November/December Issue 64 - Flipbook - Page 19
NCE: ELECTRIC AND HYBRID VEHICLES
A plug-in hybrid vehicle can have
its battery charged directly from
the electrical supply network.
vary greatly and are dependent on
the type of work that people are
expected to do.
RISKS OF WORKING WITH
E&HVS
For example, an awareness of
the additional risks is likely to
be all that is required for people
who undertake vehicle sales or
valeting.
E&HVs introduce hazards into
the workplace in addition to
those normally associated with
the repair and maintenance of
vehicles, roadside recovery and
other vehicle related activities.
These include:
• the presence of high voltage
components
and
cabling
capable of delivering a fatal
electric shock.
• the storage of electrical energy
with the potential to cause
explosion or fire.
• components that may retain a
dangerous voltage even when
a vehicle is switched off.
• electric
motors
or
the
vehicle itself that may move
unexpectedly due to magnetic
forces within the motors.
• manual
handling
risks
associated
with
battery
replacement.
• the potential for the release of
explosive gases and harmful
liquids if batteries are damaged
or incorrectly modified.
• the possibility of people being
unaware of vehicles moving as
when electrically driven they
are silent in operation.
• the potential for the electrical
systems on the vehicle to
affect medical devices such as
pacemakers.
People involved in vehicle repair
and maintenance however, are
likely to need a much greater level
of competence in order to work
on these types of vehicle safely.
Specific training with qualifications
awarded by organisations such as
IMI Awards is available.
Four categories of work have
been identified. These are:
• Valeting, sales and other lower
risk activities
•
•
•
Incident response including
emergency
services
and
vehicle recovery
Maintenance
and
repair
excluding
high
voltage
electrical systems
Working on high voltage
electrical systems
These categories are outlined
below with the suggested primary
controls.
VALETING, SALES AND OTHER
LOWER RISK ACTIVITIES
Remote operation keys that only
need to be close to the vehicle
for the vehicle to be powered up
should be kept away from vehicles.
This is to prevent the vehicle from
accidentally moving.
(cont. overleaf)
SAFE WORKING WITH E&HVS
Additional skills and training will
be necessary to allow people
to work safely with E&HVs. The
levels of competency required will
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