What training course I will need to do my job safely?

[LordKelvin]

Dear All,

Someone will remember me from the other 3D...I am still in training (so not going in the field) but my tasks are taking form and I would ask to you experts what kind of training course I will need to attempt to be SAFE myself and...safe the others...

The machine has got mechanical (rotating parts, blades to cut, etc..) and of course electrical components (switches, relays, motors, PLC, circuit breakers, etc.)

My tasks might be:

1 - troubleshooting of ANY problem in our machines sold to the customer. So I will know the machine and all its components.
2 - design improvement of the machine (mechanical side and electrical side)

my doubt is: I have a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Do I need to be an electrician for this job?? I do not believe so because it`s less challenging than be sent somewhere to fix some machines...it`s OUR machine and we know where it will be sold...

At the same time I suppose I will need some "official" training on safety etc.

May you guys please advise me about what I need exactly to do this job on the electrical side? there are 1 day course, 3 days courses... 17th courses... I am a bit confused

Really thanks.

Mario

 

[LordKelvin]

If you truly want to be safe then you would need to do a long course or be mentored over a long period by an experienced person.
As you say you would not get an expensive course approved then you will not have a comprehensive knowledge simple as that.

However if you do some short one day courses this may give you enough knowledge to be able to assess more fully the actual courses that you would need to be safe.

TUV SUD have a free downloadable guide to machinery safety, a free half day workshop, full day training courses (£225 30 d in advance), Machinery safety essentials, electrical machinery safety.

Conformance have a one day course on safety control systems (£350)
HSL have one day courses in Buxton for machinery supply and PUWER (£395)

perhaps some of these may help to steer you in the direction of better training courses and also give you a powerful argument why you need the course, because you then know what you need.

and reading books will not help enough?

 

[Richard Burns]

Remember I do not know your level of capability the type of machines you wish to repair/install or your current training level.

It is possible that reading books will be enough to ensure that you can understand the theory and then you could look for a practical course or mentor with someone experienced in your company to hone this knowledge.
It is unlikely that reading alone will be enough to ensure you are fully competent, but if you already have basic level of electrical knowledge and are good at learning and applying the learning then it could be enough.

 

[LordKelvin]

Remember I do not know your level of capability the type of machines you wish to repair/install or your current training level.

It is possible that reading books will be enough to ensure that you can understand the theory and then you could look for a practical course or mentor with someone experienced in your company to hone this knowledge.
It is unlikely that reading alone will be enough to ensure you are fully competent, but if you already have basic level of electrical knowledge and are good at learning and applying the learning then it could be enough.

I am good at learning.

I do not have mentor in the company.

I will try to push for the best course possible and reading then a lot.
They like the course from Tinson so I could easily push for ONE of the two...they are 3 days not 1 day so they might be ok??

what do you advice between the two if I have to choose, as I will????

I am really appreciating your support

 

[Richard Burns]

It is a pity that you do not have someone to bounce ideas off, it does make things easier.

The two courses are actually fairly similar one focuses more on the testing for electrical faults and the other on understanding the components.

As you are already a mechanical engineer I would assume you do know how things work in general even if you are not up to speed with the electrical side, if this is the case then I would say the course covering more of the testing i.e. the electrical fault finding one would be of more use.

You must be aware of the regulations in place for what you are going to be doing so that your company is not liable in case of problems.

You can read up on the components specific to your machines.

 

[LordKelvin]

It is a pity that you do not have someone to bounce ideas off, it does make things easier.

The two courses are actually fairly similar one focuses more on the testing for electrical faults and the other on understanding the components.

As you are already a mechanical engineer I would assume you do know how things work in general even if you are not up to speed with the electrical side, if this is the case then I would say the course covering more of the testing i.e. the electrical fault finding one would be of more use.

You must be aware of the regulations in place for what you are going to be doing so that your company is not liable in case of problems.

You can read up on the components specific to your machines.

I know I am a bit a solitaire fighter lol :mad2::mad2::mad2:

I have all the spec for all the components in the machines so I could read that.

plus I could read all the regulations and standard that concern my machines.

In addition of all this I could so attempt that fault finding course.

Will this be "good enough" in your opinion or I have to push stronger to have something like the Pilz course?? Sincerely.... Thanks for your patience

 

[Richard Burns]

Take the Tinson course, get a piece of paper saying you have attended the course for later verification of your skill set.
If you found this totally out of your depth then read up further and do another course.
If you understood and can apply the information from the course then proceed from there and experience the work directly, but do not take on anything you are not competent at, this will lead to problems.
Keep reading up on your machines and understand how they work in their entirety, uses, interactions, controls, safety, etc.
Unless you have free access to the BSI standards the cost of purchase will far outweigh the cost of courses, though you should have available a copy of 60204 as you sill be working to this standard.