Removing someone else's isolation

[SJE392]

Hi all,

After some help here. My boss at the company I work for is adamant that I must remove my electrical isolation, even though I don't deem the work to be safe or complete.

Long and short of it is, if I don't remove it myself, then someone else will.

Is this legal?

Many thanks

 

[davesparks]

This is my point. Will it be removed by forced means.

Of course it will, and the OP's cards will be marked as a troublemaker.

 

[Adam King]

A cable joint and some lashed up distribution board. Cables hanging in free air that sort of thing.

I would like to know if it's illegal for someone to remove my padlock without my consent

In my 'opinion'..... It's completely legal for someone to remove it as we have no authorisation in the eyes of the law to isolate anything. You have followed best practice and refer to non statutory guidance which we all work to. Should something happen a prosecution would be sought under the EAWR. If you have done everything you can to work to the regs then that's all you can do. I'd take lots and lots of photos if I were you.

 

[LukeD]

Note all concerns and ask the boss to sign it

 

[Vortigern]

what would it take to make the repair safe? Could you do it? Maybe suggest to the boss you could make good the repair and they could bill the persons who caused the damage?

 

[UNG]

In my 'opinion'..... It's completely legal for someone to remove it as we have no authorisation in the eyes of the law to isolate anything. You have followed best practice and refer to non statutory guidance which we all work to. Should something happen a prosecution would be sought under the EAWR. If you have done everything you can to work to the regs then that's all you can do. I'd take lots and lots of photos if I were you.

In a domestic situation I would agree with you but as this is a commercial / industrial job I would suggest that it would depend on the company policy and who is deemed to be the dutyholder in the situation and what is expected of them.
Unfortunately while prosecutions can and probably will be sought by the HSE under the EAWR this cannot resusitate a person who has died or restore a full quality of life to someone who has been seriously injured if a major incident occurs
The OP makes no reference to the qualification status of his boss or manager when he is the one making the request to the OP to remove the isolation
Seen it all to often where an incident occurs and the manager feeds the operative to the wolves despite them being resposible for the policy or specific request
There is clearly an issue here with the temporary repairs the details of which the OP has chosen not to detail for whatever reason, so the only covering backside solution here IMO is to sign the job over to whoever will accept the responsibility for the ongoing work, re-energisation and safety of the circuit(s) in question with I would also note that this is done under duress / pressure from --- and the reasons why you think the work should not be re-energised have two copies so each party can sign and each party has a copy so if the dung hits the fan you are clear

 

[snowhead]

I would like to know if it's illegal for someone to remove my padlock without my consent

No it's not illegal, there's no specific law governing it, there couldn't be one.
But it is for the person who removes it to be confident that the installation is safe for use as they are then taking responsibility for energising it.

Make sure you have a written copy of the
If I don't remove it myself, then someone else will from the boss and your refusal and why you refuse.

It's then for the boss to find someone who will remove and energise.

 

[IAmSparkytus!]

IN MY OPINION... If your lock off has been put in place as cables etc were damaged and then someone has came along and carried out a temporary repair and tested there worked and signed it off in their name, in my eyes they are therefore taking on the responsibility of the work and you can no longer be blamed for any issues.

 

[Aaron b]

I assume there has been a permit issued with the isolation? Surely you could hand it over marking your concerns and leave them to energise it? If your handing over control and they are aware of the issues it's there problem surely. Do they have another sap to energise it?

 

[Baddegg]

As per @DPG take some pics of your isolation, date and time stamped and let em crack on, they remove it it’s now they responsibility