Bad day at work !!!

[gbb]

Anyone who's into maintenance will understand

If it's all working....no problem, sometimes it's boring, no pressure, plod along and take it while it's there.

Today was anything but easy....
Oppo's were changing machines. All they have to do is unplug them, pull them out and replace with different machines.
What do they frequently do ? forget to unplug either the 3phase electrics or comms leads. Today it was the electrics.
From one simple mistake...a snowball forms. Usually you'd remake the socket connections they've pulled out. But this time it's flashed and arc'd and damaged the isolator/socket.

Ok, under pressure, got to get things going so make a quick extention lead and use the socket on the other side of the host machine......huh !!! the new machine won't work.

Now the pressure's building. Test the socket ive now just used, voltage is down on one phase...track the supply back ..to the one they've just damaged, of course !!! the second sockets fed from the first one, so the fault passes down the line.

In the meantime, while i was trying to figure out why the second machine wouldnt work, pulled off the electrics cabinet cover...and just touched a component on the main board...instant trip out, probably fuses gone. F'kit, that's my fault rushing...the one thing you don't do.

Got it all working so they could finish that particular run, then spent an hour replacing the isolator which involved a load of wiring etc.
Inbetween all that you have several interruptions for other machinery that needs your input, oppo's that can't work this or that, etc etc etc.
Just got that done....meetings called, ALL staff.

So, redundancies are looming again , notice of a consultation period coming up. Shouldnt affect me, i'm the only one there that does the maintenance...but i always say, NO-ONE should ever consider themselves safe.

A good day then, mental all morning, managed to squeeze in a 5 minute coffee break all morning, then the dreaded meeting...then blind boredom all afternoon It's all or nothing in my game...

 

[661-Pete]

Good god! Where's the H&S when you need it!? I can't quite make out exactly what seems to have happened to your machines, but three-phase? I don't need to remind you, but others might not know, 415 VAC between phases! And your equipment seems to have arced over or shorted..... At our place - our place as was, that is, before they closed it all down - failing to properly lock out equipment and get the permits to work sorted out, prior, that'd be an instant disciplinary... Anyway, whatever happened at yours, seeing as you appear to be the mädchen für alles - good luck with sorting it out...

Sorry about the redundancies. We went through all that last year I know the feeling well.

 

[fossyant]

Good stuff..................

Rushed about this morning......lots of admin red tape sorted - means a member of staff returns to full time today, but no budget..... got sorted (phew) .....piddly amount of cash given size of department, but money is tight.

Sorted out a business plan for a car hire scheme - all done... got totally soaked running paper work between buildings / offices - done........

Costing implications of budget reductions done.. fast.. (and not in my office - i.e - out on site) ..... boss happy, meeting next week with major funders ......... (both joked about Gov't cuts...... - me.... 'we may both not be here though ? ' Tis life.... no-one is safe..........

 

[summerdays]

My bad day was getting thoroughally wet going to a site today only to find they weren't expecting me so a wasted journey - I even went through the ford to get there (OK I didn't have to do that but wouldn't you if you had the chance).

I didn't understand your bad day ... I would be the person who pulled the wrong plug

 

[gbb]

Good god! Where's the H&S when you need it!? I can't quite make out exactly what seems to have happened to your machines, but three-phase? I don't need to remind you, but others might not know, 415 VAC between phases! And your equipment seems to have arced over or shorted..... At our place - our place as was, that is, before they closed it all down - failing to properly lock out equipment and get the permits to work sorted out, prior, that'd be an instant disciplinary... Anyway, whatever happened at yours, seeing as you appear to be the mädchen für alles - good luck with sorting it out...

Sorry about the redundancies. We went through all that last year I know the feeling well.

When the oppo's changing a machine, he should of course switch off the isolator and unplug it.
Nooooo, that's much too simple. They're heavy machines, so when they pull them out there's a fair bit of effort required. If they forget its still plugged in, still live...and they're going to wrench the cables out easy. Usually it just tugs the cables out of the socket, sometimes it doesnt even trip. But this time, the wires have shorted and damaged the isolator. There's no point in locking out, even if the procedure did exist here. Its usually unplug, change machine and plug in. They're not hard wired machines. A bit like plugging and unplugging any electic portable machine.

The short circuit in the machine (that was my fault) wouldnt be solved by locking out....you need the machine live to test it. Just one of those moments when you have to twist the covers to release them...though it just goes to show, if i'd switched it off before removing the covers.....then back on....but its a procedure that only exposes the lower voltage side on the machine. Even so, just goes to show how a moments loss of concentration...

 

[Fab Foodie]

Man I feel that kind of pain!
gbb, what kind of machines/process lines?

Sorry to hear the redundancies news...

 

[gbb]

Man I feel that kind of pain!
gbb, what kind of machines/process lines?

Sorry to hear the redundancies news...

Citrus fruit packing...machines like these . One coupled up to each side of a rotary weigher.
http://www.tecfrut.ch/Giro/pics/GI-GirplusMasch_461x640.jpg

We have 5 weighers, with different combinations of machines that can be fitted, plus other packing lines too. We used to be able to produce circa 200K packs per day. Wish it was that busy now.

Redundancy news...ah well, it's been getting tougher for the last 3 years. Every year we think it's the last. With the lack of some sort of cohesive sales department, i think the writings on the wall myself. I'm relaxed about it, nothing lasts forever. When i came here, i thought maybe 5 years ? The boss is over retirement age now....there's no-one that can step up and take over (IMO).
When it happens, one door closes, another opens.