Keeping people safe is always a priority in any business, and that’s even more important when there’s electrical work being done. Proper grounding and bonding are components of doing that. Not only do you need to ensure you are inspecting grounds and monitoring them for the safety of your employees, but you also need to meet OSHA regulations.
Grounds and jumpers are components of your protective grounding system. They prevent electrical accidents from occurring. When there is a need to replace them, turn to Divergent Alliance. We build, test, and refurbish custom ground and jumper assemblies to keep your employees safe.
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Proper Inspection of Grounds and Jumpers
Even if your grounds and jumper cables seem to be in overall good condition, that’s not always the case. It’s what you cannot see that could be causing an electrical hazard. If you consider how they are used – tossed into the truck or even left hanging in the mud, it is easy to see how they could suffer from more than expected wear and tear.
Over time, even the most well-maintained grounds and jumpers will suffer mechanical and electrical wear. When that happens – even if you cannot see it – there’s a risk to your employees. That’s why inspecting grounds is so important.
A Grounding Equipment Inspection Checklist
Check your grounds and jumpers before and after use—every time. Doing so allows you to see any potential damage that’s obvious right away. If there is any sign of wear and tear, do not use them. When inspecting grounds, there are a few specific areas to consider:
- Inspect the cable to ferrule connection. Ferrules connect the clamp to the cable and are a small, easy-to-miss component. It is also one of the most common first areas to degrade.
- Look for broken cable strands.
- Notice any stress fractures located in the ferrule, which could be very easy to miss.
- Ensure that the crimps are complete and adequate.
- Look for corrosion on all components of the ferrule as well as the cable itself.
- Look at the small clamp components including the screws, saddles, and jaws.
- Check the eye screws for any damage and to ensure proper movement and function.
- Scrutinize the clamps. Do not use them if there are any incomplete or missing components as provided by the manufacturer.
- Look at the integrity and overall condition of the heat-shrink strain relief. Do not use if there is an indication of damage. If it is split, peeling, or wearing off, it must be replaced.
This visual inspection is one you should do every time you pull out the grounds and jumpers to use. Take the extra few minutes to do so. However, this is just one component of the inspection process.
Professional Inspection and Electrical Safety Compliance Testing
Having a third-party inspection of your grounds and jumpers is an essential part of keeping people safe. A qualified, third-party organization, like Divergent Alliance, ensures that your cable sets are safe and components are in good working order. That is what helps to keep you in compliance with OSHA.
There is no legally required testing interval for cables like this. Best practices recommend that your team inspect your grounding equipment daily. Then, submit your ground and jumper sets to your electrical professionals at least once a year. Creating a rotation for your equipment makes the process efficient.
However, this is not always enough frequency. A variety of factors contribute to how often you need professional inspections, such as:
- How frequently your team is using them (note that non-use is not an excuse not to inspect them, as materials can degrade from environmental exposure).
- The type of working conditions used in.
- The amount of time the crew and maintenance teams actually take to minimize damage.
When it comes to ensuring superior results, put Divergent Alliance to work for you. Our qualified team will inspect and provide comprehensive protective grounding maintenance on your equipment. That keeps it safe and working at its best and ensures you meet all compliance requirements.
When you turn to us for testing, we will handle the entire process with careful attention to detail. This includes providing an insulation test for jumpers as well as resistance testing. Every ground and jumper is then labeled with the test date and serial number, so that you can demonstrate that it was certified and have a record of when that occurred.
Understanding the Risks
Your team’s life depends on the overall condition of your tools. Ground clamp wear indicators, for example, are not something you can put off. If you notice damage present, that means there’s likely a substantial risk to your team. There are very real dangers of neglected ground assemblies you should understand.
More so, electrical ground testing ensures safety for any type of electrical system. If something gets in the way of the path that electricity takes to the ground, it could cause serious injuries. With routine testing, you can be sure there is no risk. This protects your team and minimizes damage to properties.
Why Trust Us for Dielectric Testing of Grounds
Divergent Alliance offers specialized and customized solutions for our clients located throughout the U.S. We ensure your worker safety by providing high-quality electrical equipment testing and ground assemblies. Each member of our team working on your equipment is certified, experienced, with decades of experience, and knowledgeable about the risks and importance of meeting the most demanding testing requirements.
As you consider OSHA requirements and employee safety, avoid risks. To do so, turn to the team at Divergent Alliance. Our veteran-owned and operated IBEW shop brings over 100 years of experience in electrical safety, grounding solutions, and overall maintenance to your project. We prioritize safety so that you can do the important work you need to do without risk.
Contact us now for a custom quote. Do not put off inspecting grounds and putting others at risk. We’re here to help you.