1. Qualifying personnel. OSHA and the NEC both provide definitions of “qualified.” In a nutshell, a qualified worker has the necessary training and experience to competently (and thus safely) execute the assigned task on specific equipment or systems.
2. Providing procedures. Good procedures outline the major steps and identify the critical ones. They provide cautions, references, and advice (one common approach is to tie these to “stop points”). Don’t use generic cautions — provide cautions on working with the safeguards, interlocks, and alarms for that particular equipment. Your procedures should identify any special needs in test equipment, tools, PPE, or materials. They should identify special precautions (e.g., venting), permissions needed (e.g., operations supervisor), and permits needed (e.g., confined space) for the specific tasks involved.
3. Reporting. Reports on completed work need to show “as found” (measurements and other data pertaining to the equipment condition), work done, test equipment used, and “as left.” They should include observations (e.g., breaker meets specs, but operation was stiff) and recommendations (e.g., breaker needs inspection before normally scheduled next inspection to see if exercise and lubrication fixed the problem). Every report form should include a space for safety concerns and problems encountered (e.g., guard missing on cutter, key didn't work, had to move clutter from in front of switchgear).

You consulted the logbook and found the responding technician merely noted, “Adjusted program. Stopped and restarted system. Monitored for oscillation, but found none.”

Two questions:

1. What is wrong with that log?
2. Where do you start to determine what is wrong with this system?

• A screwdriver used for any purpose other than turning screws is dangerous and inevitably becomes worthless as a screwdriver.
• Changes made without “as-found” and “as-left” measurements defeat any effort to know the problem is actually fixed.
• Unless Tech No. 1 resorts to the “wing-it” method, Tech No. 1 will walk to the shop and back for the needed tools, so he or she is actually slower than Tech No. 2.

The unlucky transformer is often jammed into a small room. Open the unventilated door, and the heat just rolls out. Sometimes, the transformer vent faces the back of a cabinet or some other obstruction placed there after installation “to save space.” That condition can lead to a catastrophic failure that opens far more space than intended — complete with smoldering trails of vaporized metal.

How can you argue persuasively for adequate ventilation? And how much is adequate? Most facilities are insured. Insurers nearly always require conformance to the applicable standards. For transformer ventilation, that is 450.9 of the NEC. In 450.9, you’ll find how much ventilation is adequate and other related requirements.

1. Take as-found measurements. Measure the applicable variables (e.g., input sensor levels, voltage supply, controller output) called for in the repair procedure (or PM procedure) for that system.
2. Document programming changes. Compare the new programming to the original and record the differences.