Martindale Electric is refreshing its ‘STOP. No Check. No Contact!’ awareness campaign, reminding electrical professionals of the dangers posed by unexpectedly live metalwork.
Safe isolation remains the cornerstone of electrical safety, but Martindale warns that other potential hazards can still be present when working on electrical systems.
A recent survey conducted by the company across the electrical industry found that 44% of respondents had encountered metalwork that was unexpectedly live, while 29% said they do not use a tester to check for live metalwork.
The danger can be present in environments ranging from domestic properties to commercial and industrial installations. Metal casings on equipment and appliances, pipework and other metalwork can become live when they should be earthed.
As part of the renewed campaign, Martindale has released a new video demonstrating checks on exposed metal parts, screws and enclosures using a VT7 single-pole indicator on an AC system.
“Standard industry-wide safe isolation procedures safely disconnect the supply from the circuit to allow safe rework, maintenance or installation to take place,” says Steve Dunning, Managing Director at Martindale Electric. “They do not, however, cover checking for live metal parts, so incorporating this discipline into established work processes will further minimise risk and help ensure safer working practices.”
Martindale recommends performing a touch test on potentially live metallic items. Single-pole contact indicators, such as the Martindale VT7, can be incorporated into touch-test safety procedures but should be thoroughly checked for correct operation before each use.
The company also warns that non-contact voltage devices require particular caution. These battery-powered devices can be affected by other signals, including static electricity, and cannot reliably be used to prove dead.
Martindale’s message is simple: if metalwork has not been checked for being live, don’t touch it. STOP. No Check. No Contact!
