High voltage isolation
High voltage presents a higher level of hazards – and that applies when dealing with isolation and access too.
Hazard identification
Additional hazards include:
- induction from other circuits and communications equipment such as radio transmitters;
- build up of static charges due to weather conditions;
- ferro-resonance;
- feedback from secondary or tertiary systems;
- stored energy in high voltage capacitor banks; and
- working under or over other live conductors.
Find out what other types of hazards there are for high voltage isolation and access.
Control measures
People near exposed live high voltage parts must maintain the safe approach limits detailed in Section 3 of the Code of Practice - Working Near Exposed Live Parts and Section 3.7 of the Code of Practice - Electrical Work.
If you are within the safe approach limits, the parts must be isolated, tested and proved de-energised and earthed. Refer to Section 11 'Requirements for electrical work' of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 (PDF, 1 MB).
Section 5.4.3 of the Code of Practice details the process of proving de-energised status.
Section 5.5.2 of the Code of Practice details the safe system of work that must be used for high voltage isolation and access.
Last updated July 16, 2009
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