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testing safe of a 16 Amp commando socket/plug

Former Community Member
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Hello,i am an RF engineer and we have equipment that is fed by rack mounted AC/DC converters which charge batteries. these converters are wired into fused spurs using 2.5mm arctic blue cable routed into cable trunking. the 2.5mm cable is fixed in the rack before entering the trunking.

At the moment we are all trained in testing the circuit is switched off using a martindale VIPD138 voltage indicator and proving unit and then we lock off the circuit.

Everyone's training is due to expire and our company health and safety department want to change the installation from the fused spur to 16 Amp commando sockets/plugs rather than retrain everyone in proving the circuit has been switched off.


I have no issues with using commando sockets instead of the fused spurs but my concern is that if the nearest location the commando socket can be mounted is the other end of the room and there are numerous commando sockets supplying different racks how do you prove you have pulled the correct plug? surely you have to still be able to test the circuit has been switched off using the tester and training required.


I am having a discussion with the Health and safety department next week so any advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks
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    In a workplace, I do not think that you can do away with safe isolation so easily. It goes without saying that if I unplug, say a vacuum cleaner, I can be certain that it has been removed from all sources of electrical energy, so I do not need to prove dead.


    However, if there may be confusion as to whether a particular piece of equipment has been made dead, I agree that you still have to prove it dead.


    Either you roll up the supply cable and keep it in sight, or you have to lock off somehow.


    R13 of EAWR 1989 applies.
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    In a workplace, I do not think that you can do away with safe isolation so easily. It goes without saying that if I unplug, say a vacuum cleaner, I can be certain that it has been removed from all sources of electrical energy, so I do not need to prove dead.


    However, if there may be confusion as to whether a particular piece of equipment has been made dead, I agree that you still have to prove it dead.


    Either you roll up the supply cable and keep it in sight, or you have to lock off somehow.


    R13 of EAWR 1989 applies.
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