During the pandemic, our NECA contractors and IBEW workforce have continually adapted quickly to serve essential needs. That was on display when Kaiser Electric teamed with mechanical contractor Murphy Co. at SSM Health DePaul Hospital to convert 16 ICU rooms from “normal airflow” to “negative pressure” in a matter of hours. In all, up to 34 ICU rooms were converted to negative pressure by the team to allow SSM to safely provide exceptional care. Kaiser provided its electricians with proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and worked closely with the hospital to keep the workforce safe.
Electrical Connection partners are also keeping members informed of new OSHA safety recommendations, including new “guidance for construction employers and workers as states and municipalities relax restrictions put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19.” Learn more.
Meanwhile, our NECA contractors continue to advance innovation to help industries operate more efficiently. One example of that is variable frequency drive (VFD). Lemay-based PCS Energy, an MBE contractor, uses VFD as a tool to optimize AC drive motors in industrial facilities, including wastewater treatment plants, to improve performance. “VFD works in tandem with almost any AC motor. It can run industrial equipment, control pumps, or alter pressure and control flow for other pieces of equipment. The VFD takes direct control of the electric motor in a more efficient way than any human operator could. The VFD works to run the AC motor at variable speeds and helps the motor ramp up its speed to deliver a smoother start-up process.” VFD can also provide greater efficiencies in commercial HVAC. Learn more.
NECA contractor Sachs Electric has received the Platinum Safety Award from risk management firm ConstructSecure. The award is presented to companies that register a safety score 95% or greater in the Safety Assessment Program administered by ConstructSecure. The Safety Assessment Program reviews a company’s historic safety performance and current safety management systems. The platform normalizes data for vendor or contractor size and type of work performed.
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