High Voltage Training | Operating High Voltage Equipment

Published 17 Jun 2021

Thorne & Derrick are working with Coex Training in Australia to promote their Hazardous Area & High Voltage Training Courses.

The following Article has been written by Craig Hagan from Coex Training and re-published with his kind permission. It outlines some of the most asked questions regarding the operation of high voltage equipment and using a switching program.

Craig Hagan

ELECTRICAL TRAINING SPECIALIST

High Voltage Training | Do I Need A Switching Program?

A question I get asked regularly on the high voltage courses is ‘do I need to use a switching program every time I operate high voltage equipment?’

The short answer is no.

The idea of the switching program is to ensure isolation is carried out correctly with minimal chances of accidents. If you’re not accessing high voltage equipment, i.e. no one is going in under your isolation, there is no legal requirement for a switching program.

However, if people are going to access high voltage equipment, for example, a high voltage motor, then if they’re going to change that motor out, they must have access to the motor terminals, then this is high voltage access. Therefore, the isolation must be carried out according to a switching program, then a high voltage access permit will be issued and must be married up to that switching program.

If you were switching to shut an electric motor down, for example, a mechanical fitter can disconnect the gate box, there is no access to the high voltage terminations, then we don’t need to have a high voltage switching program written and used. The isolation can take place by opening a circuit breaker or contactor, making it your isolation point. If high voltage access is required, then you must have the program, it must be racked out and have an earth applied and is to be locked and then an access permit is issued. That’s the difference between the two isolations.

To write a switching program, you must be authorised by your organisation.

In a mine site, this must come from the mine manager in writing, otherwise, if you’re not on a mine site, it must come from a person who oversees the high voltage installation. They will give you the authority to switch and give you access to write switching programs and issue access permits.

Coex Training offers a variety of courses including hazardous area and high voltage training. Check out our course list to see which High Voltage course is right for you.

About Coex Training

Coex Training is an Australian based Registered Training Organisation. They offer Nationally Recognised Qualifications and non-accredited courses specifically designed to give students the competencies required to excel in their careers.

With a long history of providing training services to industries such as Resource, Infrastructure, Defence, Manufacturing and Construction, they pride themselves on their dynamic and student-focused courses which have been developed to meet the high expectations of students, employers and industry. Coex training have an extensive portfolio and can provide training across all levels: from general awareness through to Certificate and Diploma level qualifications. Their national scope enables them to tailor their programs to meet the varied needs of organisations and students located across Australia and the globe.

Coex High Voltage Switching Courses

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