Most of us must have seen videos of people around the world who can conduct electricity through their body and survive unscathed. A tenth of an amp is enough to kill an ordinary human being, but these people can survive several amps of electricity without suffering any bodily harm. They don’t shoot lightning bolts or anything like it, but they can power up light bulbs and other household appliances by allowing massive amounts of current to pass through their body.
See this man featured on a magazine show in the Philippines: https://youtu.be/eOPMI7kJCbs
These people are admittedly outliers, as they can do things that normal people, like you and me (I don’t know about you, though), won’t ever dare try. Electrocution causes death and is among the leading causes of fatalities in the workplace. So, for the rest of us who don’t possess the “super-powers” that they have, we try our best to avoid electrocution, be it at home or at work.
Here are some safety steps to avoid electrocution at work, for example in a construction site or a power plant:
Keep Distance
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) requires a worker to stay at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines with up to a 50,000-volt current. (Even the “super-humans” won’t survive that!) For lines that exceed 50,000 volts, one is required to add a distance of stay of at least 10 feet, plus four additional inches for each additional 10,000 volts of current above 50,000 volts.
Double Check
If a worker will be working around electrical circuits or parts, he or she has to ensure that the machinery and power tools are properly grounded and that all power cords are in good condition. If one needs to inspect or repair machinery, he or she has to ensure to pull the plug first.
A worker’s PPE is the last line of defense between him and any hazards he may face. One has to make sure that his or her PPE is approved for the type of work performed and that it is in good condition. Attention! PPE should be comfortable, as uncomfortable equipment can cause distraction and make one vulnerable to an accident.
We offer hear the words blackout, brownout or power surge when the topic revolves around problems in electricity supply. For some, knowing the exact meaning of the terms is not at all important, because for them, the words only mean one thing: inconvenience. But, it is essential for everyone to have an idea of what they are, so that we know the root cause of the problem and how we can keep ourselves prepared for and safe from their consequences.
Here is an overview of what these terms actually mean…
BROWNOUT
A brownout is a drop in the power supply that leads to a dip in voltage. When a brownout happens, one may notice that lights become dim. Though brownouts are not total power failures, they may damage electrical equipment. Especially vulnerable during brownouts are induction and three-phase electrical motors, because they can overheat. A solution to frequent brownouts is to have a back-up power system that will provide the necessary power in case the voltage drops.
BLACKOUT
A blackout is way more serious than a brownout: It refers to a complete loss of power within a certain geographic area. Blackouts may be caused by several factors, and may take time to resolve, depending on the structure of the affected power network.
POWER SURGE
Power surges are known to be the most detrimental power disturbance, which can permanently damage many types of electric appliances. They occur when something increases the electrical charge at a certain point in the power lines. This sudden “jump” causes a spike in the electrical potential energy, which can increase the current flowing to the wall outlet. Fortunately, surge protectors and circuit breakers can protect you from power surges’ harmful effects. Surge protection should ideally be incorporated into the main power switchboard.
ELECTRICAL TREEING
Electrical treeing is a phenomenon that often manifests in high power installations, including HV power cables and transformers, among others. It is a damaging process owing to partial discharges, which progresses through the stressed dielectric insulation, in a path that looks like branches of a tree. If treeing is not checked, it can cause the continuous deterioration of the equipment, and can eventually result in a total breakdown. To avoid the harmful effects of treeing, it is important to use high-quality materials tailored for the electric load. Regular maintenance by trained engineers is also essential.
Electrical power has become a vital part of modern day life, that even a momentary interruption in power supply can cause significant damages not only to electric devices, but also to business operations and human activity. So, for everything that concerns electricity, you should always seek for professional services, and trust nothing but high-quality equipment and installation. The initial cost may be higher, but you must remember that you are not only paying for mere products and services – you are investing in the continuity of your business, in your personal protection and in total peace of mind.
