Working live

[Andy-1960]

Not really an option, effluent plant was huge!

 

[DPG]

Lots of buckets?

 

[David M]

The HSE look on live working as a definite no no. If anything goes wrong you're in court unless you have a very good excuse. I had a discussion with an HSE inspector about working live, he asked when I would consider it.. at the time we were working at Ford in Dagenham on their effluent treatment plant.. a 24/7 process.. if we stopped the effluent plant it would discharge raw effluent into the local water courses, so I gave this as an example..The HSE guys response.. no excuse.. one life or 10,000 fish! So he was basically saying turn it off and face the consequences from the environment agency!!. So the upshot is turn it off!

The problem with the HSE is that they work to conditions that on paper are black & white. If you were to work live in this situation then a more sensible approach is to do a thorough risk assessment. Taking in to account all measures to ensure as much safety as practically possible. You could also argue that your own personal risk is your own responsibility and that its your life to gamble. But I guess you cannot put a price on a life, though insurance companies do

 

[polo1]

The EAWR makes clear the conditions to be met, if we want to work live. Sad truth is many electricians are put under pressure to work live either by customers or employers. Some of us choose to do so as a "short cut", but we should be under no illusion, unless we have documented our live working & met EAWR, if anything goes pear shaped we are well and truly in the s**t.

 

[Pete999]

For my 5 pennys worth, your client says "oh no can't switch any thing off" tell them that you are sorry but you can't d what they ask. Ask them what they would do if someone asked them to do something that, lets be honest is life threatening, would they do it? not bloody likely. if it's not life and limb, walk away, think of your Family, the client wont pay your mortgage, or your Children's up bringing, your car loan, no they will just carry on as if nothing has happened, I have been there, not even worth contemplating.

 

[Andy-1960]

The problem with the HSE is that they work to conditions that on paper are black & white. If you were to work live in this situation then a more sensible approach is to do a thorough risk assessment. Taking in to account all measures to ensure as much safety as practically possible. You could also argue that your own personal risk is your own responsibility and that its your life to gamble. But I guess you cannot put a price on a life, though insurance companies do

That is exactly what we did, we risk assessed it and put measures in place to minimise danger.. job went sweet... and yes you are 100% correct, the HSE are very black and white.

 

[Pete999]

That is exactly what we did, we risk assessed it and put measures in place to minimise danger.. job went sweet... and yes you are 100% correct, the HSE are very black and white.

Glad it went well, this time????

 

[telectrix]

for sale.... full set of electrician's VDE tools. never goung to werk live again..... NOT.

 

[Bobster]

Glad it went well, this time????

Come on now Pete, you telling me you haven't got the experience and knowledge to fit an MCB ina dist board live if it meant switching down a 24hr factory to do so dead.

Yes, dead working is always the number one option. There's a time and place for live working also, so long as the person doing it knows how to do it in a safe methodical manner, using the correct tools and experience.

 

[Andy-1960]

So when would you consider working live Pete?

 

[Andy-1960]

BTW, I do not endorse working live, in fact the exact opposite, it must and is an absolute last resort

 

[Pete999]

Come on now Pete, you telling me you haven't got the experience and knowledge to fit an MCB ina dist board live if it meant switching down a 24hr factory to do so dead.

Yes, dead working is always the number one option. There's a time and place for live working also, so long as the person doing it knows how to do it in a safe methodical manner, using the correct tools and experience.

Oh is that what you call working live nowadays, yes of course I have fitted an mcb in a live db, working live to me is playing with live bits in busbars etc

 

[Pete999]

So when would you consider working live Pete?

Well if putting a new MCB in a db without switching Off then most days I would say, but what is working live, you can't fault find in some cases without live lekky floating about. I suppose there are are differing descriptions of live working.

 

[Rpa07]

That is exactly what we did, we risk assessed it and put measures in place to minimise danger.. job went sweet... and yes you are 100% correct, the HSE are very black and white.

Black and White!

Well if putting a new MCB in a db without switching Off then most days I would say, but what is working live, you can't fault find in some cases without live lekky floating about. I suppose there are are differing descriptions of live working.

Grey!

 

[telectrix]

where's brown gone? or is that the colour reserved for the underpants when something goes bang.