Maintenance Technology September 2017 - 25

PLANT SAFETY MATTERS
grounds, the site is responsible for
guaranteeing that the hubs to which
they connect are effective to the required
minimum. In other words, If you
cannot prove the grounding system is
effective, you are not in compliance. A
best practice is to include grounding
systems and components in the CMMS
MEL (minimum equipment list). This
ensures a comprehensive record of a safe
workplace.
Testing parameters and dealing with
results. Concerns during grounding
testing include identifying all metallic
items underground, any static or equipment grounds that may interfere with
readings, and sources of stray voltages
from operating systems or utilities.
When a problem is found, it must
be corrected in a timely manner. To be
aware of a problem-and not correct
it-is a serious violation of OSHA
regulations.
As directed by OSHA, any company
or municipality must do whatever
is required to find and eliminate
hazards. Ignorance of a deficiency is no
excuse. For example, if access points to
in-ground components have been paved
or built over, they must be found, made
accessible, labeled, and tested. In addition, although it's commonly believed
that building steel pilings are sufficient
for grounding purposes, building steel-
even as driven pilings-must be tested
for efficient and consistent grounding.
Soil conditions, corrosion, and physical
damage can occur in pilings, as well as in
grids and rods.

Grounding-compliance
programs
Think of grounding compliance as a way
to save lives and equipment. According
to Hostettler and Thomas, plants
should establish grounding-compliance
programs and enforce them with
procedures that address standard work
rules such as:
■ Don't perform work on ungrounded
equipment.
■ Always work between grounds.
■ Report known or suspected problems.
■ Remove and re-connect grounding
elements when performing other work
in area.
SEPTEMBER 2017

■ Keep proper records, even for portable
grounds.

Bottom-line advice
As with many systems, grounding
failures relate to age. The more time
since an incident, the higher the probability that a failure will occur, possibly
leading to injury or death. To that end,
be proactive. Your responsibility-your

site's responsibility-Hostettler and
Thomas cautioned, is unavoidable. To
read their entire white paper, "Improve
Plant Safety through Ground System
Testing, Analysis, and Maintenance," go
to emerson.com/groundingsafety. MT
For more information on a range of topics
from Emerson experts, go to emerson.com/
reliability.

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MAINTENANCETECHNOLOGY.COM | 25
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maintenance Technology September 2017
