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11kV equipment

I cant find this with the old Google, but when we went to 11kV, we were advised that we needed a licensed/trained person to manage it, and anyone without such qualification could not enter the transformer compounds or RMU rooms. We subcontracted it to a third party and as such, we have no keys or access. 

 

Turns out, our other sites which have 11kV transformers, one is using the substation as a maintenance stores, and while it is big, and the stores is across the room from the transformer, its still the same room, and you could walk over and start pulling on levers on the RMU, tap changers etc. 

 

Another site has them caged in properly, but no appointed person. 

 

I'm trying to avoid making a huge fuss, but would like to advise them accurately, and I cant start that off with ‘I think I remember’, and ‘we do it like this’ 

Parents
  • You are right to be concerned.

    I very much doubt the HV electrical equipment is designed to be installed such that it is accessible to ordinary persons and as such it may present intolerable risk to them.

    You could start by picking up a copy of EAWR, asking to see the their electrical safety rules / policy and their risk assessment covering the activities in the (apparently) uncontrolled use of the switchroom. Persons are required to be competent to operate or work near switchgear and electrical equipment (this applies to LV also)… How does your company assess the competence of everyone able to access the equipment? What prevents Jim Bloggs from twiddling the tap selector on the transformer on-load, changing the protection settings on the RMU or leaving a box of nails in front of the arc pressure relief panel?

    HSG 230 notes that it is usual to operate an authorised person scheme to demonstrate competence to access and operate equipment. HSE would expect to see this as part of company electrical safety rules if you operate HV equipment (which you do).

    Furthermore use of the private substation as maintenance stores could somewhat increase the fire hazard (both ways), may increase the hazard to operators of the HV equipment and may also increase risk of electrical faults.

Reply
  • You are right to be concerned.

    I very much doubt the HV electrical equipment is designed to be installed such that it is accessible to ordinary persons and as such it may present intolerable risk to them.

    You could start by picking up a copy of EAWR, asking to see the their electrical safety rules / policy and their risk assessment covering the activities in the (apparently) uncontrolled use of the switchroom. Persons are required to be competent to operate or work near switchgear and electrical equipment (this applies to LV also)… How does your company assess the competence of everyone able to access the equipment? What prevents Jim Bloggs from twiddling the tap selector on the transformer on-load, changing the protection settings on the RMU or leaving a box of nails in front of the arc pressure relief panel?

    HSG 230 notes that it is usual to operate an authorised person scheme to demonstrate competence to access and operate equipment. HSE would expect to see this as part of company electrical safety rules if you operate HV equipment (which you do).

    Furthermore use of the private substation as maintenance stores could somewhat increase the fire hazard (both ways), may increase the hazard to operators of the HV equipment and may also increase risk of electrical faults.

Children
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