Basic Principles of Electrical Safety
There are always risks involved in performing electrical work. Minimising these risks improves electrical work safety.
Before starting electrical work: assess risks, select working methods and tools
Before you start electrical work
- assess any risks involved in the work
- select suitable working methods and tools based on the assessment
- assess the complexity of the work
- choose sufficiently qualified and instructed people for the work based on the complexity of the work.
Aim to work in the dead condition when possible. The dead condition of the work location should be ensured with the following:
- isolation from the supply to a de-energised condition.
- securing against re-connection by, for example, removing fuses or opening the switching device used for disconnection, and by locking it. Opening the lock should only be possible with a key or a tool. The point of disconnection should also always be equipped with a sign saying that re-connecting electricity is forbidden.
- verifying the dead condition
- earthing, when necessary, for example high-voltage installations, centres of over 1,000 amperes (A)
- protection against any adjacent live parts.
Electrical Safety During Work
When constructing, modifying or repairing electrical installations, it is important to adhere to safe working methods.
This is how you can ensure electrical safety during work:
- prevent outsiders from entering the dangerous area and
- make sure that the power cannot be switched on to inadequately protected parts through simple actions, such as replacing a removed fuse or turning a switch or circuit breaker.
The supervisor of electrical works appoints an electrical safety supervisor for the duration of the work for each job site. The safety supervisor can participate in or execute in full the electrical work in question. The supervisor of electrical safety during work gives the permissions to start work and to turn the power back on after the work has been finished.
If persons from several different companies are working on the same site the appointment of the supervisor of electrical safety during work should usually be carried out in writing to avoid any confusion.
