Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
15.18.10 Means for cutting off the supply and
isolation - regulation 12
15.18.14 Persons to be competent to prevent
danger - regulation 16
Suitable means should be available for cutting off the
supply to any electrical equipment and the isolation of
any electrical equipment where necessary to prevent
danger. In this context, isolation means the disconnec-
tion and separation of the electrical equipment from
every source of electrical energy in such a way that this
is secure and inadvertent reconnection is prevented.
Electrical equipment that is in itself a source of
electrical energy (e.g. the windings of generators) is
exempt from this requirement although precautions must
still be taken to prevent danger.
This regulation requires that no person is engaged in any
work activity where technical knowledge or experience is
necessary to prevent danger or injury unless the person
has such knowledge or experience or is under appropri-
ate supervision for the activity.
The supporting guidance to this regulation lists
the scope of this 'technical knowledge or experience',
including the ability to recognise at all times whether it is
safe for work to continue.
15.19
The Gas Appliances (Safety)
Regulations 1992 (SI 0711)
15.18.11 Precautions of equipment made dead -
regulation 13
These regulations require that no person should supply
any gas appliance or fi tting unless the appliance con-
forms to EC type examination and satisfi es essential
safety requirements listed in Schedule 3 of the regula-
tions. Examples of some of these requirements are listed
below:
Adequate precautions must be taken to prevent electrical
equipment, which has been made dead to prevent dan-
ger while work is carried out, from becoming electrically
charged during that work if this would result in danger.
This is the system of switch-off, isolate, lock-off and
prove dead, all of which should be included in a formal
safe system of work or a permit to work.
➤
Appliances are designed and built as to operate
safely and present no danger to persons, domestic
animals or property
15.18.12 Work on or near live conductors -
regulation 14
➤
When placed on the market, they are:
➤
Accompanied by technical instructions intended
for the installer
The EAWR are very clear on the issue of live work - it
should be avoided wherever possible.
This regulation illustrates this principle clearly and
requires that no person should work on or so near any
live conductor where danger may arise unless:
➤
Accompanied by instructions for use and ser-
vicing, intended for the user
➤
Bear appropriate warning notices, which must
also appear on the packaging
The instructions and warning notices must be
in English or in the languages of the Member
States of destination
➤
The instructions for use and servicing intended for
the user must contain all the information required
for safe use, and must in particular draw the user's
attention to any restrictions on use
➤
The warning notices on the appliance and its pack-
aging must clearly state the type of gas used, the
gas supply pressure and any restrictions on use, in
particular the restriction whereby the appliance must
be installed only in areas where there is suffi cient
ventilation
➤
Materials must be appropriate for their intended
purpose and must withstand the technical, chemical
and thermal conditions to which they will foresee-
ably be subjected
➤
The properties of materials that are important for
safety must be guaranteed by the manufacturer or
the supplier of the appliance
➤
➤
It is unreasonable in all circumstances for it to be
dead and
➤
It is reasonable in all circumstances for the person
to be at work on or near it while it is live and
➤
Suitable precautions are taken to prevent injury,
including the provision of protective equipment.
15.18.13 Working space, access and lighting -
regulation 15
Adequate working space, means of access and lighting
should be provided at all electrical equipment on which
or near which work is being done which may give rise to
danger for the purpose of preventing injury.
Where this work involves work on or near live
conductors, this would include having suffi cient space
for persons to pass one another safely and to pull back
from the conductors.
