September is with us once again, which means we are continuing our annual support for the ‘Safe4September’ campaign, an initiative started by the eFIXX Electrician’s channel to promote the importance of isolating electrical equipment during testing and inspection.
At TIS we provide all the tools and equipment to enable the electrical tester to do their job safely on a day-to-day basis - but we also like to supply the knowledge needed to carry out this testing safely and competently - and electrical safe isolation is an essential element of this.
What is electrical isolation?
Isolation is using the correct procedure to make sure a circuit is dead and locked-off, so that safe electrical testing can take place. The procedure chosen must be suitable and effective to ensure no live circuit can be switched on by accident for the duration of the testing. This means that safe isolation is technically a multi-stage process, which is covered in the 12 step graphic below.
Safe isolation kits, such as the TIS 851SIKIT include all the tools necessary to check a circuit is dead, as well as identification tags to provide a visible sign that a circuit is isolated. These are supplied along with hasps and padlocks to physically prevent access to local isolation devices, such as circuit breakers, fuses, socket outlets and switch disconnectors. This will prevent a dead circuit being re-activated accidentally.
Why Safe4September?
It is fact that the safe isolation of electrical circuits is essential at all times, and is a vital element of any electrical testing programme, whenever you are carrying it out. However the reason we have partnered with eFIXX to highlight the importance of isolation in September, is that this is the month in which there are many new recruits to the electrical testing industry, through new apprenticeships and college courses. It is also the case that many other professions can come into contact with safe isolation procedures and live circuits that have been made dead, or at least are working adjacent to them. On a construction site, for example, this can include plumbers, plasterers, decorators and floor layers, while in a production environment this can also include maintenance staff and production staff. So the huge danger with incorrect safe isolation is that people without qualified electrical knowledge can come into contact with isolated circuits, and so a safe isolation procedure needs to be robust and effective.
Therefore, in September, many new education programmes are undertaken, and education in the basic essentials of electrical testing is more important than ever - there is nothing more important than electrical safe isolation. This is why we have teamed-up with eFIXX to promote Safe4September, to the extent that we are giving away one of three TIS 851SIKIT safe isolation kits to entrants in a prize draw who have completed a complimentary CPD training module. This will help in your education and awareness of safe isolation procedures, and if you are lucky enough to win a TIS 851SIKIT you will also have the tools to enable you to put your knowledge into action. You can also take a copy of your eFIXX safe isolation CPD certificate along to your local electrical wholesaler, to get an additional 10% off a TIS 851SIKIT safe isolation kit.
So join us in promoting the Safe4September campaign and why not go one further in deepening your knowledge of safe isolation by completing the CPD training module and being in with a chance of winning a fantastic safe isolation kit? It could be the most important thing you do today.
Safe Isolation Video
We recommend watching the video below by eFIXX about Safe Isolation: