Kleinfeldt, working to the conventions of the 2009 NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, perform electrical thermographic imaging during building PPMs (Preventive and Predictive Maintenance).

Shock, electrocution, arc flash and arc blast comprise a large percentage of annual electrical contact injuries. Although Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) can reduce the risk of injury, the best thing to do is to adopt a practice of regularly-scheduled PPMs to avoid the problem altogether. PPMs, particularly when combined with the use of thermographic imagery, provide an early warning of potential equipment failures and unsafe working conditions.

Infrared cameras are used to produce thermographic images; they can also capture temperature measurements of the equipment under study. Infrared surveys are particularly important for electrical equipment because electrical equipment is usually critical to an enterprise’s mission. Moreover, certain kinds of electrical failures pose life-threatening risks to workers.

For the most part, an IR survey should start at the time of equipment installation/first commission to establish a baseline for all future studies. Not only does this promote safety and ensure proper installation, it also identifies OEM defects inside of warranty windows. Skipping an IR survey can lead to equipment problems that ultimately put your plant into reactionary maintenance mode; a dangerous mistake in that such a stance can make an IR program seem ineffective. Consistent IR surveys are the only way thermographic evaluations can possibly be effective tools in the prevention of avoidable equipment failures.

Contractors, risk managers, and plant engineers—as well as apartment, commercial and retail building managers and owners—all have a stake in ending electrical-related accidents, liability, and loss. Improve worker safety, and avoid citations, rising insurance and increased workers compensation costs by scheduling a PPM including thermographic imaging today. A Kleinfeldt PPM can prevent a work stoppage that could severely undermine your plant’s production bottom line.

And we'll not only keep your plant equipment running and prevent potentially life-threatening accidents to your workers; we'll also provide a PPM Report that details our findings in such a way as to conform to the new OSHA recordkeeping requirements.

Contact: Forensic/Legal Division: Richard Nellis ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )