ELECTRICAL SAFE WORKING PROCEDURES AN INTRODUCTORY GUIDE ON WHY HAVING ELECTRICAL SAFE WORKING PROCEDURES CAN HELP YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS

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1 04 ELECTRICAL SAFE WORKING PROCEDURES Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 REGULATION 4(3) AN INTRODUCTORY GUIDE ON WHY HAVING ELECTRICAL SAFE WORKING PROCEDURES CAN HELP YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS

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3 WHY HAVE ELECTRICAL SAFE WORKING PROCEDURES? 1

4 INTRODUCTION For companies who employ their own electrically competent staff or engage the services of experienced and accredited contractors the need for safe working procedures for electrical activities would seem costly and unnecessary; however, this could not be further from the truth. How we supply, distribute, use and maintain electrical systems varies from site to site and between activities and operations in addition the skills of the individuals who work with or near electricity are varied. We are all familiar with the first risk of electricity, that of electric shock and electrocution, however many of us do not understand the harsh realities of this risk becoming a reality; sadly this is often the case with regards to electrically competent persons who are all too ready to take a chance and cheat death... until one day their luck runs out. There are other risks associated with electricity, those of burns, fires, arcing and explosions which can all occur with mains supplies and also from batteries. Often it is not the electrical outcome that causes fatality but the subsequent event, such as falling from ladders or being thrown into the rotating parts of machinery. 2

5 LEGISLATION The principle legislation relating to electrical safety in the UK is the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 which replaced the Electricity (Factories Act) Special Regulations 1908 and The requirements of the Electricity at Work Regulations are simple to understand and implement, the principle elements are: All electrical systems should be safe at all times All electrical systems should be maintained to prevent danger occurring All work activity associated with electrical systems must be safe There must be means for isolating electrical systems There must be safe methods of isolating electrical energy Working on or near live conductors must be justified before being undertaken Persons who use, install or maintain electrical systems must be competent An electrical system starts at the point of delivery of electrical energy to site, in other words wherever the supply authority s responsibility ends. It includes the distribution network on site, all switchgear, wiring and control gear and ends at equipment where electrical energy is converted into some other form of energy such as heat, light or magnetism. Electrical equipment, such as a kettle in the office kitchen or a conveyor on a production line which can be and is intended to be connected to the electrical system via a plug and socket falls under the regulations. There are no voltage limits specified within the Electricity at Work Regulations, in an explosive atmosphere, such as that found in confined spaces a spark from a battery in a watch is sufficient to ignite flammable vapours. Most premises use mains voltage at 230 volts whilst some sites use 400 volt 3 phase systems. For larger sites the voltages increases to 11 kv, 33 kv or beyond, whilst some sites have specialist applications, all of which come with inherent dangers. 3

6 DO I NEED SAFE WORKING PROCEDURES? Companies must detail how they intend to meet the requirements of the Electricity at Work Regulations. For small companies with little electrical activity this might be covered by a short section in the general health and safety policy stating that only contractors will maintain electrical systems, routine maintenance, inspection and testing will be carried out as required and persons will be given information, instruction and training relating to specific needs. For larger companies and for companies where work activities regularly involves electrical systems more detailed and specific policies are required. Having one policy that covers every company and every activity is impractical, the electrical risks and control measures on a chemical production facility will be vastly different to that of a shopping centre for example. It is therefore essential that electrical safe working rules are tailored to your specific activities, risks and needs and that the one size fits all approach is avoided. Some factors that will affect your policy and procedures include: The nature of the business, the product being handled or the service being provided The work environment and how it is controlled The persons involved in work activities, their competence level and how they are trained, instructed and supervised Operational constraints such as shift working or working in remote locations Financial, political and organisational restraints Specific legal obligations The nature of the electrical system, its operating voltage, current and frequency The age of the electrical system and how it is used 4

