PECM Issue 37 2019 | Page 97

ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS AVOIDING SERIOUS ACCIDENTS MARTINDALE SAFE ISOLATION ESSENTIAL FOR SAFE MAINTENANCE When it comes to working on electrical installations, whether it’s maintenance of equipment or installing new machinery, implementing safe isolation procedures is essential to achieve compliance with the Electricity at Work Regulations and stay safe. There are around 1,000 serious accidents per year at work due to contact with electricity and 10 times as many involving electricity, many of which could be avoided by following simple procedures and using the right equipment to the latest standards. Average fines for noncompliance have tripled over the last two years. VIPLOKPRO150 Complete safe isolation kit for all installations Guidance requires operators to work dead whenever possible and achieve this by following a clearly defined procedure which involves isolating the source of supply, locking off the supply and proving dead before any maintenance work is carried out. Ensuring the right tools are available for the job might seem like common sense, but it’s still an issue among some maintenance teams, who may be potentially putting their lives and those of their colleagues at risk. For example, using a multimeter to prove a circuit is dead is not permissible as it could easily give a misleading reading if set to the wrong range or if the batteries need replacing. A dedicated voltage indicator with no ranges, switches or batteries is by far the most reliable method for proving dead. Having the right locking off device to hand for all types of common circuit breakers or fuse holders is a must. Many contractors are now turning to complete safe isolation kits which include all the necessary equipment to safely lock off the circuit being worked on and prove dead. The latest kits now include matching voltage indicators and proving units and contain a complete range of locking off devices and hazard warning labels for all types of site and installation. The kits keep everything to hand and simplify any compliance issues with the latest test equipment standards. To simplify the whole process, Martindale Electric has put together two new safe isolation kits fully compliant with the latest edition of GS38 in handy combination carry cases. The most comprehensive Stay safe, lock off & prove dead solution for safe isolation available, the new kits contain the industry standard VI Series voltage indicators, matching proving device and the new 13 piece LOKKITPRO. The new LOKKITPRO kit enables safe isolation procedures to be carried out on a wide range of distribution boards in all types of facilities. The kit includes the complete range of Martindale locking off devices for MCBs, red spot type fuse holders and more challenging installations requiring cable locks. Martindale LOK6 Universal fuse carrier lock off www.martindale-electric.co.uk