Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Press Releases
New guidance promoting the safe use of high and low-voltage electrical switchgear was launched today by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
'Keeping electrical switchgear safe' is aimed primarily at owners and operators of this equipment in industrial or commercial organisations, although electricity distribution companies or equipment suppliers may also find the advice useful.
The guidance is intended to assist managers, engineers and other relevant personnel in the selection, operation, care and maintenance of three-phase electrical switchgear with voltage ratings from 400 V alternating current (ac) up to and including 33 kV ac. It deals with circuit-breakers, switches, switch fuses, isolators and high-voltage (HV) contactors.
Failures of electrical switchgear are rare, but when they do occur the results may be catastrophic. Tanks may rupture, and, in the case of oil-filled switchgear, can result in the ejection of burning oil and gas clouds, causing death or serious injury to persons and major damage to plant and buildings nearby.
Modern insulating media such as vacuum or sulphur hexafluoride have removed the hazard of burning oil, but inevitably have introduced other risks that need to be managed. These matters are dealt with in this new guidance.
HSE has previously issued a free Information Document ID 483/27 (available on the Internet at:http://www.hse.gov.uk/fod/infodocs/483_27.pdf giving guidance on managing older and dependent manual operation oil-filled switchgear. This latest guidance extends that information to incorporate more modern types of switchgear.
This guidance was developed in conjunction with EA Technology limited and in consultation with the switchgear manufacturers.
Copies of 'Keeping electrical switchgear safe' (HSG230), ISBN 0 7176 2359 9, price £9.50, are available online at: http://www.hsebooks.com or from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2WA, tel: 01787 881165 or fax: 01787 313995. Priced publications are also available from good booksellers. Press Enquiries relating to this Press Release: Journalists only: 020 7717 6219. For press review copies telephone 020 7717 6917.
Call HSE's InfoLine, tel: 0845 345 0055
or write to: HSE Information Services, Caerphilly Park, Caerphilly
CF83 3GG.
Published on the HSE web site on 5 November 2002