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Safety in electrical testing at work
What types of
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information about specific types of testing.1 4
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Safety in electrical testing at work
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Safety in electrical testing at work
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Safety in electrical testing at work
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Safety in electrical testing at work
provided with covers interlocked with the supply Risk assessment – test
isolator. The supplies should have suitable system equipment and electricity
protection against overload and overcurrent in supplies
the event of faults, eg fuses. Note that:
All measures used to control risk of electric
(a) where an isolating transformer is used for the
shock should follow the hierarchy given below:
supply to the equipment under test this
(a) first and foremost, control as many of the
should comply with BS 615588 and a
risks as possible by hardware methods;
separate transformer should be used at every
(b) secondly, control all other foreseeable risks
test bench. If this is not reasonably practicable,
by the use of safe systems of work. These
the same isolating transformer may be used
must be made known to and fully
for supplies to alternate benches, provided
understood by all staff involved, regularly
the risk of referencing this supply to earth at
monitored, and recorded in written form
any bench is properly controlled and the
(for reference and to permit refinement or
transformer does not then have an
amendment as and when needed); and
unacceptably high leakage current;
(c) finally, use of competent staff who must
(b) the supply from the isolating transformer
possess the necessary level of technical
should be provided from a single socket
knowledge and experience (or be
outlet and clearly marked ‘only for use for
supervised by a competent person) to
making live equipment under test’. No fixed
prevent risk of injury.
wiring should be connected to the earth
terminal of the outlet socket. The face plate
If the hardware precautions resulting from the
of the socket should be made of insulating
risk assessment include the provision of isolating
material. There must be no unnecessarily
transformers for the source of supply to mains-
exposed live parts on equipment under test;
powered test equipment, then such provision
(c) in certain circumstances Class I equipment
should normally be made and the isolation
under test must be effectively earthed unless
transformer should be separate from the
supplied via an isolating transformer. This
equipment under test. An instrument shelf
will bring with it an increased risk of electric
should be provided for that equipment.
shock which may be minimised by the use of
other precautions.
Some of the risks associated with the use of test
(d) when the equipment under test is Class I,
equipment can be reduced, but not eliminated by
any pre-existing earth fault must be detected
placing all test equipment on an insulated shelf
and corrected before making the equipment
immediately above the test bench. This will reduce
live. In the case of the supply from an
the chance of simultaneous contact between the
isolating transformer, failure to do this will
test equipment and the equipment under test.
mean that there may be a hazardous shock
risk in the event of a simultaneous contact
When the hardware precautions resulting from
between the enclosure of the equipment and
the risk assessment do not include the provision
one or both poles of the isolated test supply;
of isolated supplies to the mains-powered test
(e) the integrity of the circuit protective
equipment, all supplies to test equipment should
conductor (earth) of all portable/transportable
be protected by 30 mA RCDs. NB: For supplies
Class I equipment must be re-tested after all
in excess of 16 A to equipment under test or
test-bench work has been completed, to
where the equipment under test has a high
ensure that no earth faults are present before
leakage current it may not be practicable to use
the equipment is used again on a normal
an RCD because of nuisance tripping. For
mains supply.
further advice see Section 607 BS 7671.12
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Safety in electrical testing at work
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Safety in electrical testing at work
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Safety in electrical testing at work
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Safety in electrical testing at work
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Safety in electrical testing at work
measurements that can be made by the The disadvantage is that it can only be used to
oscilloscope. A technique has been developed to measure low-level signals because the
‘float’ the oscilloscope (ie remove the oscilloscope’s internal insulation could otherwise
connection to the supply protective conductor) be over-stressed.
which then allows the oscilloscope’s enclosure
to float above earth potential (which could be at In recent years, developments have led to
high voltages for some types of measurement) various devices that can be used in an
with obvious possible shock risks. Operation of oscilloscope’s measuring probes which allow
an oscilloscope with the protective conductor the Class I oscilloscope to be earthed to the
removed means that it is no longer protected mains supply, but which isolate the measured
against internal insulation breakdown. Another voltages to prevent them appearing on the
disadvantage with this situation is that it will oscilloscope’s enclosure. Modern proprietary
then be necessary to attempt to create an earth- devices use various techniques to achieve
free area. Such use also defeats the equipment isolation (eg opto-isolators) and typically
manufacturer’s primary protection concept for allow measurements to be made ranging from
Class I protection and should be discouraged. millivolts to thousands of volts. Bearing in
mind the risks involved, such isolators should
A number of methods have been developed to be regarded as being reasonably practicable
allow floating measurements to be made more safeguards. The isolation devices come in
safely. One method is to supply the oscilloscope several forms and may have slightly different
via an isolation transformer, so removing the names, according to the manufacturer. Some
earth reference in the supply and allowing of the common names for these devices are:
floating measurements. The advantage of this isolation amplifiers; differential amplifiers;
method was that an earth-free area is not and isolation probes. Correct selection of
required but the disadvantage is that the device, according to the measurements to be
oscilloscope is not protected against internal made, is important. The user should seek the
insulation breakdown to the chassis. (The manufacturer’s advice.