If the opinion of energy industry professionals is any
indication, one of the most difficult questions to answer in a job interview is
“How much is your expected salary?” Considering that at the outset, approximately
80% of all professionals feel that the most important factor in considering a
job opportunity is salary, estimating one’s compensation requirement can be a
daunting task, especially if one is put on the spot.
Scratching beneath the surface, however, a question may pop
in one’s mind: Is salary indeed the be-all and end-all of maintaining the
engagement and the high performance of an employee in the energy sector? This
thought is of particular interest to employees, because the answer to that
question may lead them to consider other factors in making a career decision other
than monetary rewards. On the part of industry companies, knowing the response
to this conundrum may help them formulate other employee satisfaction schemes, aside
from regular pay increments and financial bonuses.
The results of a latest study circulated through Harvard
Business Review reveal that the association between salary and job
satisfaction, regardless of culture and job location, is very weak. The reported
correlation indicates that there is less than a 2% overlap between pay and job
satisfaction levels. Moreover, the study also suggests that the connection
between pay and pay satisfaction was only slightly higher, meaning that the
employees’ fulfillment with their salary is largely independent of how much
they are actually receiving.
Are employees receiving hundreds upon hundreds of thousands
of Dollars more satisfied than those that get less? Not really. The study
indicates that employees earning salaries in the top-level of the data range
considered reported similar levels of job satisfaction as those employees
earning in the bottom-half.
In fact, what is more shocking is that higher salaries can
actually even demotivate employees.
In another study still published in Harvard Business Review,
results from over 120 experiments reveal that incentives may have negative
effects on employee motivation. This observation is particularly more prevalent
when tasks were interesting or gratifying. The research shows that for every
standard deviation increase in remuneration, intrinsic motivation for
interesting tasks decreases by around 25%. Moreover, when rewards are monetary,
tangible, predictable and foreseeable, employee engagement could go down by as
much as 36%.
Can money buy
employee engagement?
Though not to be taken as absolute truth, results from the
studies cited above reveal that money does not always buy employee dedication,
satisfaction and performance. No matter if the salary of an employee in an
energy company falls under these brackets…
*Source:
Recent survey from a recruitment firm based in Dubai. Salary survey conducted online to mechanical, electrical and non- engineering positions within the utility power plant,
oil & gas and energy related industries.
…or if he or she is constantly showered with bonuses and
allowances, money is not an unconditional guarantee for his or her engagement.
One thing, though, is clear: The meaning of money to
different people is largely subjective. Different individuals see different
values in money for a variety of reasons. If employees in the energy industry,
and also in other sectors, want to be truly happy with their jobs, they have to
understand what they really value – be it power, freedom, job security,
co-employees or friendship in the workplace. Conversely, if companies want to
motivate their workforce and retain their best assets, they have to look beyond
the premise that what works for some people will also work for everyone else.
The onus is on them to know their employees better and to fashion a
compensation system that they think will yield the maximum results.
About Altaaqa Global Altaaqa Global, a subsidiary of Zahid Group, has been selected by Caterpillar Inc. to deliver multi-megawatt turnkey temporary power solutions worldwide. The company owns, mobilizes, installs, and operates efficient temporary independent power plants (IPP’s) at customer sites, focusing on the emerging markets of Sub-Sahara Africa, Central Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, Latin America, South East Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. Offering power rental equipment that will operate with different types of fuel such as diesel, natural gas, or dual-fuel, Altaaqa Global is positioned to rapidly deploy and provide temporary power plant solutions, delivering electricity whenever and wherever it may be needed.
Everyday, we are proud to provide electricity & improve the lives of thousands of people in countries where our power plants are operating. And we are humbled when our efforts are recognized by leading publications.
Thank you to MEP magazine for selecting Altaaqa Global as one of the Middle East's Top 50 PowerListof 2013.
We are humbled. To be recognized as one of the Top 50 #Engineering organization in the Middle East is truly an honor. Altaaqa Global is the only rental power company in the Top 50 #PowerList http://on.fb.me/17iMoE2
