Oil-filled switchgear-enforcement aspects

The UK Health and Safety Executive´s (HSEs) concern relates to switchgear, such as oil circuit-breakers, oil-switches, oil-isolators etc., which is dependent manually operated or overstressed or both. They are interested in both high voltage and low voltage switchgear, though their efforts have been concentrated on the high voltage switchgear because of the greater risk. Some of the switchgear is very old and has not been properly maintained, there has been a decline in knowledge and expertise among the users, and some operators are not aware of the risks when closing onto circuits which could be faulty. Guidance was prepared to bring the problem to the attention of users. This takes the form of a free Information Document, giving information about the equipment concerned, the risks and the precautions that can be taken