how to handle pcb light equipment

To ensure safety while handling and maintaining printed circuit board (PCB) light equipment and to comply with safety regulations, you should adhere to the following procedures:

1. Deenergizing Equipment:

• Before working on or near electrical circuits, deenergize live parts unless it introduces additional hazards or is infeasible. Live parts operating at less than 50 volts to ground need not be deenergized if there is no increased risk of electrical burns or explosions due to electric arcs.
• Determine safe procedures for deenergizing circuits and equipment before starting any work.
• Disconnect the circuits and equipment from all electric energy sources, and do not rely solely on control circuit devices like push buttons or selector switches for deenergizing.
• Release stored electric energy that might endanger personnel by discharging capacitors and short-circuiting and grounding high capacitance elements.
• Block stored non-electrical energy in devices that could reenergize electric circuit parts.

2. Lockout and Tagging Procedures:

• Implement lockout/tagout procedures that comply with safety standards.
• Place a lock and a tag on each disconnecting means used to deenergize circuits and equipment, preventing operation unless undue force or tools are used.
• The tag should prohibit unauthorized operation and removal.
• Maintain a written copy of lockout/tagout procedures, making it available for inspection by employees and authorized representatives.

3. Use of Appropriate Equipment and Tools:

• Use insulated tools and handling equipment when working near exposed energized conductors or circuit parts.
• Ensure that test instruments and equipment are rated for the circuits and equipment to which they will be connected and designed for the environment in which they will be used.

4. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

• Provide employees with appropriate electrical protective equipment, such as gloves, eye protection, and nonconductive head protection, suitable for the specific body parts to be protected and the work performed.
• Maintain protective equipment in a safe, reliable condition, and inspect or test it periodically.
• Ensure employees wear nonconductive head protection where there is a danger of head injury from electric shock or burns.
• Use safety signs, symbols, or accident prevention tags to warn employees about electrical hazards.

5. Safe Work Practices:

• Employ safety-related work practices to prevent electrical shock or injuries from direct or indirect electrical contacts.
• If exposed live parts are not deenergized, use other safety-related work practices to protect employees against contact with energized circuit parts.
• Only qualified persons must perform testing work on electrical circuits or equipment.
• Employees' hands must not be wet when plugging and unplugging flexible cords and cord- and plug-connected equipment, if energized equipment is involved.

6. Inspection and Maintenance:

• Visually inspect test instruments and equipment, including leads, cables, power cords, probes, and connectors, for external defects and damage before use.
• Remove any defective or damaged items from service until necessary repairs and tests have been made.
• Routinely inspect portable cord and plug-connected equipment and flexible cord sets for external defects before each shift.

7. Training and Qualification:

• Ensure that only qualified persons perform testing work on electrical circuits or equipment.
• Provide training to employees, ensuring they are familiar with safety-related work practices and techniques to prevent electrical shock and other injuries.

8. General Safety Measures:

• Provide sufficient space around electrical equipment for safe operation and maintenance.
• Use safety signs and barricades to warn and protect employees from electrical hazards.
• Handle conductive materials and equipment in a manner that prevents contact with exposed energized conductors or circuit parts.
• Do not wear conductive articles of jewelry and clothing that might contact exposed energized parts.
• Maintain good housekeeping practices in areas with live parts, using non-conductive cleaning materials.

9. Code of Practice

• When work must be performed on or near energized exposed parts, a written code of practice should be established that includes:
• Responsibilities and accountabilities for each person involved.
• Description of the equipment, location, and potential hazards.
• Justification for performing the work energized.
• Safe work procedures, voltage exposure, and required PPE.
• Measures to restrict access to the work area by unqualified persons. [5] [5] [12] [4] [4] [4] [4] [5] [10] [10] [2] [2] [3] [3] [3] [6] [2] [2] [2] [8] [2] [7] [9] [6] [11] [11] [11] [1] [1]