Page 40 - Xmo Strata - Bulletin Archive

2/7/2019 Page 1 of 1

Health, Safety & Environmental Bulletin No 013

M Mott – 24 October 2005

Safe Isolation

In order to ensure equipment being worked on is turned off, and that it cannot be turned back on until the
work is finished, there is a standard Isolation Procedure that must be adopted:

1. Locate the means of isolation. This should be labelled, however in most cases it would be the
circuit breaker at the distribution board. The means of isolation must be able to be locked in the off
position.

2. Switch off the isolator. Ensure you have permission to do so beforehand.

3. Lock the isolator in the off position. Take the keys to the lock with you. If the isolation device is a
fuse, take the fuse with you.

4. Using a suitable test meter, check the meter on a known supply or proving unit to ensure it is
working.

5. Test the circuit that has been isolated to ensure it is dead. Check between Live to Earth, Live to
Neutral and Neutral to Earth to ensure a wring fault has not occurred.

6. Using the same test meter, recheck to ensure the meter is still working.

7. The equipment can now be worked on. Ensure the supply is re-energised after working on the
equipment.

Note, under some conditions, using poor quality meters or test lamps, it is possible to trip a main RCD
when testing Neutral to Earth in step 5 above. This can mean that the power to the whole site is isolated,
and therefore it is essential that appropriate meters in good condition are used.

IF IN DOUBT, ASK YOUR SUPERVISOR OR MANAGER – DON’T WORK!
ELECTRICAL WORK MUST ONLY BE CARRIED OUT BY QUALIFIED/APPROVED PERSONS.

“let’s make sure that we continue to make our sites THE SAFEST by helping ourselves, our colleagues,
our customers and even our competitors by improving training, helping where necessary and addressing
any issues of concern there and then”

If you have any quires regarding the Safety Bulletin content or require further information please contact
any staff member of Xmo Strata Ltd.

C:\Users\JMartin\OneDrive - Xmo Strata LTD\Desktop\temp bulletins\Bulletin
Archive\Health, Safety & Environmental Bulletin No 13 Safe Isolation.doc