Safe working on or near high energy electrical sources
A health and safety briefing provided by the IET.
Systems encountered in the workplace can involve very high levels of energy. The energy sources can be in a variety of forms and combinations including (but not limited to):
- Pneumatics and hydraulics
- Chemicals
- Physical potential energy
- Mechanical drives
- Electrical sources.
It is important to assess the risks in order to achieve personal safety for staff or contractors (workers) when working on or near high energy electrical sources when the consequences of wrong actions might lead to shock, explosion or personal injury.
This Briefing does not address live-line working, such as for power transmission and distribution, which is a very specialist activity. It is aimed at employers and those who actively manage or do work on or near high energy electrical systems and highlights a positive approach to minimising potential injury from electric shock or arc flash energy.
