Page 20 - ETU Journal Autumn 2017

APPRENTICES > ESV SAFETY PRESENTATION
ESV ADDRESSES APPRENTICE
SAFETY FOLLOWING FATALITIES
Test before you touch.
This electrician was working on a switchboard that still contained live parts. He did not isolate it or take adequate precautions. Three years after this incident this electrician still does not have full use of his hand.
First- year electrical apprentices must always have direct supervision.
Moisture entered the electrical terminals of this pump motor, which caused the frame of the pump to be live at 246 volts. A person died when he touched this water pump.
After isolating and carrying out repairs, a 25 -year -old electrical worker energised this air-conditioner to check
it was working properly. He did not isolate again before finishing internal electrical work and replacing covers. He was killed when he made contact with live parts within the air- conditioner’s control panel.
Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) has developed a new safety presentation for electrical apprentices, building on the ETU’s Don’t Work Live campaign.
This photo shows an actual site where an electrical Tapprentice died recently.
he presentation is designed to make new electrical apprentices aware of dangers in the electrical
field and provide tools to assist them to be safe as they progress through their apprenticeship.
It aims to educate apprentices
on how to stay safe at work, the importance of safe work practices and to speak up if they are not sure how to do something.
ESV’s initiative is a response to the four electrical worker fatalities they have investigated in Victoria during 2015–16. Of those four deaths, three were electrical apprentices.
The presentation offers the following advice to electrical apprentices:
The isolation point of the circuits or equipment being worked on must be identified, isolated and proven to be de-energised.
The supervising A-Grade electrician must provide a first-year apprentice with constant supervision and specific guidance. They must be readily available in the immediate work
area and within audible range. They must also prove that the equipment apprentices are working on is not live.
Always use a voltage tester or multimeter to confirm the status of the equipment you are working on. You must prove the status of equipment
yourself and not accept someone else telling you that a circuit has been isolated.
Always test before touching
to find out if it is safe to work
on equipment. Any equipment
containing electrical wiring can
become live at any time if there is a fault or if someone has not done their job
properly.
Do not work on or near live
parts. If you isolate a switchboard at the
main switch but do not remove the service fuse,
you will be working on a switchboard that still contains live parts. Your supervising electrician can remove the service fuse, following supply authority procedures.
After testing and isolating to make the circuits or equipment safe,
you must lock
out and tag out.
Remember: a first- year apprentice must do this under direct supervision.
Every circuit you work on must be switched off, or the fuse cartridge removed. A lockout device must then be attached and padlocked with a completed danger tag attached. Never remove someone else’s lock or tag and always check with your supervisor.
You can find out more about the ETU’s Don’t Work Live campaign here: www.etuvic.com.au/Dont_Work_Live
All cables must be treated as live, not just actives.
A young electrician’s pliers came into contact with the
live parts of this switchboard compartment, causing a large electrical explosion to occur. The arc from the explosion caused severe burns to the electrical worker.
The isolation point of the circuits or equipment being worked on must be identified, isolated and proven to be de-energised.
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THE ETU > AUTUMN 2017
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