Unsafe Electrical Equipment

The Code of Practice – Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace states that:

A person conducting a business or undertaking that has management or control of electrical equipment must ensure that any unsafe electrical equipment at the workplace is disconnected (or isolated) from its electricity supply and, once disconnected, is not reconnected until it is repaired or tested and found to be safe or is replaced or permanently removed from use.

How can this be achieved?

• Taking the electrical equipment out of service if in doubt as to safety, including at any time during use.
• Putting reporting arrangements in place to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that supervisors or line managers are advised if a worker takes electrical equipment out of service for safety reasons.

Unsafe electrical equipment must be disconnected or isolated from its electricity supply.

It must not be reconnected unless it is repaired by a competent person or tests by a competent person have confirmed it is safe to use. Alternatively, it could be replaced or permanently removed from use.

Unsafe electrical equipment should be labelled indicating it is unsafe and must not be used.

This is to prevent inadvertent use before the electrical equipment can be tested, repaired or replaced.

How do you isolate unsafe electrical equipment?

The first and most obvious answer is to tag and then place the equipment in a lockable cupboard, room or vehicle so that no worker can use the equipment.

Does a tag really prevent the unsafe equipment from being used?

If the equipment cannot be locked away the answer will be in the form of a “Lockout/Tagout”.

What is Lockout/Tagout?

Lockout/Tagout is the process of isolating plant or equipment to ensure it is not re-energised during maintenance or if the equipment is unsafe to use.

In simple terms it means turning off the equipment and locking it so that there is no way that it can be energised.

There should always be a written procedure that must be followed.

The basic principle of isolation (lockout/tagout)

The aim is to:    

Isolate all forms of potentially hazardous energy to ensure that an accidental release of hazardous energy does not occur;

• control all other hazards to those doing the work; and
• ensure that entry to a restricted area is tightly controlled.

The basic principle is comprised of three separate steps:

1. lock;
2. tag; and
3. try.

The success of the basic principle depends on two key factors:

• thorough training of all workers in isolation (lockout/tagout)  procedures; and
• the disciplined exercise of individual responsibility in always following the procedures.

How do I lockout a lead?

Simply place plug into case and lock it with the padlock.

My equipment has a detachable lead how do I isolate it?

If the equipment has a common IEC socket for attaching an IEC power cord like that found on a computer then an insert lockout is required.

For more information on lockout/tagout training or to purchase lockout devices complete the Contact Me form below.

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