IEEE Electrical Safety Workshop (Mining)

IEEE Electrical Safety Workshop Topics

Did you know that even though the accident rate within a mine is typically is 3 to 7 times greater than that of an industrial facility, some safety standards in a mine environment are less stringent than in the safer industrial facility? One example is that arc flash studies are not required in a mine.

While in the US OSHA recognizes NFPA 70E as an industry standard and 70E calls for mandatory arc flash studies, OSHA does not have jurisdiction in the mining industry. The US Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 established the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) as being responsible for enforcing electrical safety in mining operations, but MSHA does not require arc flash studies. Many mining companies, however, have recognized this oversight, and have taken preemptive steps to conduct their own arc flash studies to correct this oversight. Eaton presented a paper at the IEEE Electrical Safety Workshop that provides more detail.

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Eaton’s new line of E-Series protective relays are demonstrated to show innovative arc flash reduction technology that allows multiple relays to communicate with one another and optimally reconfigure tripping characteristics among themselves based on the type and location of the fault detected.
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The RPR-2 remote racking device is pre-programmed with the racking characteristics for many types and brands of low and medium voltage circuit breakers. Sophisticated diagnostic routines compare the racking characteristics with the preprogrammed values and alarms on deviation which keeps operators away from a breaker whose racking mechanism is malfunctioning.
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The Eaton FlashGard motor control center invented the concept of retractable stabs for MCCs. This feature is demonstrated to show how buckets can be installed and removed without connecting to live bus. The remote motor operator was highlighted as a way to keep an operator safely away from the MCC during racking.
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Power Xpert software demonstrated at the show confirmed how remote control, monitoring and even racking of breakers can occur away from the equipment, helping to ensure operator safety.