I now work at a facility that builds systems we sell to customers. The system uses DIN rail mounted components and the modular terminal blocks are the spring loaded type instead of screw terminals. I was talking with the safety officer and he was telling me that the safety consultant was just in the building and had commented that these terminal blocks were considered as having exposed surfaces. They were called exposed because an individual could push a pice of conductive material into a hole and make contact with energized components.
My reply was that we now have to remove every convience outlet because someone could do the same thing! Plus totally enclose every power supply with a perforated cover or any device that wasn't IP68.
Is this safety consultant blowing smoke or do we really have to protect idiots at all costs?
