Reliability Centered Maintenance for electrical equipment critical to worker safety

This paper explores Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) and Electrical Safety. Section 130.5 of NFPA 70E® Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace states that “the arc flash hazard analysis shall take into consideration the design of the overcurrent protection device and its opening time, including its condition of maintenance”. This very important concept of “the maintenance condition” can be found in RCM. This paper will review and explore how RCM may be used to improve electrical safety and reliability. We will also look at the use of Condition Based Monitoring (CBM) and how and when to apply this approach to improve electrical safety in the workplace.