SHE Code 34: Electrical Safety Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Group 1

Who should use this presentation & read the code Managers of staff, staff, contractors, STFC site tenants, and those responsible for contractors on STFC sites who specify, design, fabricate, procure, install, test, working on or near, commission, operate, modify, maintain/repair, inspect and decommission electrical equipment.

STFC Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Group SHE Code 34: “Electrical Safety” 3

Why an “Electrical Safety” SHE code? Electricity is an essential utility and used in specialist equipment across STFC sites and science programmes. While pervasive electricity has the potential to cause very serious injury through electric shocks and burns, electrical fires (the most common cause of STFC fires) and potentially fatalities. Electrical safety is the subject of very extensive, longstanding and detailed legislation and guidance.

Electrical Equipment This SHE Code differentiates between two general types of electrical equipment with separate appendices for each. : Distribution Electrical Equipment – generally the responsibility of CSD Estates teams but also in some Departments; and Experimental Electrical Equipment – for example ISIS, CLF, Radiation Test Facilities at DL.

Scope Encompasses all aspects of electrical safety: specification; design; fabrication; procure; installation; testing; working on or near; commissioning; operation modification; maintain/repair; inspect and decommission of electrical equipment – “everything up to the socket” Applies to all electrical work on STFC sites undertaken by STFC staff, contractors or tenants. Including specific guidance for working with primary, and secondary cells/batteries. Excludes Portable Electrical Equipment, see SHE Code 17.

Live Electrical working – must be avoided whenever possible. Overview Live Electrical working – must be avoided whenever possible. Live Electrical work is only permitted with the approval of the Electrical Authorising Engineer and must be accompanied by risk assessment and method statement.

Key points Electrical Authorising Engineers (AE): Appointed by Directors with defined scope, may cover more than one area. Responsible for implementing the code, and monitoring and auditing implementation. Appointing Electrical Authorised Persons for specific duties/areas, reviewing their on-going competence. Approving installation of new electrical systems, ensuring they’re documented with schematics. Ensuring all electrical warning signage in place. Ensuring that fixed installation testing undertaken. Investigating electrical incidents.

Key points Electrical Authorising Persons (AP): Appointed by AE, responsible for implementing the controls detailed in this code. Ensure that electrical Risk Assessments, Method Statements, Permits to Work, Sanctions to Test etc. are completed. Manage practical electrical works, ensuring PPE is fit for purpose and employed, determining when an Accompanying Safety Person is required, halting work as appropriate. Appointing Electrical Nominated Persons for specific duties, ensuring they understand the scope of their responsibilities.

Key points Electrical Nominated Persons (NP): Appointed by an AP to undertake specific/ defined electrical work/activities. Only undertake electrical works for which they have been approved, recognising the limit of their competence. Person in Charge: An AE, AP or NP may undertake duties of a Person in Charge for electrical works – managing the work specified on acceptance of Permits or Sanctions. Authorising Engineers, Appointed Persons and Nominated Persons, Persons in Charge Reporting all Electrical SHE Incidents.

Next steps Further advice and guidance on the content and implementation of this code can be obtained from STFC Authorising Engineers (AEs): DL – Andy Gallagher, ext. 3548; ROE – Ian Morrison, ext. 460; RAL Estates – Steve Bigden ext. 8125; RAL ISIS – Mike Glover, ext. 6304; and RAL CLF – Paul Holligan, ext. 5901. Carbon copy pads of numbered pro formas detailed in this code can be obtained from AEs. All existing electrical safety appointments / authorisations remain in place until AEs establish new appointments under this code.

SHE Training Appendix C details specific training requirements for Electrical: Authorising Engineers; Authorised Persons; Nominated Persons etc. Some of the training defined in this code is under development and will be made available in due course. Courses can be booked through the SHE Group training administrator, ext. 8288.