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G39 Electrical Safety Training DNO Fuse

Don246

Hi All,

I recently spent an evening looking on the forums to see if there had been any progress on this topic, unfortunately I didn't find anything except the below quote.

my favourite of the night from Typiod

"Do you know the difference between unlawful and illegal? No I will tell you one is a big sick bird the other is against the law?" 

it's been a long night ;-)

On a serious note I did find something with a google search, Napit has a PDF were they state.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have confirmed that there is ‘no legislative barrier to prevent DNO/Supplier authorising others, including registered electricians, providing that those electricans are competent to carry out such work

A low risk, cost effective way of achieving this would be to: Create a new Scheme, operated by UKAS accredited Certification Bodies, to register competent persons to carry out the temporary removal and replacement of service fuse cut-out seals in domestic installations. The requirements of such a scheme would be under the Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS) and would operate UK wide. Registrants on the scheme would be individuals, and would need to meet industry agreed competence requirements and be regularly assessed to ensure their ongoing competence. Each registrant of the scheme would be issued with temporary service cut-out seals which have a unique identifiable number to ensure work can be monitored.

This leads me to believe that there is in fact a scheme where an electrician can be registered to carry out safe isolation by removing the DNO fuse, or am I missing something?

Does anyone know of such a scheme or if its running?

This got me thinking and I stumbled across a course link below, which has a practical assessment of removing and replacing the cut out fuse.

210 Working in the vicinity of DNO/IDNO equipment including G39 – Via East Midlands (viaem.co.uk)

I guess all I'm looking for a bit bit of clarity, reading the above it seems as though we should be able to register and if required train to be competent at isolating the supply by removing the fuse.

You would think that this would be the way forward and they would encourage electricians to work safely and if possible fit double pole isolators at the same time for future works.

Parents

  • Does anyone know of such a scheme or if its running?

    As far as I know, nothing exists at the national level at present - it's all still at the campaign/proposal stage.

    There is an added complication that smart meters (should) report power loss to the DNO - and sometimes an unexpected loss triggers someone from the DNO turning up in a van to find out why.

    For me a better solution would have been to oblige the supplier's to fit an isolator on a meter change (e.g. when installing smart meters) - some models already have a mechanical isolation facility built-in, so it could have been done at minimal extra cost if planned for from the beginning.

       - Andy.

  • in reply to AJJewsbury

    I agree.  All domestic installs should have a 2 pole isolator fitted.  I think this is actually flouting the EAW1987 by the DNO/DSO/MO.  Reasoning, the electrician that has to do a CU/DB change.  I also agree that if one is not fitted previously a good time to fit would be when a meter or service cutout fuse carrier is changed.  Again another flouting of the rule by DNO/DSO/MO.  It is their collective resposiability to maintain the main fuse.  How many dwelling are there without a GRP fuse carrier. 

    I also agree that Sparks should be able to pull the main fuse for a CU/DB change after they are properly trained with a mandatory renewal of that training every 3 - 5 years.  They will need the correct tools and safety kit and follow the correct proceedure.  These people will then sit on a register. 

    As for the SMART meter issue.  Some SMART meters alert the DSN/DSO/MO.  That is resolved by having a phone number that you can enter the MPAN into and it will void any powerout for a 24hour period. 

    As with all things there must be Caveats.

    There should be 2 version of this.  One for domestic dwelling single phase and one for 3 phase which includes street signs furniture

    Person will need to report back to DNO/DSO/MO the state and condition of the cut out.  (old unit or leaking pitch)

    A proceedure in place should a main fuse not be able to be removed or if it breaks or explodes.

    A way to report back to DNO/DSO/MO on any incidents or NEAR MISS incidents

Reply
  • in reply to AJJewsbury

    I agree.  All domestic installs should have a 2 pole isolator fitted.  I think this is actually flouting the EAW1987 by the DNO/DSO/MO.  Reasoning, the electrician that has to do a CU/DB change.  I also agree that if one is not fitted previously a good time to fit would be when a meter or service cutout fuse carrier is changed.  Again another flouting of the rule by DNO/DSO/MO.  It is their collective resposiability to maintain the main fuse.  How many dwelling are there without a GRP fuse carrier. 

    I also agree that Sparks should be able to pull the main fuse for a CU/DB change after they are properly trained with a mandatory renewal of that training every 3 - 5 years.  They will need the correct tools and safety kit and follow the correct proceedure.  These people will then sit on a register. 

    As for the SMART meter issue.  Some SMART meters alert the DSN/DSO/MO.  That is resolved by having a phone number that you can enter the MPAN into and it will void any powerout for a 24hour period. 

    As with all things there must be Caveats.

    There should be 2 version of this.  One for domestic dwelling single phase and one for 3 phase which includes street signs furniture

    Person will need to report back to DNO/DSO/MO the state and condition of the cut out.  (old unit or leaking pitch)

    A proceedure in place should a main fuse not be able to be removed or if it breaks or explodes.

    A way to report back to DNO/DSO/MO on any incidents or NEAR MISS incidents

Children
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