Procedure No: ELE 032 Procedure Title: Date of Procedure: Responsible Person(s) Safety Isolation of Low Voltage Networks and Systems for work to be carried out by third parties. i.e. Non University personnel. Aug 2011 (Rev.1) Personnel i.e. Those persons Authorise to isolate & reinstate LV Switchgear and Cable Networks Who Requires to Use this Procedure: : - Senior Electrical Engineer. Electrical Engineer. Clerk of Works (Electrical). Electrical Supervisor & Electrical Foreman DLO Section. Legislative or Other Compliance: Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1974 etc. Departmental Local Rules for Electrical Safety Overview: It is the responsibility of to ensure that all alteration works or modifications carried out on University owned LV Networks & LV Systems by third parties (with particular emphasis made to Electrical Contractors) to achieve compliance with legislation. The foregoing works must be carried out safely. This procedure is aimed at controlling safety and shall include formal written procedures e.g. (LV) Isolation Certificate. Page 1 of 5
Narrative: This procedure is applicable where subject to a site specific risk assessment the appropriate point of electrical safety isolation is outwith the control of third parties. (see Appendix No. 1 definition of Third Party ) This procedure is also applicable where subject to a risk assessment the appropriate point of electrical safety isolation may or could conflict with the safe operation of existing University services & equipment. A block electrical diagram is attached to this procedure ref ELE 032/1 (see Appendix No 2 Block Diagram). The purpose of the diagram is to explain the difference between local electrical isolation which would normally be under the control of third parties and remote points of safety isolation which would primarily be covered by this procedure. Irrespective of the foregoing it is necessary that dialog takes place with all concerned to reach an agreement on the arrangements for electrical isolation to allow work on LV networks to be carried out safely. Those persons who require using and applying this procedure must be Authorised to do so and be Competent (see Appendix No. 1 Definition of Competent Person ) both in the understanding of the equipment to be worked on and on the hazards that may arise if specific precautions are not undertaken. Procedure: Those authorised Competent persons employed by University of Strathclyde, Department of requiring using this procedure shall make arrangements to visit site to discuss with third parties the precise nature of the works being carried out. They shall establish what LV switching operations are necessary to completely isolate the LV system from all parts of the network such that all parts to be worked on are dead and verified to be dead using appropriate test instrument. Where necessary devices such as Safety Padlocks, shall be applied to the points where the system being worked on could be made live. (LV) Isolation Certificate An (LV) Isolation Certificate shall be prepared by those Competent persons responsible for carrying out the switching operations on behalf of the University. The Certificate shall record the points at which the system is isolated and locked off and a description of work to be carried out. If deemed necessary and for information only a sketch illustrating a schematic layout of the LV Network relative to the work in question and the points of isolation may be appended to the Certificate. Receipt The third party shall sign the Certificate accepting that they are satisfied with the provisions of safety isolation and confirm that they are in agreement with the description of works to be carried out. Clearance Following completion of work the Authorised Representative of the third party shall notify the issuer of the Certificate that the work for which the Isolation Certificate was issued is now completed and that all persons under the cover of the Certificate have been withdrawn and warned that it is no longer safe to work on the apparatus specified and that all tools and additional equipment have been removed. The Authorised Representative of the third party shall sign, time and date the Clearance section of the Certificate. Confirmation / Cancellation Following declaration of Clearance the Authorised Representative of the University shall sign, time and date the Confirmation / Cancellation section of the Certificate. Page 2 of 5
Subject to standard testing all in accordance with BS7671 IEE Wiring Regulations Current Edition and amendments the Authorised Representative of the University shall remove all safety devices and reinstate power. Page 3 of 5
APPENDICES Appendix No.1 Third Party (Defn.) Third party personnel are those outsourced services that are not directly employed by a University department. E.g. Sub-Contractors, Technical Support Services etc. Competent Person (Defn.) A person who has: - Adequate knowledge & training of electricity. Adequate experience of electrical work. Adequate understanding of the equipment to be worked on and technical knowledge or experience of the system. Adequate understanding of the hazards, which may arise during the works and hazards in adjacent areas that may have an impact to the works. Page 4 of 5
Appendix No.2 Block Diagram Page 5 of 5