November/December Issue 64 - Flipbook - Page 21
NCE: ELECTRIC AND HYBRID VEHICLES
voltage battery in accordance with
manufacturer’s instructions.
Determine the locations of high
voltage cables before carrying out
tasks such as panel replacement,
cutting
or
welding.
Take
appropriate precautions to prevent
them from being damaged.
WORKING ON HIGH VOLTAGE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
Refer
to
vehicle
specific
sources of information from the
manufacturer (and trade bodies)
to identify precautions you need
to implement which are necessary
to prevent danger.
Remote operation keys should
always be kept away from the
vehicle to prevent any accidental
operation of electrical systems
and accidental movement of the
vehicle.
Keys should be locked away with
access controlled by the person
working on the vehicle. If the key
is required during the work the
person working on the vehicle
should check that the vehicle is in
a safe condition before the key is
retrieved.
Visually check the vehicle for
signs of damage to high voltage
electrical components or cabling
(usually coloured orange).
High voltage systems should
be isolated (that is the power
disconnected and secured such
that it cannot be inadvertently
switched back on) and proven
dead by testing before any work is
undertaken.
Always isolate and lock off
the source of electricity and in
accordance with manufacturer’s
instructions. You must always test
and prove that any high voltage
cable or electrical component is
dead prior to carrying out any
work on it.
equipment should only be
considered when there is no other
way for work to be undertaken.
Even then it should only be
considered if it is both reasonable
and safe to do so.
Even when isolated, vehicle
batteries and other components
may still contain large amounts
of energy and retain a high
voltage. Only suitable tools and
test equipment should be used.
These may include electrically
insulated tools and test equipment
compliant with GS38.
You should consider the risks for
working on this live equipment and
implement suitable precautions
including, as a final measure,
the use of personal protective
equipment (PPE). Refer to
manufacturer’s instructions for
precautions when working live,
including their PPE requirements.
Some electronic components
may store dangerous amounts of
electricity even when the vehicle is
off and the battery isolated. Refer
to manufacturers data on how to
discharge stored energy.
It may be necessary to locate the
vehicle within an area that can
be secured such that people who
could be put at risk are not able
to approach the vehicle. Warning
signs should be used to make
people aware of the dangers.
There may be circumstances (eg
after collision damage) where
it has not been possible to fully
isolate the high voltage electrical
systems and to discharge the
stored energy in the system. Refer
to the manufacturer’s instructions
about what controls measures
should be implemented before
attempting to carry out further
remedial work.
Please note, this is currently
the most up-to-date guidance.
However, HSE are planning to
revise their guidance. AVRO
News will publish this as soon
as it becomes available.
Source: HSE.gov.uk.
Battery packs are susceptible to
high temperatures. The vehicle
will typically be labelled advising
of its maximum temperature and
this should be considered when
carrying operations such as
painting where booth temperatures
may exceed this limit. Measures
should be implemented to alleviate
any potential risks eg by removing
the batteries or by providing
insulation to limit any temperature
increase in the batteries.
Working
on
live
electrical
21
