IEEE Fellow H. Landis "Lanny" Floyd II to explain importance of electrical device reliability as it relates to electrical shock and arc flash protection at PEARL's 15th annual Electrical Safety, Reliability and Sustainability Conference & Exhibition to be held May 5-7, 2012, in Pittsburgh.

AURORA, CO - Electrical shock and arc flash protection pioneer Lanny Floyd will deliver the keynote address at next year's Professional Electrical Apparatus Recyclers League (PEARL) 2012 Electrical Safety, Reliability and Sustainability Conference & Exhibition, which will be held at The Sheraton Station Square Hotel in Pittsburgh, PA on May 5-7, 2012.

"PEARL member companies play an important role in helping their customers maintain reliable electrical equipment, but the importance of this work goes beyond what's readily apparent," explains Floyd, Principal Consultant, Electrical Safety & Technology at DuPont and IEEE Fellow. "Reliability isn't just about uptime but safeguarding the workers that interact with electrical equipment."

Floyd's presentation will look at the state of electrical safety in the U.S. and the hidden costs of electrical reliability in dollars, employee injuries, and related costs. He will also review the evolution of standards, codes, and regulations as they relate to personnel protection - both at the customer site as well as in the PEARL member electrical reconditioning shops.

"Reliability is critical to new devices installed at a customer facility, but then it's up to the end user to keep the device maintained and ensure reliability as needed," adds Floyd. "We'll also look at new diagnostic technologies that will help customers monitor the reliability of their electrical equipment. A worker standing in front of a panel is betting their life that arc flash calculations have been done right and that their personal protective equipment will keep them safe. Industrial automation equipment and new GFCIs use sensors and indicators to show if a device is working properly. We need to expand these monitoring concepts to other industrial electrical devices that serve to protect workers from electrical hazards."

The PEARL conference offers attendees two days of industry presentations for business leaders and management, and a two-day, two-track training program for electrical technicians looking to improve their skills. Presentations start on Sunday with opening remarks from Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, followed by insight on building a remanufactured product industry from William Gager, founder of the Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA). Presentations continue Sunday and Monday, including presentations on effective business management; circuit breaker conversions and switchgear life extensions; business opportunities related to electrical equipment safety; and updates on the latest PEARL standards, ANSI efforts and a proposal for a new PEARL Technician Certification training program.

A two-day, dual-track training course that focuses on low-voltage circuit breakers and medium-voltage contacts, respectively, will run concurrent with the technical program. Interested attendees and exhibitors should contact the PEARL office at (877) 287-3275, send an email to pearl@pearl1.org, or visit www.Pearl1.org. Corporations that join PEARL within 30 days of the end of the conference will have up to 100% of their conference registration fee applied towards their first year's PEARL membership.

About PEARL:
Founded in 1997, the Professional Electrical Apparatus Recyclers League (PEARL) creates, collects, and disseminates information, policies, procedures, and standards to ensure the proper recycling and reuse of electrical power equipment. Its 70+ corporate members must meet strict technical, safety, and operational requirements.

Editorial Contact Winn Hardin Marketing Director Tel: 904-246-8958 winnhardin@pearl1.org

Association Manager Mark Stone Tel: 877-AT-PEARL Fax: 888-996-3296 pearl@pearl1.org