SHE Code 34:
Electrical Safety
Safety, Health and Environment
(SHE) Group
Who should use this
presentation & read the code
Managers of staff, staff, contractors, STFC
site tenants, and those responsible for
contractors on STFC sites who specify,
design, fabricate, procure, install, test,
working on or near, commission, operate,
modify, maintain/repair, inspect and
decommission electrical equipment.
STFC Safety, Health and
Environment (SHE) Group
SHE Code 34:
“Electrical Safety”
Why an “Electrical Safety” SHE code?
• Electricity is an essential utility and used in
specialist equipment across STFC sites and
science programmes.
• While pervasive electricity has the potential to
cause very serious injury through electric shocks
and burns, electrical fires (the most common
cause of STFC fires) and potentially fatalities.
• Electrical safety is the subject of very extensive,
longstanding and detailed legislation and
guidance.
Electrical Equipment
This SHE Code differentiates between
two general types of electrical
equipment with separate appendices for
each. :
• Distribution Electrical Equipment
– generally the responsibility of CSD
Estates teams but also in some
Departments; and
• Experimental Electrical Equipment
– for example ISIS, CLF, Radiation
Test Facilities at DL.
Scope
• Encompasses all aspects of electrical
safety: specification; design; fabrication;
procure; installation; testing; working on
or near; commissioning; operation
modification; maintain/repair; inspect
and decommission of electrical
equipment –
“everything up to the socket”
• Applies to all electrical work on STFC sites
undertaken by STFC staff, contractors or tenants.
• Including specific guidance for working with primary,
and secondary cells/batteries.
• Excludes Portable Electrical Equipment,
see SHE Code 17.
Overview
• Live Electrical working – must be avoided
whenever possible.
• Live Electrical work is only permitted with
the approval of the Electrical Authorising
Engineer and must be accompanied by risk
assessment and method statement.
Key points
• Electrical Authorising Engineers (AE):
• Appointed by Directors with defined scope, may
cover more than one area.
• Responsible for implementing the code, and
monitoring and auditing implementation.
• Appointing Electrical Authorised Persons for
specific duties/areas, reviewing their on-going
competence.
• Approving installation of new electrical systems,
ensuring they’re documented with schematics.
• Ensuring all electrical warning signage in place.
• Ensuring that fixed installation testing undertaken.
• Investigating electrical incidents.
Key points
• Electrical Authorising Persons (AP):
• Appointed by AE, responsible for implementing
the controls detailed in this code.
• Ensure that electrical Risk Assessments, Method
Statements, Permits to Work, Sanctions to Test
etc. are completed.
• Manage practical electrical works, ensuring PPE is
fit for purpose and employed, determining when
an Accompanying Safety Person is required,
halting work as appropriate.
• Appointing Electrical Nominated Persons for
specific duties, ensuring they understand the
scope of their responsibilities.
Key points
• Electrical Nominated Persons (NP):
• Appointed by an AP to undertake specific/ defined
electrical work/activities.
• Only undertake electrical works for which they
have been approved, recognising the limit of their
competence.
• Person in Charge:
• An AE, AP or NP may undertake duties of a
Person in Charge for electrical works – managing
the work specified on acceptance of Permits or
Sanctions.
• Authorising Engineers, Appointed Persons and
Nominated Persons, Persons in Charge
• Reporting all Electrical SHE Incidents.
Next steps
• Further advice and guidance on the content and
implementation of this code can be obtained from
STFC Authorising Engineers (AEs):
•
•
•
•
•
DL – Andy Gallagher, ext. 3548;
ROE – Ian Morrison, ext. 460;
RAL Estates – Steve Bigden ext. 8125;
RAL ISIS – Mike Glover, ext. 6304; and
RAL CLF – Paul Holligan, ext. 5901.
• Carbon copy pads of numbered pro formas detailed
in this code can be obtained from AEs.
• All existing electrical safety appointments /
authorisations remain in place until AEs establish
new appointments under this code.
SHE Training
Appendix C details specific training requirements
for Electrical: Authorising Engineers; Authorised
Persons; Nominated Persons etc.
Some of the training defined
in this code is under
development and will be
made available in due course.
Courses can be booked
through the SHE Group
training administrator, ext.
8288.