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working in an electrical closet
6

working in an electrical closet

working in an electrical closet

(OP)
does anyone know of any concerns with a person working
in an electrical closet (9ft x 5ft) for a fews hours a day that has a couple of electrical distribution panelboards and a lighting dimming panel?

RE: working in an electrical closet

Claustrophobia?

The only thing that jumps to would be if the worker had a pacemaker or other similar electronic device that can malfunction in the presence of EM fields.

RE: working in an electrical closet

I suppose it's okay if the person is working _on_ the panel.

If someone's turned the wirng closet into a micro-office, I'd guess that would be a code violation.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

RE: working in an electrical closet

While it is not uncommon to see electrical service spaces used for everything from a janitor's closet, storage room or in this case a temporary office, I would strongly suggest an alternate location.  In today's litigious society, you will find that no matter which ailments this person suffers from for the next 50 years, he can trace them back to the time he was forced to work right next to a dimming system panel generating untold quantities of Electro-magnetic radiation.

Code requires that service space clearances around and in front of electrical equipment be maintained in accordance with the voltage system requirements.  I suggest that at the very least these be maintained.  And if you are comfortable that this will not become a Union/OSHA or legal problem-then that needs to be considered.  But I doubt there are any real health or environmental issues you need be concerned about.  I would look at possible interferance with a PC in close proximity to the dimming system or any transformers.  Could cause noise on screen if not properly filtered.

Good luck

RE: working in an electrical closet

2
If there were a link between magnetic fields and illnesses such as leukaemia and cancer, shouldn't there be an abnormally high proportion of these diseases within the power generation and transmission company staff? I posed this question to an 'expert' who spent a few minutes dodging the question and who could offer no explanation of why there is no increased incidence among power utility staff. Common sense and convincing evidence doesn't always win the battle against raging paranoia and media scaremongering. And, as you say, ambulance-chasing legal vermin looking for compensation for anything they can bluff their way into a courtroom with.

----------------------------------
  Sometimes I only open my mouth to swap feet...

RE: working in an electrical closet

I have read innummerably papers on supposed relationships between emf/emr fields and health and in all cases, the science does not show a causel link between the two.  Unfortunately, the truth is never enough for many people, especially those of the lawyerly persuasion.  We had a Community College District sue our company because the fact that they located a computer lab in the room adjacent to one of the main electrical rooms in a new building, and that one of their "professors" had taken some readings which showed the presence of slightly elevated emf levels adjacent to the wall rendered the lab space "hazardous and unoccupiable".  Ridiculous of course, but we found it cheaper to mitigate the condition than fight the suit.  The lawyers win again.

RE: working in an electrical closet

I wonder of the epidemiology of cancer among linemen might be skewed by electrocution.

Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

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