TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT Knowledge Partner protection, inspection of equipment before A
Bill Reeves CEng, MIET, MIHEEM Electrical Authorising Engineer, Eta Projects
Bill is a Chartered Engineer with many years of experience in a wide range of industries, including Utilities and Flood Defence. He is an experienced Authorising and Power Systems Engineer with detailed knowledge of DNO LV/HV/EHV Electricity Distribution Networks operation. Bill holds a MSc in Sustainable
Electrical Power Engineering, and an HND in Mechanical Engineering, and sits on the IET Chartership accreditation panel. He joined Eta Projects Ltd in March 2020. He brings with him a large amount of experience in HV/LV Electrical Power Engineering and Generation. He is extremely conversant in Safe
Systems of Work and Power Systems Engineering, bringing with him extensive Distribution Network Operator (DNO - UKPN) experience supported by a background of electrical engineering in the Water and Renewable Generation and Power Quality industries.
operating, operation of switching, and calling out contractors, etc. Another feature of the Eta Projects AE on-
large part of developing a Safe System of Work (SSoW) for electrical
systems is familiarity with the system itself. It is the responsibility of the Electrical
Authorising Engineer within healthcare institutions to assess both the organisation’s SSoW and the HV and LV Authorised Persons responsible for implementing the SSoW. As an Electrical Authorising Engineer for
Eta Projects at many hospitals, common feedback from APs who have completed an HTM 06 training course at a proprietary training establishment is that the training, whilst of generally excellent quality, does not necessarily prepare them for AP duties on their own hospital’s specific system. Of course, it is not practical for training
schools to include training on all types of electrical systems and equipment found in hospitals. However, it is unreasonable to expect an AP to be proficient in operating an electrical system and switchgear on which they have had no training. As many APs will testify, standing in front of unfamiliar switchgear at 3.00 am with the responsibility of getting the lights back on in an acute hospital can be a daunting experience. Recognising this, the Eta Electrical
Authorising Team also provides site-specific training at hospitals where it undertakes the AE role. This training includes not only instruction in the operation of the site’s switchgear, but also identifies realistic situations on the hospital’s electrical system which the AP may have to deal with, e.g. HV and LV power failures, electrical faults, and emergency situations where lives are in danger. Of course, there are constraints in
operating switchgear in live hospitals, but the scenarios are made as realistic as possible with the trainer interacting with the AP as the scenario progresses. A typical scenario might start with the trainer stating that a particular transformer has failed, and the AP describing the actions that they would take to maintain power supplies, e.g. checking
16 Health Estate Journal November 2023
site training includes the AP producing safety documentation for common site-specific tasks. A common task is the isolation of a generator for maintenance. Each AP on the course completes standard safety documentation (Safety programme, Isolation & Earthing diagram, Permit to Work, Logbook) and then the APs are required to attempt to follow eachothers’ Safety Programme to ensure the isolation is completed safely. This exercise clearly demonstrates the importance of being unambiguous when completing safety documentation. As with all HTM 06 courses, the dangers of
electricity, and electricity and the law, are a vital part of the Eta course. As part of the Eta AE course, the site-specific supply arrangements from the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) are presented and discussed to give the AP a better understanding of the electrical resilience of the site, and, for example, the likely outcome if the AP inadvertently paralleled two DNO supplies through the hospital’s system. It is fair to say that there is generally a lack of awareness amongst APs of the potential severity of this occurrence. All in all, the objective of the Eta AE course
is to provide the AP with confidence in dealing with both routine electrical tasks and electrical incidents on their own sites. It is also useful for the AEs undertaking the training, as it gives them a better insight into the ability of the APs, and affords the AE a more informed view before recommending an AP for appointment. The Eta AE team also provides specific on-
site training for CPs. The emphasis on this training is the completion of tasks to be compliant with HTM 06. As with the AP course, common tasks are discussed, and the CP instructed and tested on safe isolation and testing procedures. Increasingly, contractors are attending these CP courses, and although the
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