Finally something that I try to prevent from happening has occurred before me – a Circuit Breaker exploded!
Our engineering team was scheduled to do a Site Acceptance Test (SAT) on the motors with a supply of 415V. As a safety protocol, a Circuit Breaker (CB) is installed to make sure that if any overloaded situation such as current surge occurs, the Breaker can end the power supply immediately to protect the rest of the electric drives from getting burned.
My boss initiated the test by switching on the CB while I was by his side taking down some values from the meter for analysis. Shortly after the switch was pushed, CB was on as the current flowed smoothly. As we were about to walk away from the CB to the back of the panel to control the motor from the VDS, the CB suddenly exploded.
It freaked me out as I was barely 5 feet away when I heard the thundering ram. The next thing I saw was smoke coming out from the panel. Without hesitating, my boss and I rapidly shutted down the main incoming power supply to prevent further damage to the CB.
Man, I have never sweat that much before in my job. The current job doesn’t compromise carelessness. Any fault can easily kill anyone working on or in the vicinity of the switchgear panel. The consequences either you get fried into ashes or simply blasted into pieces.
No wonder my boss always tells me to maintain high level of awareness and discipline while dealing with the subordinate workers who work on site. It is important to understand that I am not only answering to myself but to the victims when accidents caused by carelessness happen.
I am glad that I am alive and still in one piece.
So, need I say more? Safety comes first!
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