Staying ‘ALIVE’ to safe isolation processes

Ensuring electrical equipment and circuits are dead is absolutely vital when it comes to the safeguarding of people and assets. A robust safe isolation procedure is essential for helping to reduce the number of electricity-related injuries and fatalities within the workplace.

Proving a circuit dead sounds relatively simple, but establishing real confidence around the procedure and understanding exactly how to prove dead starts with a rigorous electrical safety process and a focus on safer working practices. Isolation, locking off, labelling, and proving dead are all critical components, because they ensure both the safety of those working on the installation and other tradespeople or members of the public who might be on the premises.

The Martindale “ALIVE” campaign creates a simple memorable acronym designed to help in an ongoing mission to safeguard workplaces. Helpful, downloadable Martindale ALIVE resources, designed for FM’s/ H&S Managers/ installers, are available on the campaign page from the company’s website.

Steve Dunning, Managing Director at Martindale Electric, explains; “We need to acknowledge that, in terms of the safety of individuals, there is a difference between the activities that should take place prior to working, such as gaining permission and permits, for example, compared to the activities that are totally critical in terms of preventing accidents and fatalities. For instance, a risk assessment is a critical element of any job, but it is not core to safe isolation in terms of staying alive. The same is true for activities that take place after working on an electrical system, such as safe re-testing and start-up.

“In developing our “ALIVE” message, we are distinguishing between good working practice (such as our complete 12 step approach) and shining a spotlight on the 5 vital steps that absolutely must be carried out to protect yourself and your team, and to prevent loss of life. Streamlining the message and focusing on the most vital elements, the “ALIVE” process is, quite literally, what will help keep you safe.”

ALIVE: 5 fail-proof steps to safe isolation:

A - Approved Kit

Before starting, make sure your equipment meets all legal safety standards (BS EN61243-3, BS EN6010-1).

L - Lock Out

(LOTO) Lock Out Tag Out - Identify the point of isolation, lock it off and place warning tags onto the equipment.

I - Initial Prove

Test your Voltage Indicator (VI) against the proving unit to make sure it is working correctly.

V - Voltage Test

Voltage test -Use your VI to confirm dangerous voltage levels are not in the circuit you are about to work on.

E - Ensure

Prove and re-test the VI against the proving unit to ensure it is still functioning before working on the circuit.

Steve Dunning continues; “There are no reasonable circumstances in which you should be working with live equipment. By making this process as straightforward as possible, our hope is that more maintenance engineers, more technicians, more operatives, more electricians and more hard-working people will go home safely to their families at the end of their working day. It really is as simple as that. Every injury or life lost to such incidents is absolutely tragic. It is all of our responsibilities to prevent this from happening and we will keep spreading the message until the vital steps of the ALIVE campaign are second nature to everyone working around electricity.”

For further information visit: https://martindale-electric.co.uk/ALIVE/