ECS Health Safety and Environmental Assessment 10

A risk assessment is the process of identifying and assessing the risks involved in a task and then developing methods to control these risks.

The process of working only on electrical equipment that has been de-energized and verified as safe.

Test instruments should be used for checking electrical systems and should ALWAYS have insulated probes to protect the user from electrical shock.

Permitted only in exceptional circumstances where it is impossible or unreasonably difficult to make the equipment dead, and suitable precautions are in place.

A fuse is a safety device that protects a circuit from overcurrents. It should ONLY be replaced with a fuse of the correct type and rating.

The first step is to check that the voltage detector is working correctly by testing it on a known live source or using a built-in test function.

The standard voltage in the UK for single-phase electrical systems.

Live working can only be allowed when it is impossible to make the equipment dead and suitable precautions are taken to protect those involved.

The correct point of isolation must be identified, a caution notice left at the point of isolation to warn others, and the conductors must be proved dead at the point of work.

The most severe consequence of electric shock is burns and cardiac arrest, which can lead to death.

Measured in milliamps (mA), a very small amount of current can harm the human body.

A Residual Current Device (RCD) is designed to detect a leakage of current to earth, and automatically interrupt the flow of electricity to prevent a potentially fatal electric shock.

A safety device that is essential for providing extra protection against fatal electric shock when using mains voltage to power portable equipment on a construction site.

Yellow cable is used to signify a 110 volt power supply on site. It is a standard colour code for low voltage systems.

A yellow outlet signifies a 110 volt power supply on a site.

Isolating the whole distribution board is the safest way to de-energize equipment when there is no local isolation point.

The most important action to take if someone receives an electric shock is to immediately cut off the power supply to prevent further harm. Then summon professional help for immediate medical attention.

An RCD is designed to operate in the event of an earth fault, which is a dangerous leakage of current to ground.

Electrical installations on construction sites should be inspected and tested every three months to ensure their safety and continued proper operation.

The maximum AC voltage that a human body can withstand without long-term physiological effects (in dry conditions) is 50 volts.

When working with electricity, you can never be sure if a cable or electrical part is live just by looking at it, making it a potential hazard.

The most serious effect of electric shock is that it can cause the heart to stop, leading to death. Even small currents can be fatal.

If you encounter exposed electrical cables or wires that have bare ends, you must inform your supervisor and keep well away. Never assume an exposed cable is safe.

A risk assessment is mandatory for all live working activities. It identifies potential hazards and outlines measures to minimize risks.

The primary purpose of an electrical Permit to Work is to ensure that the circuit or equipment has been properly isolated and de-energized, making it safe to work on.

The probes of voltage detectors and test instruments should be designed with features to prevent accidental finger contact with the tips, minimizing the risk of electric shock during testing.

The Electricity at Work (EAW) Regulations apply to all persons, including employers, employees, and self-employed individuals, who are engaged in any work that involves the use of electricity.

The Electricity at Work Regulations require all individuals working with electricity to have the appropriate level of knowledge, skills, and experience to safely perform their tasks.

The Electricity at Work Regulations cover all voltage systems, regardless of whether they are low voltage, extra-low voltage, or high voltage.

The best way to prove a circuit or equipment is dead after isolation is to use a proprietary test lamp or two-pole voltage detector, as these are specifically designed for reliable voltage detection and have proven safety features.

Isolating a circuit by putting insulating tape over the circuit breaker is NOT a safe practice. The isolating device must be switched off, locked, and a warning notice posted to prevent accidental energization during work.

A permit-to-work is always mandated when performing dead working on high-voltage systems due to the inherent dangers, even with no live work involved.

Optical fibre cable remnants should not be left lying around on a site as they can be sharp and pierce the skin or eyes, posing a risk of injury to workers.

The end of an optical fibre cable should NEVER be pointed towards anyone's eyes as the highly concentrated beam of light can cause irreparable damage to the retina, potentially leading to blindness.

A multi-lock hasp is particularly useful when multiple individuals will be working on circuits from the same distribution board, as each person can attach a padlock to the hasp to prevent accidental energization while others are still working.

The preferred procedure when multiple workers are working on circuits isolated from the same distribution board is to use a multi-lock hasp with a padlock for each individual, ensuring that the power cannot be accidentally switched on until all workers have finished and removed their padlocks.