oscilloscope’s internal insulation could be
over-stressed if high-voltage measurements Some manufacturers now offer oscilloscopes
are being taken.) with isolated inputs (ie where the measured
inputs are isolated from each other and from
A second method is to use a proprietary isolation the oscilloscope’s chassis), up to reasonably high
monitor (sometimes called a line isolation voltage levels (typically 850 V peak ac and dc).
monitor or an earth (ground) isolation monitor) Consideration should be given to the use of
in the supply to the oscilloscope. This allows the these as well as to all-insulated, Class II
oscilloscope to operate with its protective oscilloscopes. Battery-operated oscilloscopes
conductor disconnected but the monitor which can be used up to reasonably high-
continuously checks the voltage between the voltage measurement levels are available. These
oscilloscope’s enclosure and the supply earth. If are not referenced to earth.
the oscilloscope’s enclosure reaches a hazardous
voltage, the monitor removes the mains supply It is good practice to include an RCD with a
to the oscilloscope and usually reconnects the rated tripping current of, at most, 30 mA in the
supply protective conductor. A typical power supplies to Class I instruments, soldering
operational setting for a monitor would be about irons and any other mains-powered equipment.
30 volts RMS. The oscilloscope would still be If isolation transformers are used to supply
protected against internal insulation breakdown. power to fixed socket outlets as part of a
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Safety in electrical testing at work
distribution system for test supplies, the sockets have to be applied to the equipment under
should be of a different type to standard test while its covers are removed. If it is
sockets, or of the polarised type, to ensure they considered necessary to apply the insulation
are only used for the purpose intended. and remove covers while the equipment is
live, this risk should also be assessed;
(e) what form of power supply should be used
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Safety in electrical testing at work
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Safety in electrical testing at work
2 Safety in electrical testing: Servicing and 12 BS 7671: 2001 Requirements for electrical
repair of audio, TV and computer equipment installations (IEE Wiring Regulations.
Engineering Information Sheet EIS36 Sixteenth edition)
HSE Books 2002
13 BS PD 6536: 1992 Extra-low voltage (ELV)
3 Safety in electrical testing: Switchgear and limit values
control gear Engineering Information Sheet
EIS37 HSE Books 2002
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Safety in electrical testing at work
Electrical test equipment for use by electricians and frequencies above 100 Hz, with special
GS38 1995 ISBN 0 7176 0845 X waveforms, or in the form of short duration
unidirectional single impulses. Part 3: Effects of
Electricity at work: Safe working practices
current passing through the body of livestock.
HSG85 ISBN 0 7176 0442 X
Other publications
A design guide for the electrical safety of
Addresses of trade
instruments, instrument/control panels and and professional
control systems (Ref 178) Engineering
Equipment and Material Users’ Association
associations
(EEMUA), 14-51 Belgrave Square, London
Radio, Electrical and Television Retailers’
SW1X 8PS Tel: 020 7496 8990
Association (RETRA),
ISBN 0 85931 080 9
RETRA House, St. John’s Terrace, 1 Ampthill
DASA Quality criteria (Section 2 ‘Competence’ Street, Bedford MK42 9EY
and 3.1 ‘Electrical Safety Tests’) Domestic Tel: 01234 269110
Appliance Service Association (DASA), 6-9 The
Engineering Equipment and Material Users’
Maltings, Stanstead Abbotts, Herts SG12 8HG
Association (EEMUA),
Tel: 01920 870173 (free)
45 Beech Street, London EC2Y 8AD
Electrical maintenance: Code of practice The Tel: 020 7496 8990
Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE), Savoy
British Electrotechnical and Allied
Place, London WC2 R0BL Tel: 020 7240 1871
Manufacturers’ Association (BREAMA)
ISBN 0 8529 6769 1
Federation of the Electronics Industry (FEI)
Russell Square House, 10/12 Russell Square,
British and international
London WC1B 5EE
standards
Tel: 020 7331 2000
BS EN 61557-1:1997, IEC 6155-1:1997
Domestic Appliance Service Association
Electrical safety in low voltage distribution
(DASA),
systems up to 1000 V ac and 1500 V dc:
69 The Maltings, Stanstead Abbotts,
Equipment for testing, measuring or monitoring
Hertfordshire SG12 8HG
of protective measures. General requirements
Tel: 01920 870173
(full document is in nine parts)
Association of Manufacturers of Domestic
BS 3535-2:1990 Isolating transformers and
Electrical Appliances (AMDEA)
safety isolating transformers. Specification for
Rapier House
transformers for reduced system voltage.
40-46 Lambs Conduit Street
BS PD 6519 Guide to the effects of current on London WC1N 3NW
human beings and livestock. Part 1: General Tel: 020 7405 0666
aspects - Guidance on the effects of ac
Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE),
(frequencies between 15 and 100 Hz) and dc.
Savoy Place, London WC2 R0BL
Part 2: Special aspects relating to human beings -
Tel: 020 7240 1871
Guidance on the effects of alternating current
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the references listed in this publication,
their future availability cannot be guaranteed.
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Further information
HSE priced and free publications are available
by mail order from HSE Books, PO Box 1999,
Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA
Tel: 01787 881165
Fax: 01787 313995
Website: www.hsebooks.co.uk
(HSE priced publications are also available from
bookshops.)
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