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

 

[dingledong]

blind paul how do i do my live testing ?
though thinking about it the next report i do i can put cant test because fuse board live
hmmm should cut a good hour of my testing time

 

[Knobhead]

We’ll have to agree to disagree Paul. I was brought up with open boards and have no qualms about working on them.

 

[netblindpaul]

blind paul how do i do my live testing ?
though thinking about it the next report i do i can put cant test because fuse board live
hmmm should cut a good hour of my testing time

It seems that you have fallen into the muppet category that considers live testing as live working, as I have said there is a HUGE difference.
Live testing, is NOT, live working, if you can't see and understand that, go get a job in Tesco it will be safer for everyone.

 

[Silly Sausage]

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

Hahaha...how's it go, "Those who are crap at their jobs get promoted 'up' to management"

 

[benji]

In certain respects i,am glad i retired after 50yr but i still miss it ,i used to look at a job/task and work out the pros & cons, if it could be done safely then do it if youve have doubts don,t do it get a second opinion .

 

[nickblake]

All I will say on the matter is if your working live testing or live work dont become complacent , its then you make the mistake and that could cost you your life , or you end up with a hair do like mine !!!!

 

[pete.willerton]

All I will say on the matter is if your working live testing or live work dont become complacent , its then you make the mistake and that could cost you your life , or you end up with a hair do like mine !!!!

And that's what exactly happened at my work a complacent mistake..

And it sparked a knee jerk reaction and placed a no live testing rule...
Or testing using PPE eg 1000v gloves, apron, face shield and rubber Matt.
Along with other procedures.

 

[Silly Sausage]

Dont be stupid tony, obviously you don't touch the live parts, but circumstances change all the time you might be unlucky one day, something may push you into the board, there may be a loud Bang somewhere else that causes you to jump, anything can happen at any moment
that kind of answer is the kind i expect of the fat f*** telling me to just do it it will be ok it's fine, then he walks into the ladder and you fall into the panel board oops sorry mate, yours kids won't have a dad this Christmas
to all you fat f**** out there with that attitude, go work for the council

Well if you're dumb enough to work Live without barriers and signage etc in place, you deserve what you get!
There are plenty of systems in place to reduce the risks...GS38, Permit to Work, etc etc...
The Regulations are quite clear on this subject!

 

[Dcf]

In certain respects i,am glad i retired after 50yr but i still miss it ,i used to look at a job/task and work out the pros & cons, if it could be done safely then do it if youve have doubts don,t do it get a second opinion .

Agree with this.
the op raised an interesting point on who would get blamed if it went wrong
but we are electricians are we not?
would I climb into a live panel board chamber and connect a cable onto bus bars? eh no.
would I connect a cable into a live 3 phase distribution board ? yes
Assess the risks I would say

 

[Knobhead]

How do you think we test on 11KV. Non of that lot is going to save you if it goes wrong.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

The OP asked mainly about insurance, whether he would be covered in the event of an accident, not whether it's actually safe, sensible or legal to work live. No matter how much you've paid for the policy, if there is the smallest doubt about your live work method and whether it is appropriate or valid in the circumstances, you can bet you won't be covered. In any case, if you calculate that the risk is high enough to warrant a special insurance policy, it's probably too high to be doing the work.

 

[High Tower]

How do you think we test on 11KV. Non of that lot is going to save you if it goes wrong.

Lick your finger?

 

[Silly Sausage]

How do you think we test on 11KV.

*removed* I'll leave that to you Real Men!

 

[richy3333]

If you have signed something somewhere that gets the employer out of liability then your screwed if you die

No you're not. Thats utter rubbish. You cannot contract out of death or bodily injury. End of.

 

[guest119]

It seems that you have fallen into the muppet category that considers live testing as live working, as I have said there is a HUGE difference.
Live testing, is NOT, live working, if you can't see and understand that, go get a job in Tesco it will be safer for everyone.

Are you and Glenn on commission for all these people you send to Tesco? :teeth_smile:

Boydy