Injuries sustained while working with motors are nearly always the result of unsafe acts. Let’s review some of these to make sure you don’t commit them in the near future.
• Operating a motor disconnect with your right hand. Stand to the right of it and operate it with your left hand. Why? In this position, you are out of the path of any potential arc flash or blast.
• Not tagging and locking out the disconnect. This makes it easier to do rotation testing and re-make the connections if needed. It’s in line of sight so you can always holler at someone before they close it, right? Don’t take that risk.
• Installing a freshly delivered motor without conducting basic receiving tests on it first. If, for example, the shaft was bent during transportation, all that risk involved in doing the first installation must be repeated. And while under pressure. At least hand-turn the shaft and watch it turn. It’s also a good idea to perform insulation resistance tests on the windings. Also, check that nameplate! You don’t want to install the wrong motor.
