Electrician with non insulated tools

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Electrician with non insulated tools

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Newbie90

Hi all,

Just wanted to see people's thoughts on this.

Had an "experienced" Electrician start at my place of work on agency (mainly electrical maintenance)

He claims that he has worked all over the country and done so much.

However, he doesn't use insulated screwdrivers and his argument is that no
one should be working live so they are not needed. He is adamant that he won't use them.

Well, there are some circumstances where you have no choice but to work on a live board (obviously taking the correct precautions). Also he would not be complying with GS38. I have never known another sparky not to use insulated tools.

Any thoughts?
 
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Adam W said:
I suppose in a way he's right - you shouldn't need them because you shouldn't be working live, and there shouldn't be the possibility of something accidentally becoming live.
One of my old college tutors actually suggested unless you're doing 'proper' live working with all the special tools, PPE, method statements etc in place, the insulated tools most of us use should actually be banned, on the premise that too much of a safety net encourages complacency; nobody wants a notch blown out of their snips, but if you're using uninsulated snips you'll double check the cct is isolated!
OK I personally wouldn't use uninsulated tools, but they're only really useful after you've done the really dangerous bit - I don't know about anyone else but the first thing I do after stripping the end is either to double it over or twist it using my (uninsulated) fingers.
Click to expand...

I'm generally involved with just industrial installations and equipment.
Most sites won't allow you past the gatehouse unless you have a site safety passport and have passed a site specific induction

Risk assessments, method statements, personal padlocks and permits to work all have to be in place before you can do anything. It can be a bit of a ball ache. But for the right reasons.

Of course you will still check to ensure that the equipment is dead before you stick your greasy paws into the guts of it. Some things need hands rather than tools so insulated tools really don't come into it.

One thing that stuck with me from a long time about the risk element. It came from a high voltage guy.
You can have a senior authorised person rack out an 11kV breaker, close it back in the earth position, padlock it there, fill out the paperwork, give you the keys, and tell you the panel is this safe to work on.
Ask him to touch the busbars in the panel.
If he won't, you don't.
 
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GMES said:
That's what an apprentice is for :sifone:
Click to expand...
you still parading around in your pajamas gmes?

upevynud.jpg
 
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I sometime look at a US elactrician forum just in interest as to how they do things etc.i have read often the argument that you should never work live so dont need them.
I my self use insulated as matter of course, but can see there point.

Always like to read that they carry a good pair of dykes around with them at all times!!!!
 
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Archy Styrigg said:
You want to see the pair on the other side of my street, but, maybe not!
Click to expand...
I once did a job in a house that was owned by 2 old dears that were a couple. I had to go into a bedroom to pull on a cable and there they were having an almost naked cuddle on the bed.
Greenpeace would have pushed them into the sea if they were on a beach.
It was quite traumatic for a young lad.
 
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When i entered the industry the only electricians that were issued ALL insulated screwdrivers (and other hand tools) were those working for the old electricity boards!! The insulation on the screw drivers (especially the terminal screwdrivers) was so thick the electricians stripped the insulation off the ends, lol!!! Our company had a full live working tool kit made up of several sets covering screwdrivers, pliers, spanners sets, socket sets, etc etc, that were held in the stores, they weren't VDE (that classification didn't exist as they are known today) they were made in the States


The company tool kit i was issued, contained standard screwdrivers that some of us insulated with either tape or the early heat shrink tubing, when and if we could get hold of it!!
 
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Engineer54 said:
When i entered the industry the only electricians that were issued ALL insulated screwdrivers (and other hand tools) were those working for the old electricity boards!! The insulation on the screw drivers (especially the terminal screwdrivers) was so thick the electricians stripped the insulation off the ends, lol!!! Our company had a full live working tool kit made up of several sets covering screwdrivers, pliers, spanners sets, socket sets, etc etc, that were held in the stores, they weren't VDE (that classification didn't exist as they are known today) they were made in the States


The company tool kit i was issued, contained standard screwdrivers that some of us insulated with either tape or the early heat shrink tubing, when and if we could get hold of it!!
Click to expand...

yup had to do that to my drivers, couldn't screw the covers on isolators cause of it
 
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I,ve not done any live stuff for ages,not had to but I've still got a set of fully insulated sockets,spanners,saw,stripping knives etc in my tool chest and that's where it stays.It's only for live work and I won't use it on anything else in case it gets damaged.Agree with E54 about tape or heatshrink around screwdrivers though,done it myself in the past.
 
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Ask any spark over 40 and you will find insulated tools are a relatively recent introduction to the toolkit.
they were the lusted after property of the electric board guys only.
i think I got my first set of insulated screwdrivers around 2000
before that it was all in insulated with a bit of tape or if you were posh a bit of pyro PVC cover.
i remember a joiner asking me how all sparks disconnect the earth first from a socket.
well mk and the like had a dirty great earth strap running along the top next to the terminals
which you could short out with your screwdriver if not careful.
uninsulated drivers are better for poking holes in things and general bashing I find
insulated are better for working on live stuff if the need arises
 
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Newbie90 said:
Hi all,

Just wanted to see people's thoughts on this.

Had an "experienced" Electrician start at my place of work on agency (mainly electrical maintenance)

He claims that he has worked all over the country and done so much.

However, he doesn't use insulated screwdrivers and his argument is that no
one should be working live so they are not needed. He is adamant that he won't use them.

Well, there are some circumstances where you have no choice but to work on a live board (obviously taking the correct precautions). Also he would not be complying with GS38. I have never known another sparky not to use insulated tools.

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...


technically he is right.although we all do it XD Have a look at these.

Electricity at work: Safe working practices

Memorandum of guidance on the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. Guidance on Regulations - HSG25

if anything goes wrong you need to prove you took correct procedures and adequate measures to reduce risks and working live was justified. Or as tony says you will be invited to the --- kicking party :)
 
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