picture cuts off, but that distance might not be all that much. perhaps a few feet.
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'Fall back' is common knowledge in the electrical business and part of the strategy in development of working clearances. Arc flash warning signs - whether present or not - wont have much affect on the laws of physics.
Not only is this a Code violation, it is also a OSHA violation as it is clearly a tripping hazard, most likely in line with egress.
 
Dale001289 said:
'Fall back' is common knowledge in the electrical business and part of the strategy in development of working clearances. Arc flash warning signs - whether present or not - wont have much affect on the laws of physics.
Not only is this a Code violation, it is also a OSHA violation as it is clearly a tripping hazard, most likely in line with egress.
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a lot of things are widely believed that are false. the laws of physics suggest the arc blast expands at something like 1,000 fps. can you fall faster than that?

it is not a trip hazard IMO since it is not in a normal area where people would be walking.

I am not convinced it meets the requirements for something that needs working space.

However, you could resolve both the trip hazard and work space issues very easily by putting a small platform over the conduit in front of the switch that was the size of whatever working space you want. My personal opinion on such a platform is that you may have traded a non-hazard for a real hazard. 3 feet is not that much. someone could easily step off the edge of the platform while operating the switch and actually injure themselves.

Even if the platform was 10 feet wide and ten feet deep, you still could not move fast enough to escape an arc blast. so how would such a platform make you any safer?

Even if you moved the conduit somewhere else you would be no safer from arc blast.
 
Dale001289 said:
Transformers don't require access and are never worked on while energized. Switches are a different story.
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Never???

the only work OSHA allows to be done live is essentially for debugging. One would need full PPE required for the level of IE. the PPE that is required would protect the worker from the arc blast.

so again, how would a platform or moving the conduit make it any safer?
 
petersonra said:
Never???

the only work OSHA allows to be done live is essentially for debugging. One would need full PPE required for the level of IE. the PPE that is required would protect the worker from the arc blast.

so again, how would a platform or moving the conduit make it any safer?
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No one allows a large diameter conduit to be placed directly in line with a walkway - clearly impedes egress and is therefore an OSHA violation. It also infringes upon working space criteria per 110.26. If I were inspector, I would fail this immediately and write an RFI to engineering.
 
Dale001289 said:
No one allows a large diameter conduit to be placed directly in line with a walkway - clearly impedes egress and is therefore an OSHA violation. It also infringes upon working space criteria per 110.26. If I were inspector, I would fail this immediately and write an RFI to engineering.
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how do you know this is a walkway?
 
GerryB said:
Disconnect switches are not included in 110.26e. A toggle switch is a "disconnect switch".
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Looks to me like a large fused safety switch. Regardless - the conduit has to be moved - it’s a tripping hazard and therefore an OSHA violation.


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Dale001289 said:
Looks to me like a large fused safety switch. Regardless - the conduit has to be moved - it’s a tripping hazard and therefore an OSHA violation.


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Actually, the conduits look like they are in the best place to not be a tripping hazard. Anyone walking on "the roof" without a blindfold would notice the step up or down and the conduits at the same time.
 
Dale001289 said:
Looks to me like a large fused safety switch. Regardless - the conduit has to be moved - it’s a tripping hazard and therefore an OSHA violation.


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It's only a tripping hazard if OSHA says it is. I think you should look closely at the actual regulations.
 
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