Working on live distribution boards?

[Davehaywire]

Can anyone tell me if I'm asked to work on a live db be it TP or SP lv ,by my employer,as I have done for many many years in cases where the board cannot be isolated for various reasons.
if for some reason I'm electrocuted and I have a hot works permit or not, should my employers insurance cover me for injury,death,loss of work, or should I have my own insurance.
can you get insurance for hot works or not?
i have wondered about this for a while, I have a family now, so if for some reason the worst scenario happens,what happens? What can I or my employer do to cover for this?
can any1 enlighten me

 

[Guest111]

Work on or near live conductors

14. No person shall be engaged in any work activity on or so near any live conductor (other than one suitably covered with insulating material so as to prevent danger) that danger may arise unless–

(a)it is unreasonable in all the circumstances for it to be dead; and

(b)it is reasonable in all the circumstances for him to be at work on or near it while it is live; and

(c)suitable precautions (including where necessary the provision of suitable protective equipment) are taken to prevent injury.

section from EAWR on live working.

 

[Davehaywire]

If you don't touch the live bits then you'll be ok!... regardless of your cover!

Obviously ,but there is always the possibility of something outside of the norm that can affect the surrounding area you are working in. Something beyond your control

 

[Guest111]

heres a link to the full thing.

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989

 

[Davehaywire]

I totally agree that's what I've always said, it's ok for the fat f*** asking me to just do it,it's only through years of experience that I can, but it only takes 1 occasion to finish me off and for what, because they don't want to shut a server room down!!

 

[Guest111]

I totally agree that's what I've always said, it's ok for the fat f*** asking me to just do it,it's only through years of experience that I can, but it only takes 1 occasion to finish me off and for what, because they don't want to shut a server room down!!

Thats the thing Dave and when your wife's a widow he'll turn round and say "I told him it must be turned off and as far as I was aware it was".

 

[Pete999]

heres a link to the full thing.

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989

I need to learn how to do that,

 

[loplug]

here's the Guide From Hse

 

[Knobhead]

Can’t say I blame them. I wouldn’t let you shut it down. If you don’t know what’s live in a board why are working for them.

 

[benji]

regulations implemented by people who have never done the job or were so crap at it they took a h&s position

 

[Pete999]

regulations implemented by people who have never done the job or were so crap at it they took a h&s position

Never heard so much clap trap in all my life

 

[benji]

ups ive upset somebody

 

[pete.willerton]

We had a chap at work recently who got a electric shock just doing r1+r2s and shorted out a phase
The flash was so bad burnt his beard and burns on his hand....
He lost his job due to not following safe isolation
Don't work live unless PPE along with risk and method but remember PPE is the last line of defence
And power can always be turne o

 

[Knobhead]

regulations implemented by people who have never done the job or were so crap at it they took a h&s position

Couldn't agree more.

 

[netblindpaul]

At my place of work we can't do any live tests!!!
Unless the DB is IP2x or it's isolated and temp barriers installed over every possible live part and if that can't be done it's noted as a code 3 and replaced before the next test.

Well your H&S people are muppets then.

Live testing is NOT live working, according to HSE anyway.

 

[netblindpaul]

Couldn't agree more.

Well I disagree in spades.

There is a HUGE difference between live working & live testing.

There is NO excuse for live working in a domestic, commercial or industrial premise.