Morocco Equipment Technician key terms

A formal procedure in which every energy source feeding a machine is isolated, locked and tagged by the person working on it, so the equipment cannot be re-energised or started until that person removes their own lock.

The verified condition in which all hazardous energy, including electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal and stored energy, has been isolated, dissipated or restrained before maintenance work begins.

A structured examination of a task or workplace that identifies hazards, estimates the likelihood and severity of harm, and records the controls needed to reduce risk to an acceptable level before work starts.

A signed authorisation that defines the scope, hazards and precautions for a non-routine or high-risk job, and confirms that isolation, gas testing or fire watch conditions are met before work proceeds.

Wearable or handheld protection such as gloves, eye shields, arc-rated clothing, helmets and hearing protection, selected from the assessed hazard and inspected before each use as the last line of defence.

A rapid release of energy caused by an electrical fault through air, producing intense heat, light, pressure and molten metal; it defines the boundary distances and protective clothing required before energised work is permitted.

The practice of proving a tester on a known live source, testing the isolated conductors to confirm absence of voltage, then re-proving the tester, so a dead circuit is confirmed rather than assumed.

The relationship stating that voltage equals current multiplied by resistance; it lets a technician predict how a circuit will behave and calculate an unknown value from the other two measured quantities.

An AC supply using three conductors whose voltages are offset by 120 electrical degrees, giving constant power delivery and allowing motors to produce a rotating magnetic field without auxiliary starting windings.

The order in which the three supply voltages reach their peak; it must match the motor's expected direction, because reversing any two supply conductors reverses rotation and can damage driven equipment.

The ratio of real power to apparent power in an AC circuit, ranging from 0 to 1; a low value means more current flows for the same useful work, increasing losses and utility charges.

A motor starting arrangement where windings run in star for reduced starting current, then switch to delta for full voltage; it requires six winding ends and correct changeover timing to avoid current surges.

An electromagnetically operated switch used to connect and disconnect a load circuit repeatedly under normal current, controlled by a coil circuit and often interlocked with overload and safety devices.

A protective device that senses sustained excess motor current, typically through thermal or electronic elements, and opens the control circuit before winding insulation is damaged by overheating.

An electronic unit that rectifies incoming AC, then inverts it to a controlled voltage and frequency, allowing motor speed and torque to be matched to process demand and reducing starting stress.

An industrial computer that reads input signals, executes a stored control program and drives outputs, replacing relay logic and providing timers, interlocks and diagnostic information for machinery.

A continuously variable electrical signal, commonly 4-20 mA or 0-10 V, whose magnitude represents a measured value such as pressure or temperature; the live zero allows broken wires to be detected.

The documented comparison of an instrument's indication against a traceable reference, followed by adjustment so its output matches the true value within stated tolerance across the working range.

A verification that every element in an instrument loop, from field sensor through wiring, controller and final element, responds correctly and is labelled consistently with the documentation.

The screen and controls through which an operator monitors and commands a machine or process, displaying status, alarms and setpoints while communicating with the controller.

Unwanted electrical noise coupled into signal or power conductors by nearby drives, switching devices or radio sources, causing measurement errors, false trips or communication faults unless shielded and earthed correctly.

The deliberate connection of exposed metalwork and circuit reference points to earth, providing a low-impedance fault path that trips protection and limiting touch voltage and electrical noise.

A portable instrument combining voltage, current, resistance and often continuity measurement, with a category rating that must suit the circuit's fault energy to protect the user.

The force per unit area generated in a confined liquid by a pump or load resistance; it transmits force through the system and is controlled by relief, reducing and directional valves.

A pressure-limiting valve that opens to divert flow to tank when system pressure exceeds its setting, protecting components and personnel from overpressure and confirming pump output has a safe path.

A vessel storing pressurised fluid or gas that smooths pulsation and supplies emergency flow; it retains hazardous stored energy that must be discharged before any work on the circuit.

The practices of filtering, sealing and cleanliness that keep particles and water out of hydraulic and pneumatic fluid, since most component failures trace back to contaminated media.

A directional or control device that uses compressed air to shift a spool or seat, often with a solenoid pilot and spring return, determining actuator motion and fail-safe position on air loss.

Energy held after isolation, such as in capacitors, springs, raised loads, accumulators or compressed air lines, which must be released or restrained before work is considered safe.

The adjustment of two coupled shafts so their centrelines coincide within stated angular and parallel tolerances, measured with dial indicators or laser systems to prevent vibration and bearing wear.

A shaft alignment method using laser emitters and detectors on each shaft to calculate offset and angularity, often displaying live corrections for shims and horizontal movement.

A condition where a machine foot does not sit flat on its base, so tightening the bolt distorts the frame; it must be corrected before alignment readings are trusted.

The measurement and interpretation of machine vibration spectra to detect unbalance, misalignment, looseness and bearing defects, allowing faults to be corrected before failure.

Condition-based work scheduled from measured trends such as vibration, temperature, oil analysis or thermography, so intervention happens just before degradation becomes functional failure.

Planned, time- or usage-based servicing such as lubrication, inspection, cleaning and part replacement, performed to reduce the probability of failure rather than to correct an existing fault.

Infrared imaging of equipment surfaces to reveal abnormal temperature rise from loose connections, friction, blocked cooling or insulation faults, performed safely while the equipment is operating.

A structured investigation, using methods such as five-why or fishbone, that traces a failure past its symptoms to the underlying physical, procedural or design cause so recurrence is prevented.

A team-based review that lists how each component could fail, the effect of that failure, and its severity, occurrence and detection ratings, guiding design and maintenance priorities.

The change made to equipment, procedure or training that eliminates a confirmed cause of nonconformity, recorded and verified for effectiveness rather than simply repairing the symptom.

A controlled document authorising and recording a maintenance task, including scope, permits, parts, labour hours, findings and completion sign-off, forming the equipment history.

A register of outstanding defects and incomplete items identified during installation or commissioning, each with an owner and deadline, closed out before handover to the client.

The staged process of checking, energising, testing and proving installed equipment, first without load then under load, until documented performance criteria are met and the plant is accepted.

The manufacturer's plate stating rated voltage, current, frequency, speed, power, insulation class, duty and connection, which must be read before wiring or replacing a motor.

A device such as a cylinder, motor or diaphragm that converts hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical energy into mechanical movement to operate a valve, damper or other final element.

Two ways of connecting loads: in series the same current passes through all and voltages add, while in parallel the same voltage applies to each and currents add.

The ranking of alarm messages by consequence and urgency so operators can distinguish safety-critical events from routine notifications and avoid alarm flooding.

Drawings, datasheets, manuals, procedures and test records that define the installed configuration and allow safe maintenance; revisions must be controlled so field and file agree.