04
Latest
news
2018 Apprentice
LOTO kit distribution
By Sue Sizer, Compliance Officer,
Electrical Installation Safety
Following a successful 2017 campaign,
Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) will once again
be providing basic Lock out Tag out (LOTO)
kits and low voltage insulating gloves to
2018’s first year apprentices.
The initiative comes in response to the multiple
apprentice and electrical worker deaths over the
past few years.
The LOTO kits aim to assist apprentices to
ensure they safely isolate and lock out and tag
out every circuit they are working on − every time.
LOTO and glove kits have been distributed by
the apprentices’ RTOs from mid-2018.
Further information on the LOTO kits is
available on ESV’s website at
www.esv.vic.gov.au/electrical-apprentice-
safety.
Electrical safety presentations
In 2017, ESV published two video
presentations addressing safety around electrical
work, available on the web page above.
The first is aimed at apprentices
discussing safety in the industry. The second
targets supervisors of apprentices and their
responsibilities.
If you are a supervisor of an apprentice,
please take the time to watch the supervisors’
video. You are reminded that apprentices must
always carry out isolation procedures under
direct supervision.
Requirements for the effective supervision
of apprentice electricians
ESV has recently updated the requirements
for the effective supervision of apprentice
electricians. This guide is also available on
our website.
Low voltage insulating gloves
When accessing areas where there is a
risk of accidental contact with live parts such
as when testing or fault finding, take particular
care. In these cases, we recommend using low
voltage (LV) insulating gloves. LV insulating gloves,
do not negate the need for correct isolation and
all circuits should be disconnected from supply
before working on the circuit.
As part of the LOTO initiative, electrical
apprentices will be issued with LV insulating
gloves. Their respective RTO will teach them
how to check the gloves for damage prior to use,
and when and how to use them appropriately.
LV insulating gloves mandatory from 2019
From 1 January 2019, the use of LV gloves
will become a requirement in the licensing
assessments, including the LEA for electricians
and the restricted licence assessments.
Apprentices should be encouraged to
use their gloves on site, both for safety and
to familiarise themselves with their use prior
to their licensing assessments.
The use of LV insulating gloves is a cultural
change for our industry, and one that could save
many lives.
Negative
pressure
environment
animation
By Paul Harris,
Head of Gas Operations
ESV has developed a short animation
for gasfitters explaining what a negative
pressure environment is, its effect on
open flue gas heaters, how to test for
it and mitigate its effects by installing
additional ventilation.
This animation forms part of an overall
strategy that includes a series of Victorian
Building Authority (VBA) seminars about
carbon monoxide (CO) recently conducted
around the Victoria, and a soon-to-be-
released learning module on negative
pressure and CO spillage tests.
Useful information for electricians
While the animation aims to provide
gasfitters with the skills to both identify
and eliminate negative pressure, it is also
a timely reminder for electricians.
When replacing or installing new
extraction fans into buildings with open
flue gas heaters, electricians need to
advise their clients that the gas heater
should be checked to ensure that the
new fans have not created a negative
pressure environment with the potential
to cause the gas heater to spill CO into
living spaces.
The full video is available on ESV’s
website and YouTube channel.
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