Essential
solutions for safe
maintenance
I
mplementing
safe isolation
procedures is
essential to
achieve compliance with
HSG85 Electricity at Work
Regulations which are there
to ensure that workers on site
are not exposed to danger
when working on or near live
electrical systems. Martindale
Electric lead the way in safe
isolation, providing simple
and reliable solutions to
ensure circuits have been
de-energised and properly
isolated prior to maintenance
and modifications of plant and
equipment.
Selecting the right tools
for the job is critical to
implementing an effective
procedure to stay safe
and avoid potentially fatal
accidents and heavy penalties.
In the latest 2016 sentencing
guidelines for health and
safety offences, new fines
are structured not just to
punish employers whose
failure to comply results in
serious injury, but also those
whose lack of compliance
put their employees at risk.
The consequence of the
new guidelines is that the
level of fines will be higher
and custodial sentences
more likely. For the largest
companies, who are judged
to have a high level of
culpability and the highest
harm category, fines could be
as high as £10M
There are still instances every
year of serious accidents and
fatalities that could have been
avoided through using the
right test equipment to prove
dead and by implementing
reliable locking off procedures.
The essential test tools and
equipment needed are a
dedicated voltage indicator,
a proving unit to verify the
voltage indicator, locking off
devices with unique keys and
a clear method of labelling
the hazard. With a wide
range of voltage detectors
and indicators available, it’s
important to understand
that some equipment, such
as multimeters, should not
be used. Martindale voltage
indicators for safe isolation
are fully compliant with the
latest standards and are
designed for safety, with no
batteries or switches which
could lead to false indication.
The latest VI-15000 has an
Above
Lock off & prove dead
with VIPDLOK kits
Below
VIPDLOK safe
isolation kit
overvoltage safety rating
of 1000V CAT IV making it
suitable for all installation
categories and supply side
applications.
There have been many
developments which now
make it easier to choose
the right equipment and
ensure the correct locking
off device is always
available.
There have been many
developments which now
make it easier to choose
the right equipment and
ensure the correct locking off
device is always available.
These include complete
kits with voltage indicators,
matching proving units and
a comprehensive range of
locking off devices for MCBs
and fuse carriers. Kits are
supplied in combination carry
case s to ensure that proving
devices are always at hand
and provide the simplest
solution for implementing safe
isolation practices on-site.
Find out more:
bit.ly/safe-isolation-video
bit.ly/safe-isolation-article
74
PECM Issue 22