To avoid fatalities in the electrical contracting field, it is vital that everyone in the industry adopts good working practices. To encourage contractors to work as safely as possible, and to implement safe isolation procedures, Schneider Electric is including, free of charge, padlocking attachments for use with circuit breakers in its distribution boards from the Merlin Gerin and Square D brands.
This measure reinforces the message that appropriate safety precautions must always be adopted when working on electrical equipment. Recently publicised fatal accidents occurring as the result of people, including qualified electricians, ignoring basic safe isolation procedures have highlighted the risks - even when high quality products are used.
John Madden, HM principal electrical inspector with the HSE commented: “We really welcome Schneider Electric’s initiative, which supports our drive to encourage electricians [to] always to adopt a safe isolation practice when working on circuits fed from live distribution boards”. He added, “A recent guidance document jointly published by the HSE, and the principal professional and industry trade bodies, includes references to the use of such locking kits and explains how they can be used to achieve secure isolations as part of a safe system of work. Schneider Electric’s move can only help in this drive”.
To ensure that contractors are provided with the best possible protection while working with distribution equipment, Schneider Electric is supplying the free padlocking attachments for use with MCBs, RCBs and RCCBs in all Merlin Gerin Isobar and Square D Loadcentre KQII distribution boards. Padlocking attachments will also be supplied free with panel boards with MCCBs.
Schneider Electric will also be running a promotion whereby the first 3,000 people to e-mail in will receive padlocking devices attached to a keyring to further encourage their use.
To request your free keyring and padlocking attachments, e-mail: louise.smith@gb.schneider-electric.com putting the word ‘keyring’ in the subject line. Please state your name, company, full postal address, and your preference for either a Square D or Merlin Gerin keyring.