7 WHAT SHOULD THE SAFE WORKING PROCEDURES INCLUDE? Competence The company must identify how it will determine that people who design, install, maintain and operate electrical systems are capable of doing so without putting themselves or anyone else in danger. This obligation extends to contractors, in which the company must identify and implement systems to ensure that contracting companies employ only competent persons for the work that is to be undertaken and that contractors are familiar with site requirements. For employees the level of work that may be undertaken by them must be clearly defined. A person who is competent to undertake one task is not necessarily competent to undertake all tasks. Competence includes knowledge and experience and the definition of an electrician has become blurred over the years. Safe design, installation and modifications Many people assume that installing a new circuit or extending an existing supply is a simple task; however this is not the case. There is a legal requirement to select and install electrical systems that will remain safe both in normal operation and under fault conditions. All too often people who have a little knowledge carry out electrical work that works, however this does not necessarily mean that it is safe. Designing and installing electrical installations in accordance with BS 7671 (where applicable) is a good standard to work towards and ensuring that Electrical Installation Certificates and Minor Works Certificates are completed is necessary to demonstrate compliance with the Electricity at Work Regulations. This should all be covered by Safe Working Procedures. Maintenance What maintenance is carried out, by whom and when will depend on site factors and ultimately is a decision to be made by the company however in many cases there is plenty of guidance available. How maintenance is carried out must be considered and where necessary documented and as with normal operation of systems and equipment, the workplace and work activities must remain safe whilst maintenance is undertaken. Isolation The need for isolation of electrical supplies, preventing inadvertent re-energisation and proving that isolation has been effective must be conveyed to employees and to contractors. Local isolation as well as system isolation must be detailed and trained out to employees and provision must be in place for contractors and non-electrical staff. For more complex systems 5

8 an electrical specific permit to work will be necessary, along with the procedures for use on such a system. The necessary tools and equipment must also be made available, and controls over approved equipment should be maintained. Live working Work on or near live conductors is permitted only in exceptional cases after all other options have been eliminated. Live working can be separated into two areas: live testing and fault finding and live working including working within a live panel. The company must clearly identify how the need for live working is determined and who makes the decision along with how a safe place of work is to be maintained during such works. Simply stating that electricians may work live is not acceptable in the eyes of the law, and it will be down to the employer to demonstrate that they did everything reasonable to protect the employee. Users The Electricity at Work Regulations applies to everyone who uses electrical systems and therefore extends to those not traditionally associated with electrical work. Farmers working in a field, ground workers undertaking excavation works and joiners drilling into walls all need to be safeguarded against coming into contact with electrical services. The users of electrical systems such as the trainee using a cash register in a retail outlet all should be protected against the effects of electricity but also should be informed, instructed and where necessary supervised and trained so as to minimise the dangers associated with electricity due to their own acts or omissions. 6

9 SUMMARY Safe Working Procedures help the company to demonstrate intent to comply with the law. It clarifies who may undertake what tasks and when and what the company expects from its employees with regards to electrical working. Safe Working Procedures establish the ground rules for employees, including those not electrically competent. Safe Working Procedures detail how contractors will be controlled and what is expected of both the company and the contractors whilst on site. Safe Working Procedures establish how the procedures are to be implemented, how they will be monitored and who will review their effectiveness. Safe Working Procedures save lives. WHERE NEXT? 7

10 WHERE NEXT? For more information on Electrical Safe Working Procedures, Electrical Safety Audits, training or specific electrical safety issues please feel free to contact Pennine (Elec-Tech) Ltd for an informal chat or to arrange a site visit. Pennine (Elec-Tech) Ltd are industry leaders in electrical advice and training and are able to offer a common sense approach to safety management and application. Although bespoke to customers needs our Safe Working Procedures include: Principles Definitions Responsibilities Work on or near live conductors Working on equipment made dead Electrical permit to work Periodic inspection and testing New works Alterations and additions to existing systems Records, labelling and drawings Protective devices Machine safety Control of contractors Risk assessment Access to electrical switchgear Test instruments Access to electrical rooms Electrical equipment 8

11 Pennine (Elec-Tech) Ltd was formed in 2011 by Andrew Linley and Robert Armitage, former directors of the Lowe Group and NECTA, prior to its acquisition by Connaught Compliance. Pennine Health and Safety Ltd is part of the Lowe Group of Companies and is backed by the resources and experience of Ted Lowe, a respected figure in the UK business world and more specifically the Electrical Contracting Industry. The company aim is to provide common sense safety guidance and training to companies and individuals who have a genuine interest in working safely and providing a healthy place of work. We don t believe in red tape and or in doing health and safety just for the sake of it. We seek to give practical and realistic advice and provide training that is relevant to YOUR work activity. Our business is split into three key areas: Electrical Safe Working Electrical Competency Assessment & Approval Training Using our own sector specific staff and partner companies we are able to use experienced advisors and trainers who know their subject area like the back of their hands. We can relate to real life experience and actual experiences as well as interpret legal precedent and legislative guidance. 9 Version 2.0 January 2013

12 E1-GN1 ELECTRICAL Safe Working Procedures PENNINE (ELEC-TECH) LTD The Business Centre Bradmarsh Business Park Rotherham South Yorkshire S60 1BY Tel