Andy Meadows Group Engineering Manager

1. Andy Meadows Group Engineering Manager

2. Electrical Safety for Non Electricians

3. Regulations and Standards? Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 HSE guidance (HSG 85,107,47,GS6) BS7671 IET Wiring Regulations and guidance BSEN Standards IEC Standards Codes of Practice

4. Electricity at Work Regulations 1989

5. Purpose? Precautions to be taken against the risk of death or personal injury from electricity in work activities.

6. Who do they Apply to? What do they apply to? The document is made up of 33 regulations but I want to focus on some of the key areas Employers, Employees, Self Employed All electrical systems and work activities

7. Regulation 4 – Systems (all electrical installations) • Shall be • Properly constructed • Maintained (Inspection and test) • All work on a system shall be carried out safely

8. Construction

9. Construction

10. Well Maintained

11. Inspection Frequencies Risk based approach depending on the working environment 3 months to 1 year for visual inspections 3 months to 10 years on thorough inspections This type of form could also be used installation test certificates Maintained Inspection and Testing (LV)

12. Defect Report Defect codes C1 Very high risk. Immediate action taken C2 High risk if left. Action taken asap C3 Recommendation for improvement F1 Further investigation required Maintained Inspection and Testing (LV)

13. Maintained Inspection and Testing (Thermal Imaging)

14. Maintained Inspection and Testing (HV)

15. HSE guidance on portable appliance frequency of testing Maintained Inspection and Testing (PAT)

16. Safe working

17. Regulation 5 – Strength and capability • Shall be designed to withstand faults • Capable of disconnecting the supply in the event of a fault • System designers must understand the fault levels on site to specify the correct equipment to be installed

18. Strength and Capability

19. Regulation 6 – Adverse or Hazardous Environment Equipment that may be exposed to the following shall be constructed or protected to prevent exposure to Mechanical damage Effects of the weather, natural hazards, temperature or pressure Wet , dirty, dusty or corrosive conditions Flammable or explosive substances

20. Adverse Environment

21. Regulation 7 – Insulation, protection and placing of conductors All conductors in a system shall be Suitably insulated Placed out of reach

22. Suitably insulated

23. Regulation 8 – Earthing or other suitable precautions Precautions shall be taken by earthing or other suitable means to prevent danger when any conductor other than a circuit conductor may become live as a result of a fault or use of the system

24. Earthing of the supply The supply neutral point is connected to the general mass of earth and tested to prove its integrity

25. Equipment earthing The metallic equipment is connected to earth to ensure the safe disconnection of the supply in the event of a fault

26. Regulation 8 – Other suitable precautions Double insulation – seen on portable appliances Extra low voltage – 24V hand tools

27. Regulation 10 – Connections Every joint and connection in a system shall be mechanically and electrically suitable for use

28. Suitable Connections

29. Regulation 11 – Protection Effective means shall be provided for the protection from excessive current on every part of a system to prevent danger.

30. Protection

31. Regulation 12 – Isolation and switching off (equipment) Suitable means shall be available for Cutting off the supply of electrical energy to any electrical equipment The isolation of any electrical equipment Part (a) refers to cutting of the supply in the event of an emergency via switches or emergency stops Part (b) refers to Isolation of equipment which requires the prevention of inadvertent reconnection of the supply once switched off via lockable isolation devices

32. Cutting off the supply

33. Regulation 13 – Isolation Adequate precautions shall be taken to prevent equipment which has been made dead from becoming electrically charged during any work if danger may arise. Simply put this is effective isolation of equipment

34. Isolation 5 step process Identify what needs to be isolated Switch off and make the separation Secure the separation, apply locks, notices and for HV connect to earth Test to prove dead Where required issue paperwork

35. Isolation

36. High Voltage Permit

37. Two firms fined after demolition worker receives electrical burns Two companies have been fined after a worker received serious electrical burns during demolition work. On 12 April 2017, two demolition workers employed by sub-contractor R B Haigh and Sons were removing electrical distribution equipment from a switchgear room at the former Molecular Products site in Thaxted, Essex. Mr Alan Banks had been told by the principal contractor that the electrical equipment had been isolated. To reassure his colleague that it was safe he threw a crowbar at the 400V ac equipment. This came into contact with live exposed wires, causing a flashover and temperatures of several thousand degrees, followed by a subsequent fire. As a result, Mr Banks suffered serious burn injuries and was immediately hospitalised. Investigating, the HSE found that the task being carried out had not been properly planned and suitable control measures were not implemented to ensure the isolation of the power supply. The principal contractor, A J Wadhams & Co Ltd failed to follow the clear procedures outlined in their risk assessments and method statements, which identified all equipment must be treated as live unless written authorisation proved otherwise. Fines Russell Haigh and Stuart Haigh (Partners of R B Haighs and Sons) of Thaxted, Essex, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3(1) of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and have been fined £80,000 with costs of £3,882.65. AJ Wadhams and Co Limited trading as Wadham Homes of Charterhouse Street, London, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and was fined £80,000 with costs of £3,816.60. After the hearing HSE inspector Adam Hills said: “This incident has had a significant impact on Mr Banks’ life and the injuries could so very easily have been fatal. Had the companies followed the control measures outlined in their respective risk assessments, then this incident would not have occurred. Never assume that an electrical supply is disconnected. Always check with the Distribution Network Operator or a qualified electrician to obtain written proof of isolation before commencing work.” HSE April 2019

38. Regulation 14 – Live Working No person shall be engaged in any work activity or near to any live conductor unless It is unreasonable in all circumstances for it to be dead It is reasonable in all circumstances for it to be live Suitable precautions shall be taken Dealing with live diagnostic testing not physical work on conductors

39. Regulation 14 – Live Working Risk assessment process. What can we do to reduce the risk from electric shock and arc burns Live working procedures, rules and risk assessments Plan the task Ensure the equipment is safe to work on Identify the circuit to be tested Ensure the test equipment is safe to use Ensure persons are competent Supervision where required Permits where required

40. Simple flow chart for the principles of Live and Dead working (HSG85) Live Working Basic Rules

41. Live Working Safe Equipment and Circuits

42. High Voltage flash over 11kV Low Voltage flash over 415V Live Working Getting it Wrong

43. Regulation 16 – Competence No person shall be engaged in any in any work activity where technical knowledge or experience is necessary to prevent danger, or injury unless they possess such knowledge such knowledge or experience, or is supervised How do we know our electricians are competent ? Key areas to look at Discuss and document qualifications and experience Competence reports Written appointment and authorisation Supervision and mentoring of apprentices

44. Competence questions

45. Competence questions

46. Competence questions

47. Authorisation

48. Any Questions?