Safe isolation Discussion ThreadSafe isolation Electrical Advice
Hi everyone,
I hope you are all well and having a good week.
I would like to ask a question regarding safe isolation in one particular case.
I know we have to lock off/tag off the circuit we are working on, but what if there are two electricians attending the job?
Scenario:
Two qualified electricians, both with LVCP (Low Voltage Competent Person) certificates, are working on an external lighting circuit with two external lights 6 meters apart.
The distribution board (DB) is positioned inside on the same wall as the external lights. The wall is 8 meters long.
The DB is guarded by barriers and one LVCP-certified electrician, whose job is to act as a banksman when the cherry picker is moving and to guard the DB.
The lighting circuit is protected by an MCB and managed by a timer switch, which activates at night. The job is carried out during the day.
Additionally, there is a timer bypass switch, and barriers extend from the DB to the entrance door, where the second electrician is standing.
While one electrician is in the cherry picker (working on a dead circuit), the other is standing at the entrance door, positioned between the two lights and 2-3 meters from the distribution board, without any obstacles blocking the view of the DB at all times.
The light fittings will need to be energized multiple times during the work to perform necessary checks.
When the lighting circuit needs to be energized, the 2nd electrician will switch the MCB on and turn the override switch to bypass the timer and make the circuit live. Otherwise, the circuit remains dead.
Question:
Is it acceptable if the MCB is just switched off (without locking/tagging it off) and guarded by the second qualified electrician?
Thank you in advance for your help.
Safe isolation for the original thread on Electricians Forums
Hi everyone,
I hope you are all well and having a good week.
I would like to ask a question regarding safe isolation in one particular case.
I know we have to lock off/tag off the circuit we are working on, but what if there are two electricians attending the job?
Scenario:
Two qualified electricians, both with LVCP (Low Voltage Competent Person) certificates, are working on an external lighting circuit with two external lights 6 meters apart.
The distribution board (DB) is positioned inside on the same wall as the external lights. The wall is 8 meters long.
The DB is guarded by barriers and one LVCP-certified electrician, whose job is to act as a banksman when the cherry picker is moving and to guard the DB.
The lighting circuit is protected by an MCB and managed by a timer switch, which activates at night. The job is carried out during the day.
Additionally, there is a timer bypass switch, and barriers extend from the DB to the entrance door, where the second electrician is standing.
While one electrician is in the cherry picker (working on a dead circuit), the other is standing at the entrance door, positioned between the two lights and 2-3 meters from the distribution board, without any obstacles blocking the view of the DB at all times.
The light fittings will need to be energized multiple times during the work to perform necessary checks.
When the lighting circuit needs to be energized, the 2nd electrician will switch the MCB on and turn the override switch to bypass the timer and make the circuit live. Otherwise, the circuit remains dead.
Question:
Is it acceptable if the MCB is just switched off (without locking/tagging it off) and guarded by the second qualified electrician?
Thank you in advance for your help.
Safe isolation for the original thread on Electricians Forums
