Currently reviewing some of our site practices around electrical safety and I have the following question I need help on: What qualifications or level of competence is required to reset low voltage switch gear. For example if a machine causes a fault to overload which then trips out the LV molded case circuit breaker? I would deem that should only be carried out by an electrician or someone internal who have received some training?? I've reviewed HSE guidance but am struggling to back up that this should be only be carried out with someone who is familiar with working with electricity. If anyone can advice on any courses for internal personnel with no electrical back ground and any relevant guidance please. Thank you in advance

I do not agree that pressing a "reset" button requires you to be a sparky, or even electrically trained. When I worked at ICI the rule was that operators (eg) could press reset buttons. If the MCCB tripped repeatedly then they called the sparky. Only sparkys could fault find, of course.

Best place to start would be to ensure that those who are doing the switching are qualified, trained and competent. There needs to be a protocol established within the plant. The the way to control the activity is to make only 'Authorised Persons' appointed in writing signed by the plant/factory manager. Resetting breakers will only tackle the symptom not the route cause. It must be defined why and how it tripped in the first place because they do not trip for nothing! Have a LOTO & PTW training course for everyone to raise awareness regarding the hazards and identification of risks. Train and appoint LOTO coordinators who will manage the plants electrical activities during PM shut downs and contractors. Monitor and audit closely the PTW system to ensure it is being adopted correctly. Specific safety meetings with maintenance staff are essential to get to know what is happening, when and why! Frankly HV/LV should make no difference the procedure should be followed all the same as a tickle on LV this week may be thump of the HV next week.. god forbid

LZ - Thank you, this is the similar approach I think we need to take. paul.skyrme - Sorry that I haven’t been more specific, the machines in question are Pellet Presses, they have a 250kw motor which has a thermal overload protection device within the Motor Control Centre (MCC) if there is a fault. The site does not employee an electrician and relies on electrical contractors for any electrical work, the practice they have been doing in the past was that operators would go and reset the thermal overloads in MCC panels and LV switch rooms. Until recently operators had not had any previous training on the hazards or the risk of doing this until they received basic training in electrical safety for access into MCC panels and a formal SSWi implemented. (Note: I also raised my concerns over operators accessing MCC panels). As part of this training operator were then advised not to reset any LV switchgear. However the site has experience a number of “trips” on the LV switchgear due to overloads on the Presses caused by sudden blockage of product, they have carried out a review of the setting of the thermal overloads in the MCC panel to ensure these are set correctly so that any fault should trip in the MCC and not on the LV. However they have requested that they now want to allow operators to reset LV switchgear (MCCB) if they also “trip” out. I’ve advised then that they should call an electrical engineering out to site and have advised them this should only be done by a trained and competent person. (i.e. trained in 17th edition, familiar with HSG 85 and also has additional electrical safe training in LV). In my original post I requested what qualifications or level of competence is required to reset low voltage switch gear and any relevant guidance to demonstrate that operators without any knowledge, training or competence should not be carrying out this task. I am currently being challenge on this and need to provide information to the reasons whey they shouldn’t be doing this other than just my own opinion and previous experience from other companies where this was only carried out by an electrical approved contractor.