Feature Articles
- Power Suspension Arrangement for Electrical Work
- Outstanding Safety Performance Awards for Electrical Workers 2011
This issue of Electricity News features new teen idol Kandy, or Sugar Girl, who has emerged in recent years as a rising star in the local show biz industry. She has success as a singer as well as in her acting career. She has appeared in many adverts and television shows, including Jade Solid Gold and My Sweets.
In this issue, Kandy will explain to you, with diagrams and illustrations, the power suspension arrangement for electrical work. Kandy will also share the joy with the winners of the Outstanding Safety Performance Awards for Electrical Workers 2011 as well as showing her appreciation to them. Meanwhile, please be reminded by Kandy that the Continuing Professional Development Scheme for Registered Electrical Workers has already been launched from January 1, 2012.
Kandy
Acknowledgement: wowmusic
EMSD attaches great importance to the personal safety of registered electrical workers (REWs) conducting electrical work. When carrying out electrical work, registered electrical contractors (RECs) and REWs shall strictly follow the requirements set out in the 2009 edition of the Code of Practice for the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations. They should cut off the power supply of the electrical installations and apply suitable safety precautionary measures before carrying out the electrical work.
To ensure the electrical work is carried out in a safe environment, the upstream switch or circuit breaker must be switched off and isolated, and an appropriate warning notice securely displayed before the electrical work is carried out. The switch or circuit breaker should also be locked off if it is equipped with a locking mechanism, so as to prevent accidents caused by the switch or circuit breaker being inadvertently turned on during the electrical work.
Please refer to the following diagrams for the principles and detailed information on power suspension arrangement for electrical work:
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When implementing the above power suspension arrangement, one should also bear in mind the possibility that neutral wires may still be energised under special circumstances. For example, after the triple pole circuit breaker is switched off, its neutral wires may still be energised. It is therefore important that REWs must first have an understanding and assessment on the overall circuitries, and take appropriate safety precautions before carrying out the relevant electrical work.
Finally, we hope that all REWs will remember to "switch off electricity supply before electrical work" when conducting such work, and implement the "work safety" culture to ensure safety of themselves and their colleagues.
To avoid accidents, electrical workers engaging in electrical work must strictly comply with the safety requirements at all times. With a view to raising the standard of work safety among trade members continuously, EMSD, in collaboration again with the Hong Kong and Kowloon Electrical Engineering and Appliances Trade Workers Union and the Hong Kong Electrical Contractors' Association, held the Outstanding Safety Performance Awards for Electrical Workers 2011 to promote the importance of electrical work safety.
The prize presentation ceremony was successfully held during the 11th Annual Technical Seminar "Enhancing Work Knowledge and Safety for the Benefit of All" organised by the Department on 25 November 2011. Speaking at the prize presentation ceremony, our Deputy Director Mr W.H. SIT, JP, said that similar large-scale competitions were held once every two years to give commendation to the electrical workers who implemented safety measures conscientiously. As well as setting good examples for trade members, the prize winners played a useful role in promoting electrical work safety.
This year's competition received the same warm support from members of the trade as before. The enrolment of 140 electrical workers, an increase of more than 26% as compared to the previous competition, from various registered electrical contractors and property management companies, is proof that more and more emphasis is now being put on work safety. After the written test in the first stage, the first 14 participants with the highest scores attended the interview in the second stage. The 14 electrical workers included engineers, supervisors and technicians. The interview was chaired by 5 senior members of the electrical trade in different disciplines, and the winners of the gold, silver, bronze and merit prizes were selected on the basis of their knowledge of various electrical work safety requirements.
Mr LEUNG Wai Kit, the gold prize winner of this year's competition, is responsible for supervising electrical work on private property in his daily work. Before carrying out every electrical work, Mr LEUNG would carefully consider the work plan and arrangement for power suspension. He would never put emphasis solely on efficiency and neglect safety. He would also keep reminding colleagues to strictly follow safety measures and requirements for the work. In addition, Mr LEUNG would also listen to the views of the front line staff and make suggestions to the company on improving the safety of work environment. We can see that Mr LEUNG very well deserves his gold prize due to his perseverance and commitment towards work safety.
Experience Sharing by the Gold Prize Winner:
Mr LEUNG once encountered a problem with the distribution board of a building, which had affected some of the households. Although the situation is urgent, it was confirmed after the risk assessment that the electrical workers could not carry out the emergency repair work under live working conditions. It was eventually decided that the power supply for the whole building be suspended before carrying out the work. Although the decision affected 48 households, it guaranteed the safety of his colleagues because any injury to his colleagues or property loss was averted. Most important of all, the power suspension arrangement was also made with the coordination from colleagues of other departments and understanding from the households, enabling the safe and smooth completion of the work.
