Safe Isolation Saves Lives by David Sweetman (Di-LOG Group) and Louise Taggart (Health & Safety Trustee)

Our daily routine has changed considerably during the past several months and humanity has adapted swiftly to protect themselves and others around them. The few extra minutes to apply your face mask and the regular application of hand sanitiser really does “Save Lives” against Covid-19.

Many people in the industry, including myself, have spent years campaigning to help make our working environment a safer place and as a manufacturer of Electrical Test Equipment, I feel that we have a responsibility to the industry to keep critical safety equipment affordable and easily accessible.

Over the past 2 years, Di-LOG has invested well over £30,000 in the product development and marketing of Safe Isolation test equipment and our message has remained clear throughout,

safely isolating all electrical circuits saves lives.

When preparing this article, I contacted Louise Taggart, an associate whom I have had the pleasure of meeting on several occasions. Louise’s heartfelt story (Michael’s Story) has sadly reinforced just why taking a few extra minutes to implement a safe isolation procedure, is critical for the safety of yourself and others around you.

Michael’s Story

“My brother died at a time when safe isolation had been taught to apprentices for the 20 years previous. We’re now 15 years further on, and it breaks our hearts a little more each time we hear about an incident caused because safe isolation is not being put into practice. Employers should provide the right tools and equipment so their workforce can do their job safely. If you’re not being provided with voltage testers, proving units and LOTO kits, STOP THE JOB.

Because there’s nothing more important than you going home to your loved ones at the end of your shift. My wee brother didn’t get home to his fiancée. He didn’t get to become an uncle to my two wee boys. He didn’t get to become a dad to children of his own. He died at the age of 26 in an entirely preventable incident. Safe isolation saves lives and stops such heartbreak.” by Louise Taggart.

If you would like to find out more information about Michaels Story, please visit www.michaels-story.net

HSE Statistics
Although it is difficult to know how many of the following statistics were caused by inadequate safe isolation, in the five years between 2015 and 2020, there were 21 fatalities reported to the HSE under RIDDOR which were caused by contact with electricity. This reduced to 1 death in year 19/20. But there has already been at least 1 fatality that I'm aware of so far in the year 21/22.

You are more likely to die if you're involved in an electrical incident than you are in other types of work-related incidents. This is taken from a HSE training brochure: "In GB, roughly 2 in every 50 electrical accidents at work result in a fatality, compared with 1 in 500 from other causes. As well as electric shock, other electrically-related injuries arise from burns, arcing and fires. Many of the injuries can take a long while to heal and often result in life-changing conditions."

The team at Di-LOG are working closely with our national distribution network of electrical wholesalers and online specialists, to make our complete safety range of products easily accessible and affordable to all levels within the electrical & mechanical industry.

Our national sales and technical teams are on hand to assist you with any questions that arise with the implementation of safe isolation equipment across your business, as we continue to make our industry a much safer place to work.