Last week, we looked at the three building blocks of safety and how they help protect you. This week, we are focusing on the first building block: Safe Systems of Work.
👷🏻What is a safe system of work? 👷🏻
Guardian Electrical understands the importance of having a safe system of work in place. It is more than just a document — it is a practical, effective way of working that helps reduce the risk of accidents and injuries.
The more complex the processes in your business the more detailed and varied your systems, procedures and risk assessments will need to be.
Like most Health and Safety Legislation, the Electricity at Work Regulations calls for a risk assessment approach. Many know the acronym that characterises a safe system of work.
It is ERICPD (also remembered as ‘Eric Prevents Death’) it stands for
| 💠E Eliminate | ➡️ Remove the risk altogether |
| 💠R Reduce | ➡️Lessens the effects |
| 💠I Isolate | ➡️ Prevent contact |
| 💠C Control | ➡️ Control the remaining risk |
| 💠P PPE | ➡️ People wear safety gear |
| 💠D Discipline | ➡️ People conform to the rules |
❌Eliminate – This is very hard to do. Most modern activities involve using electricity in explosive atmospheres for example it may be best to use non electrical pneumatic tools.
⚡Reduce – The most obvious element to reduce is voltage. Current does the damage but voltage drives the current. Below 50 volts the effects are much less likely to be lethal.
🔧Isolate – Use insulated tools and equipment, make sure terminals and connections in control panels are ‘finger proof’.
🎛️Control – Use of safe working procedures, permit systems, warning signs, safety barriers etc.
🦺PPE – Insulated gloves, mats, safety spectacles and the like. These are not the first resort. They’re used after the first 4 because they depend on the behaviour of people. You can provide adequate PPE, but you are dependent on the person wearing it properly and diligently.
📄Discipline – Enforce what you have in place, but again this is a people thing and should not be depended on as a first line of defence.
More information on this can be found in our free to download, Duty Holder Guide. Please visit – https://www.guardianelectrical.co.uk/the-dutyholder-guide/
🛡️ Contact Guardian today –
☎️ 0114 257 2080
📧 info@guardianelectrical.co.uk
#SafeSystemsofWork #GuardianElectrical #HealthandSafety #Workplace
