SAFETY SERIES:- 15
SAFE WORKING INSTRUCTIONS WHEN WORKING ON ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
GENERAL
SAFE WORKING INSTRUCTIONS WHEN WORKING ON ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
GENERAL
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Electrical work on elevators may be done by authorized persons only. Where more than one person is working on an installation, the responsibilities and tasks for electrical safety should be clarified by the supervisor before the work is started.
Do not work on live equipment unless it is absolutely necessary (e.g fault finding,fine tuning, etc.) If necessary a standard hazard and risk assessment, should be made to define when to work live and when to isolate.
TOOLS AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT
General
Ensure that you have the necessary tools and equipment to complete your work tasks safely.
Use only approved insulated tools, which are in a serviceable condition. Electrical test instruments must comply with IS regulations.
Safety Equipment
Tools, equipment and devices must be used in accordance with the instructions and/or guidance provided by the manufacturer or supplier.
Examples of tools, equipment and devices:
- Insulating shoes and gloves
- Eye or face protection
- Head protection
- Insulated and insulating tools
- Locks, notices and signs
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Familiarize yourself with the site and the building representatives
- Get familiar with the working practices and the safety procedures of the work site.
- To ensure your safety, liaison with the site agent / builder / building owner or his representative is recommended especially where single man working is involved. Tell the building / site representative where you are working and when. If possible, ensure that a responsible person periodically monitors your welfare.
- Avoid working in a building that is otherwise unoccupied.
Working Area
- Be aware of all the electrical risks, (including other non-elevator equipment), in the working area.
- These should be minimized by guarding, (temporary or permanent). If this is not possible you must maintain a safe working distance from any exposed conductors.
- Keep your work areas clear. Do not unnecessarily open covers, shields or guards. Replace them immediately when you have completed your work task. This rule applies even if you have planned further work at a later stage.
- Where necessary place safety warning signs and barriers to protect both yourself and others.
Other people who may be affected by your work
- Ensure that your work is not causing any safety hazard to other people in the building. Place warning and information signs as required. Agree with the building owner or his representatives about the appropriate safety measures.
- Keep the machine room doors locked unless you are actually working in there.
- When working in the lift well and it is necessary to keep the landing door open, protect the working areas on the landings so that other building users cannot come into contact with elevator equipment.
The elevator and its associated equipment
Take time to familiarize yourself with the elevator if it is new to you. This is particularly important when working with other manufacturer’s equipment where the level of training and information available may vary and circuit diagrams are in an unfamiliar style. Even if you have worked on the same elevator before, check for possible changes, (where applicable refer to the elevator logbook for past service history). Ensure that you know the location of all isolators and fuses.
Ensure you have adequate information to do the work and fully understand all the possible effects of your actions.
Read the manuals, circuit and wiring diagrams and other available relevant material. Ensure that the material you are reading is up to date - IF IN DOUBT -ASK. Talk to your supervisor if you have any doubts about the working method or safety related issues.
Environment
- Check that there is no potential hazard for yourself or others in the immediate vicinity of the elevator, (other equipment, water, oil leaks etc, ...).
- Do not cause environmental hazards. Use suitable containers for the removal of old rope oil.
Areas of Special Risk
- Assess requirements for safety signage, high voltage warnings and procedures.
- Ensure there is sufficient lighting for you to do your work safely.
- If working in a multiple well installation ensure you are not at risk from moving parts of an adjacent elevator. If there is no well protection between adjacent elevators, if possible, arrange for the adjacent elevators to be switched off and keep all the cars at the same working level.
- If it is not possible to switch off adjacent elevators ensure you maintain a safe working distance from all moving parts.
- Be aware of the risks from overcrowding if more than one person is working in a restricted space.
- Be aware of the risks from unexpected movement of the elevator or associated components.
- Watch out for other hazards such as oil, tripping etc.
- Check all the supplies to the elevator including lighting supplies and any other optional devices. Check also for possible emergency back up supplies,common supplies to all elevators in the case of multiple installations and other “kick back” energy sources.
Protect Yourself
- Before commencing work in the lift well area, ensure that you are able to exit the well quickly and safely in all circumstances.
- Do not deviate from the prescribed working method.
- Use personal protective equipment as required. Wherever possible, avoid working on live equipment when you are on your own.
- Never attempt to make repairs when equipment is live.
- When it is necessary to work with live equipment take extreme care to avoid any possibility of hand to hand, or hand to foot/leg electric shock. Keep one hand away from the electrical conductors and any possible earthing connections. Use clip on leads for the test equipment particularly on the negative terminal.
- When working on an elevator installation there are many components which are likely to be at earth potential, these can include control panels, connection boxes and trunking, landing doors, guide rails and ropes.
- Do not wear jewelry, I.D. badges with metal chains or other loose items of conducting material which may put you at risk.
Evaluate the situation
- ALWAYS ASSUME THAT EQUIPMENT IS STILL LIVE UNTIL IT HAS BEEN TESTED FOR ZERO ENERGY STATE - Locking and tagging must be used wherever possible.
- Always test, using approved equipment that equipment is safe, ie. DEENERGISED. Do not rely on LED’s or other indicator lights and always allow sufficient time for all stored energy to discharge.
- Check the measuring tools to ensure they are operative.
- Ensure that switching off the power will not affect other people (e.g. people in the elevator car).
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