Precautions for Maintaining Industrial Equipment

The maintenance of industrial equipment is an activity that must become part of the routine of any industry.

In addition to increasing operational productivity and extending equipment service life, carrying out maintenance on schedule ensures the safety of employees.

In today’s article, we will discuss the importance of industrial equipment maintenance and the necessary precautions to carry out this process efficiently and safely. Enjoy your reading!

Why is maintenance so important for industrial equipment?

An industrial machine stopped due to lack of maintenance for just one day can generate significant losses for the operation.

In addition to reduced productivity, the cost of a more severe corrective maintenance process may compromise the budget.

Another key factor is what we call operational efficiency. An industrial machine that operates properly ensures higher quality of the final product while maintaining productivity.

Employee safety is another critical factor when industrial equipment is in good working condition. The risk of accidents is reduced, preventing staff shortages and even compensation claims.

Industrial equipment maintenance is divided into three types: corrective, preventive and predictive. All can be used together within the same industry.

Corrective maintenance

Corrective maintenance is carried out when equipment presents a failure or problems that prevent its operation.

Corrective maintenance can be subdivided into two types: emergency and scheduled corrective maintenance.

Emergency maintenance is performed immediately after the machine stops, so that productivity suffers the least possible impact.

Scheduled corrective maintenance, on the other hand, is carried out outside production hours, on a pre-determined date and time known to all involved.

Choosing to work only with corrective maintenance can be costly for the operation. As it is an urgent procedure, even when scheduled, it often requires parts replacement or specialised labour.

Emergency services generally cost more, and industrial equipment is no exception. The purchase and replacement of parts can be expensive, in addition to the period during which the machine remains out of operation.

Preventive maintenance

Preventive maintenance is performed periodically and is independent of problems presented by industrial equipment.

It is usually carried out according to the manufacturer’s recommendations and its main objective is to ensure full operation of all equipment.

During preventive maintenance, it is possible to identify whether any equipment may present future failures and address the issue before it occurs.

Ensuring preventive maintenance of industrial equipment allows for higher productivity, lower operational risk and savings on major repairs.

Predictive maintenance

Predictive maintenance consists of monitoring the entire operation to identify potential failures in industrial equipment.

To identify problems, periodic inspections are carried out using techniques and analysis parameters such as vibration, ultrasound, visual inspection, sensor use, among others.

Industrial equipment maintenance, when performed preventively or predictively, offers several operational benefits. For this reason, it is advisable to maintain a maintenance schedule so it does not affect peak production periods.

In addition to maintenance planning, when calling the professional responsible, it is essential to ensure that they take basic safety precautions. After all, accidents during maintenance processes also generate losses for the company. Continue reading to learn which precautions should be taken before performing industrial equipment maintenance.

What precautions should be taken during industrial equipment maintenance?

It is important to remember that the manufacture of industrial equipment, as well as its maintenance processes, is regulated by NR-12, which regulates workplace safety. (Other standards may also apply, such as NR-33 and NR-35.)

Regardless of the type of maintenance to be performed, it is essential to take precautions to preserve safety, both for the operator and the maintenance technician.

• Use of PPE: NR-6

PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is essential during machine maintenance. In the event of accidents, PPE provides greater protection for the technician.

It must be ensured that protective gloves, helmets, safety glasses, safety footwear and even hearing protectors are used.

It is the responsibility of the machine owner to ensure that the maintenance technician is properly equipped before starting repairs.

• Use of collective protection equipment:

CPE refers to equipment that preserves the safety of a group of people. Examples include isolation tapes, warning signs and evacuation alert devices.

• These measures must ensure not only that the equipment under maintenance is isolated, but also that access to the surrounding area is restricted.

• Power shutdown: NR-10

All industrial equipment undergoing maintenance must have its entire power supply disconnected.

In addition to reducing the risk of electric shocks and explosions, this prevents the equipment from operating during maintenance.

• Avoid maintenance on operating machines:

Just as the equipment must be disconnected from power, maintenance must never be carried out while it is in operation.

Many technicians attempt to optimise their work by removing materials while the machine is still moving. This practice can lead to serious, potentially fatal accidents.

Before starting maintenance, it is essential to ensure the equipment is completely powered off and all moving parts have stopped.

• Organisation and cleanliness of the environment:

Keeping the environment clean and organised, with parts and tools placed where they do not obstruct access or employee movement, helps prevent accidents and optimises maintenance work.

Care must be taken with the storage of parts, tools, greases and other items used during repairs. For parts that need to be dismantled, maintenance should ideally be carried out in an appropriate workshop.

The precautions mentioned above during industrial equipment maintenance are simple and can prevent major disruptions. It is worth emphasising that performing preventive or predictive maintenance with due care ensures a safer and more productive operation.

Ensure Industrial Equipment Maintenance with MRSUL

MRSUL offers industrial equipment maintenance services for your industry.

Working with a highly qualified team, MRSUL guarantees excellent services that maintain the safety of your operational environment.

To carry out industrial equipment maintenance safely, contact MRSUL.

Did you like this article? Share it on your social networks and keep following our blog for more tips to enhance your operation.

See you next time!