Technical data

SAFETY
1.1 General
Statutory Regulations
All parties involved in the operation and maintenance of the electrical installation must be
aware and act under the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2005, the
Construction Safety, Health & Welfare Regulations 2006 and the General Application
Regulations 2007, and any other relevant statutory regulations and current amendments.
Basic Safety Points
The following list, which contains a number of basic rules that should be observed, it is not
necessarily comprehensive.
1. Always assume every circuit is live until it has been checked with a voltmeter or
similar approved means.
2. Always check your instruments with a known live source before using them for
testing.
3. Before removing fuses, switch off or, if possible, isolate the circuit which it is
serving. Never remove a fuse from a circuit carrying its working current.
4. Never touch two sides of a circuit simultaneously whether it is live or dead.
5. Do not use metal rules or measuring tapes when working on or near live
equipment.
6. Always use an approved fuse puller, suitably rated and insulated for the line
voltage, to remove fuses on circuits which cannot be isolated.
7. When removing fuses, always break contact on the hot side of the circuit first and
when replacing, insert fuses in the cold side first.
8. Always use tools with handgrips adequately insulated against the voltage of the
circuit to be worked on.
9. If, through necessity, work has to be carried out on a live circuit, make sure that
someone else is present who is familiar with First Aid procedures associated with
electrocution, and that a permit authorising the work to be done is obtained from
the building management personnel.
10. Use carbon dioxide or similar gas type extinguishers, NOT liquid or foam type, to
fight electrical fires.
11. Careful attention must be given to securing the safety of personnel and equipment
while maintenance or repair work is in progress.
12. Where maintenance work is in progress, a “DANGER” notice must always be
attached to any live apparatus, calling attention to the danger of approach. A
“CAUTION” notice must always be attached to plant or its associated control
equipment, warning of possible damage to equipment which may be occasioned by
interference.
13. Before any work is commenced on any item of equipment, supply and ancillary
circuits must be made dead and locked off.
14. When working on medium and low voltage switchgear, it is recommended that
caution notices and adequate screens are used, to prove that the apparatus is dead
before any work is commenced. Where it is necessary to work on live low voltage
or medium voltage switchgear, steps should be taken to guard against shock and
short circuit by the use of insulating stands, screens, boots, gloves and tools as
may be necessary; these should be maintained in sound condition and checked
immediately before use.