I have been asked if it is safe for our electricians to work alone on a 3 phase distribution board, what are peoples thoughts please.

Hi, I work as a Qualifying Supervisor for a company that covers four counties with electricians. Currently in one county there is a requirement that if some one will need to work in a live 3 phase board, two operatives will be present. The thinking being there is some one to watch your back and assist in case of a problem. The other county's have now come and said they don't do this. 

So my question is, if the electrician is carrying out dead tests on the worked on circuit that is housed in a DB that can't be isolated, should two people be present.

Looking at the various documents we have like The Electricity at work Regulations, Electricity at work document from HSE (HSG85) I understand a risk assessment is required and a safe system of work document.

I was just wanting to get an idea of what other company's do, and any guidance relating to such documents.

Thank you for your help and advice in advance.

Parents
  • Good morning Daniel

    Can we assume that you have carried out your formal Risk Assessment of the activity  in accordance with the Management of Health and safety at Work Regulations 1999 and applied the appropriate control measures? Having done that have produced a Method Statement and communicated that to the workforce?

    As a supervisor you have read and understood the requirements of the  Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and in this case are applying the requirements of Regulation 16 and 14?

    Is your company meeting the Statutory requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and in this case especially the requirements of Regulation 2C? Do you have records of your staff qualifications, competencies and CPD? Are you going to site and assessing and coaching them? Who is authorizing individuals to do what?

    Are you personally, as a supervisor, meeting your personal requirements under Section 7  of the Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1974? I was in court to see a QS charged and convicted in the Crown Court of failing to supervise under Section 7 for countersigning fraudulent Electrical Installation Certificates without ever going to site that had been completed by an electricians mate. Google the Emma Shaw fatal accident case.

    Does your company have a Health and Safety Policy that names and defines roles for employees?

    Do you have a draw full of nice documents or do you have an active applied safe system of working?

    JP

Reply
  • Good morning Daniel

    Can we assume that you have carried out your formal Risk Assessment of the activity  in accordance with the Management of Health and safety at Work Regulations 1999 and applied the appropriate control measures? Having done that have produced a Method Statement and communicated that to the workforce?

    As a supervisor you have read and understood the requirements of the  Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and in this case are applying the requirements of Regulation 16 and 14?

    Is your company meeting the Statutory requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and in this case especially the requirements of Regulation 2C? Do you have records of your staff qualifications, competencies and CPD? Are you going to site and assessing and coaching them? Who is authorizing individuals to do what?

    Are you personally, as a supervisor, meeting your personal requirements under Section 7  of the Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1974? I was in court to see a QS charged and convicted in the Crown Court of failing to supervise under Section 7 for countersigning fraudulent Electrical Installation Certificates without ever going to site that had been completed by an electricians mate. Google the Emma Shaw fatal accident case.

    Does your company have a Health and Safety Policy that names and defines roles for employees?

    Do you have a draw full of nice documents or do you have an active applied safe system of working?

    JP

Children
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