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Fatal Incident - Safe Isolation failure?

What do we think on this incident, reported a bit differently in these two locations:

Whilst very sad and no-one should lose their life in the workplace (or anywhere else) I can't help thinking that an engineer of 30 years' experience should have been familiar with safe isolation procedures, and perhaps these were not followed.  There are of course many unreported possibilities such as multiple supply sources not identified but if you follow the mantra of poking a verified test device probe in before anything else (like your fingers or a screwdriver….), then your chances of falling victim are much reduced.

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  • Sparkingchip: 
     

     

    I actually think that the “Safe isolation procedure” taught to us is flawed, it is fine on a healthy circuit or installation, but on a faulty circuit or installation it does not work.

    A test lamp will only light if there is a voltage difference, if as I have done you find an installation where there is mains voltage of the earthing system the test lamp will not light when placed between live and earth as they are both at mains voltage. indeed the first thought you may have is that there is reversed polarity rather than a major earth fault after testing the neutral as well.

    Voltstick.

     

    Z.

Reply
  • Sparkingchip: 
     

     

    I actually think that the “Safe isolation procedure” taught to us is flawed, it is fine on a healthy circuit or installation, but on a faulty circuit or installation it does not work.

    A test lamp will only light if there is a voltage difference, if as I have done you find an installation where there is mains voltage of the earthing system the test lamp will not light when placed between live and earth as they are both at mains voltage. indeed the first thought you may have is that there is reversed polarity rather than a major earth fault after testing the neutral as well.

    Voltstick.

     

    Z.

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