On the subject of pulling the DNO fuse.

Chris Pearson:

 

Howard Warren:

For DNO staff and contractors working on service terminations, the mandatory minimum PPE is a full face visor, arc resistant coveralls and insulated gloves with kid leather overgloves - and private electricians are very unlikely to possess these, let alone use them. The DNO will usually charge a fee to remove the fuse, this is to cover the cost of sending staff to site - small expense against the potential consequences of doing it yourself. It's safer, and more professional, to do it right - ask the supplier to arrange for the fuse to be removed.

Hm!


For a new supply, wouldn't the service head be installed before the service cable is connected to the mains?


When my new meter was installed, the technician wore arc shield and insulating gloves (and used insulated tools) but he was having a six-monthly appraisal. He told me that he had only once had to deal with a "lively" service head.


As far as I could see, for a service head and meter move a couple of weeks ago, neither technician was wearing any PPE

Normally, for a simple service connection to an LV cable or overhead line, the cut out is terminated at the same time the mains connection is made - it doesn't make commercial sense to have one team visit site to terminate the cut out, then another team follow on to make the connection. The cable may well be installed in advance, but the termination and joint are nearly always done in one visit. Different for a more complicated job, for example where a new connection requires a new HV transformer - in this case the LV work including the termination would be completed in advance of the shutdown day, with the appropriate continuity/IR tests being completed prior to final connection.  


I can't pass comment on the situation you mentioned, where the technicians weren't wearing PPE - other than they should have been!

Chris Pearson:

 

Howard Warren:

For DNO staff and contractors working on service terminations, the mandatory minimum PPE is a full face visor, arc resistant coveralls and insulated gloves with kid leather overgloves - and private electricians are very unlikely to possess these, let alone use them. The DNO will usually charge a fee to remove the fuse, this is to cover the cost of sending staff to site - small expense against the potential consequences of doing it yourself. It's safer, and more professional, to do it right - ask the supplier to arrange for the fuse to be removed.

Hm!


For a new supply, wouldn't the service head be installed before the service cable is connected to the mains?


When my new meter was installed, the technician wore arc shield and insulating gloves (and used insulated tools) but he was having a six-monthly appraisal. He told me that he had only once had to deal with a "lively" service head.


As far as I could see, for a service head and meter move a couple of weeks ago, neither technician was wearing any PPE

Normally, for a simple service connection to an LV cable or overhead line, the cut out is terminated at the same time the mains connection is made - it doesn't make commercial sense to have one team visit site to terminate the cut out, then another team follow on to make the connection. The cable may well be installed in advance, but the termination and joint are nearly always done in one visit. Different for a more complicated job, for example where a new connection requires a new HV transformer - in this case the LV work including the termination would be completed in advance of the shutdown day, with the appropriate continuity/IR tests being completed prior to final connection.  


I can't pass comment on the situation you mentioned, where the technicians weren't wearing PPE - other than they should have been!