When Birmingham-based electrician Neo Mosudisa came across a dangerous appliance that had given someone an electric shock and didn’t have the lockout tool he needed to make the appliance safe, he went and invented one.
He created a simple solution to a problem that has existed in the UK for years, and his innovation – the Spurlok Fused Spur Lockout Kit – would become a functional solution for isolation from fused spur units.
Spurlok is a “one-size-fits-all solution,” meaning that a single Spurlok device can be used to safely isolate appliances supplied from various types of fused spur units.
Spurlok kits work by securing the fuse carrier in the open position where it can be fastened using a padlock to safely disconnect the supply of electricity to the isolated appliance.
A tag containing the name and contact details of the person responsible for the isolation is then used to inform others and warn them not to interfere with the isolation.
In the UK, all appliances that require a British standard fuse (BS1362) but do not have a plug need to be supplied by fused spur units for circuit protection purposes. This makes the fused spur unit one of the most common electrical fittings in households and businesses across the UK.
Appliances such as boilers, water heaters, lights, sockets, and hand dryers (to name a few) can be – and often are – supplied by fused spur units.
Fused spur units are commonly used as a point of electrical isolation amongst electricians and engineers whilst carrying out maintenance work on appliances.
The lockout prevents any intentional or inadvertent reconnection of the appliance to its electrical supply, as outlined in electrical regulations such as BS7671, Gas Safe’s TB118, and Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.
Neo believes that Spurlok will improve safe working practices and revolutionise the way safety products are perceived for years to come. He says he is committed to making that become a reality.
Since launching earlier this year, Spurlok Fused Spur Lockout Kits have reportedly been a popular addition to the tool bags of electricians and gas engineers across the UK.
As a former apprentice, Neo says he is passionate about raising awareness of the importance of electrical safety amongst apprentices and learners, and improving the working practices that help keep themselves safe whilst at work.
He also recognises that the habits he formed during the early years of his career have stuck with him, and believes that if learners can grasp good habits early on, they will carry them on for the rest of their lives.