Competence electricians

This part is not concerned with the installation of electrical equipment - that should be done by trained and competent electricians - but with the use of electricity in the workplace. 

Electrical installations, whether temporary or permanent, together with electrical equipment and apparatus, should be protected by a range of measures including residual current devices (RCDs) which protect human beings from electrical shock, fuses and miniature moulded case circuit breakers (MCCBs) which provide protection to apparatus from overheating and short circuits. Arrangements should be in place to ensure that all electrical work to installations and/or electrical equipment is undertaken by only trained, qualified and competent electricians who are familiar with the systems involved. 

Equipment over 650 volts is conventionally designated as high voltage . Errors during work on this kind of equipment are likely to result in fatality, and precautions other than the use of competent electricians will usually be required to protect anyone likely to be affected by the work. 

Live work only to be done by authorised and competent electricians under direct supervision of nominated supervisors. Do not allow unaccompanied work on live connections above 125 volts unless specifically authorised, and where good communications are in place. Adequate PPE, first-aid and trained first-aiders must be available at the workplace where live work is done. 

When work on live systems is foreseen, a permit-to-work system or other suitable control system should be used. Operatives must not be allowed to work alone on live systems. Only competent electricians should be authorised to instal or modify temporary supplies certification should be provided to cover the modifications made to the premises and the circuits. 

In this chapter we look at the electrical scientific principles and competencies required of a qualified electrician. 

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published a guidance note (GS 38) which advises electricians and other electrically competent people on the selection of suitable test probes, voltage-indicating devices and measuring instruments. This is because they consider suitably constructed test equipment to be as vital for personal safety as the training and practical skills of the electrician. In the past, unsatisfactory test probes and voltage indicators have frequently been the cause of accidents, and therefore all test probes must now incorporate the following features ... 

A COMPETENT PERSON is therefore one who has the ability to perform a particular task safely and properly. Generally speaking an electrician will have the necessary skills to perform a wide range of electrical tasks competently. 

Generally speaking an electrician will have the necessary skills to perform a wide range of electrical activities competently. 

Safe isolation procedures such as these should only be carried out by people, such as electricians and technicians, who have been trained to implement them and who are familiar with the equipment involved. See Chapter 14 for more information on competence and authorisation procedures. 

The Regulation refers to matters whieh are within the control of people. This would mean, for example, that if a company were to employ an electrical contracting company to carry out work on their electrical installation, and if they had taken all reasonable steps to ensure the competence of the contractors, but an electrician employed by the contractors were to suffer an electrical injury, the company would have the defence that they were not in control of the electrical work. 

The persons carrying out the maintenance need to have the competencies to carry out the work safely and to detect failures or deterioration that may lead to injury. Whereas visual examinations do not need to be carried out by electrically-qualified persons, testing work carried out on the fixed installation should be carried out by electricians, or similarly qualified tradesmen. 

To ensure safety in flammable atmosphere locations, maintenance staff should be suitably trained and competent to carry out the necessary inspection, testing and repair work. This means, for example, that an electrician has to be trained and qualified in electrical technology and also the techniques peculiar to hazardous atmosphere apparatus and wiring installations. There are now industry schemes in place to provide electricians and technicians with the competencies they need for this type of work. 

Stand-alone systems are not connected to the electricity supply system and are therefore exempt from much of BS 7671, the lET Regulations. However, Regulation 134.1.1, good workmanship by competent persons and proper materials shall be used in all electrical installations, will apply to any work done by an electrician who must also pay careful attention to the manufacturer s installation instructions. 

To diagnose and find faults in electrical installations and equipment is probably one of the most difficult tasks undertaken by an electrician. The knowledge of fault finding and the diagnosis of faults can never be completely learned because no two fault situations are exactly the same. As the systems we install become more complex, then the faults developed on these systems become more complicated to solve. To be successful the Individual must have a thorough knowledge of the installation or piece of equipment and have a broad range of the skills and competences associated with the electrical industries. 

---