Prize winners of this year's competition Gold Prize Winner: LEUNG Wai KitISS EastPoint Property Management Ltd.
Silver Prize Winner: TAM Kin HoThe Hong Kong Electric Co., Ltd.
Bronze Prize Winner: LUK Man CheungHong Lok Yuen Property Management Co., Ltd.
Merit Prize Winners (in no particular order)
For highlights of the prize presentation ceremony, please visit the EMSD website.
The Annual Technical Seminar jointly organised by EMSD, the Hong Kong and Kowloon Electrical Engineering and Appliances Trade Workers Union and the Hong Kong Electrical Contractors' Association, was held at 7.30pm on 25 November 2011 at the Jockey Club Auditorium of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The theme of the seminar was “Enhancing Work Knowledge and Safety for the Benefit of All”. Engineers of EMSD and representatives of the Workers Union gave presentations on Power Suspension for Electrical Work, the Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance, and Discrimination for Electrical Protection. Since attendance at the seminar are deemed as the completion of Modules 1 and 2 under the Continuing Professional Development Scheme for Registered Electrical Workers (REWs), the seminar recorded its best ever attendance.
For the presentation materials of topics covered in the seminar, please visit the EMSD website.
Mr Chan Chi Hin, The Chairman of Hong Kong & Kowloon Electrical Engineering & Appliances Trade Workers Union delivered the Opening Speech.
Mr Lok Tat Hong, The President of Hong Kong Electrical Contractors' Association delivered the Opening Speech.
Nearly 1 000 REWs attended the seminar
To upgrade the standard of Registered Electrical Workers (REWs), the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Scheme for REWs is included as a requirement for renewal of registration starting 1 January 2012. According to the CPD Scheme, all REWs are required to have completed two modules of training, including Module 1: Legislative and Safety Requirements and Module 2: Technical Knowledge, before submitting their renewal application.
REWs are welcome to attend seminars on Electrical Engineering organised by EMSD or training courses conducted by recognised trainers. For information on the seminars and courses, please visit the EMSD website.
In addition, the CPD Centre at the EMSD Customer Services Office has come into operation from 1 January 2012. REWs who have not attended any seminars or classes may take a training course at the centre when applying for renewal of registration to comply with the continuous professional development requirement. The Centre is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5.15pm and is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.
For details of the CPD Scheme, please visit the EMSD website.
For enquiries on the above, please contact EMSD at 1823 or email to eld@emsd.gov.hk.
The Electrical Products (Safety) Regulation sets out the safety requirements for all household electrical appliances supplied in Hong Kong. Generally speaking, electrical appliances in compliance with international safety standards, e.g., the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards, will be considered as being in compliance with the safety requirements of the Regulation.
The standards organisations will review national and international standards from time to time, and revise and raise these standards accordingly. While the current IEC standard (IEC 60335-1 5th Edition) was last revised in 2010, the corresponding European Standard EN 60335-1 will be promulgated this year. EMSD is studying the main differences between the old and new editions of the standard, with reference being made to the practice of other countries in adopting the latest edition of relevant international standards. Consultation on matters related to the adoption of the new standard for various electrical appliances will also be held with the trade in order to draw up a mutually agreed time table for the importation of electrical appliances in compliance with the international standards of the new edition.
After the standards organisations revise certain standards or formulate new ones, manufacturers normally need a period of time to produce new appliances that comply with the revised or new standards. Meanwhile, there is usually a residual stock in the market that was made to comply with the old standard. Unless the residual stock is found to pose unacceptable risks to consumers, they will continue to be acceptable.
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If live work is unavoidable, which one of the following is not a correct precaution to be taken: |
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2. |
Who may conduct risk assessment of live work?(1) Owner of the Electrical Installation(2) Registered electrical contractor (3) Registered electrical worker (4) Registered safety |
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3. |
What form(s) of Continuing Professional Development training is available to registered electrical workers? |
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4. |
What is the edition of the latest IEC standard (IEC 60335-1) revised in 2010? |
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5. |
The topic(s) covered in this year's Annual Technical Seminar is/are:(1) Power suspension arrangement for electrical work(2) Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance (3) Latest international safety standards for household electrical appliances |
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( Answer : 1B, 2D, 3D, 4C, 5A )
We look forward to receiving your valuable feedback about this newsletter for continuous improvement. Please complete the feedback form below and return it to our Electricity Legislation Division by post, fax or e-mail on or before 30 June 2012 (please refer to the contact information at the bottom of this page).
Electricity Legislation Division, EMSD, 3 Kai Shing Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong
1823
2895 4929