Electrical Isolation Procedures
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Electrical Isolation Procedures
Electrical isolation disconnects equipment from its power supply so that maintenance, repair, or construction work can proceed safely. Incorrect isolation is a leading cause of electrical fatalities on construction and process sites. The procedure must follow a strict sequence of switching off, isolating, locking, tagging, and proving dead before any work begins. This talk covers the isolation procedure step by step.
- Identify all points of electrical supply to the equipment using schematics and local knowledge.
- Switch off the equipment using the normal stop controls before operating the isolator.
- Open the isolator and apply a personal safety lock with a unique key held only by you.
- Attach a danger tag to the isolator showing your name, date, and the reason for isolation.
- Prove dead at the point of work using an approved voltage indicator tested immediately before and after.
- Discharge any stored energy from capacitors or battery backup systems before commencing work.
- Ensure all persons working on the equipment apply their own personal lock to the isolator.
- Remove your lock only when your work is complete and you have confirmed it is safe to re-energise.
- Never remove another person's lock or tag — only the person who applied it may remove it.
If someone receives an electric shock, isolate the supply if safe to do so without touching the casualty. Call 999 immediately. Begin CPR if the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally.
- Identify all electrical supply points using schematics before starting any isolation procedure
- Apply your personal safety lock and danger tag to every isolator before working on the equipment
- Prove dead at the point of work using an approved voltage indicator tested before and after
- Never remove another person's lock or tag from an isolator under any circumstances
- Remove your own lock only when your work is complete and it is safe to re-energise
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