A Blunt Warning About Poor Power Quality and Safety in Your Workplace

Poor power quality can pose a direct threat to safety. It can be hard to accept because it’s sometimes easier just to tolerate the periodic disruptions to assembly lines, large equipment, and energy-intensive machinery, than to fix the problem at its source. As a power quality expert, I’m accustomed to hearing the question, ‘How much is this going to cost me?’ Well, there are several ways to answer this question.

The obvious costs are to the bottom line. Whenever equipment goes down, you lose money in downtime, wages and repairs. Next, there is the cost of credibility, as you fail to meet delivery deadlines and customers can’t understand why your new, modern equipment keeps failing. While these are often the first considerations, thoughts about safety also need to be prioritized.

Poor power quality, characterized by voltage fluctuations, harmonics, and transients, can have serious repercussions. Voltage fluctuations, for instance, can expose workers to electrical hazards, such as electrical shocks. This is due to the unpredictable activation or deactivation of equipment caused by these fluctuations. Additionally, equipment integrity is at risk, as power disturbances like voltage sags and surges can stress machinery, leading to breakdowns and operational disruptions.

The implications of poor power quality extend beyond immediate physical hazards such as the potential for fires, malfunctions, and erratic behaviour of equipment. Voltage transients and harmonics can, over time, weaken insulation in electrical components, leading to insulation breakdown and a higher potential for fires. The list of safety hazards goes on and on.

So when someone asks, how much it’s going to cost to fix the problem, an expanded ROI is needed. Yes, we can eliminate costly equipment failures. And yes, we can continually monitor your power quality using sophisticated meters that guarantee reliable readings and long-term solutions that pay off in the long run. However, there is no way to calculate the return on preventing a workplace injury or death due to the impact of poor power quality on large and often dangerous pieces of equipment.

When it comes to addressing the cost of power quality issues, it’s time to broaden your view. The highest return and the greatest ROI come from safeguarding your most valuable asset - your people.

For more information and to ensure the safety and efficiency of your workplace through improved power quality, contact Encompass Power Solutions today. Our team can provide tailored solutions to safeguard both your people and machinery.