Newsletter
KH Engineering Services
Promoting “Everyone Home Safe Every Day”
Managers’ Report
Do you know the Life
Saving Rules?
With KHESL celebrating 25 years as an established electrical contractor this year and our
rebranding to K H Engineering Services Limited, I believe that 2015 is going to be an
exciting year for us as a business and something I am very proud to be part of.
I joined K H Electrics in 1996 as Office Manager and from then until today I have worked
closely with both Kevin and Mark throughout this time covering the majority of the
administration roles we currently perform, which in turn has allowed me to pertain a good
understanding of the business and the administration requirements of the company. It has
also permitted me to see many of our apprentices turn into great electricians!
With the introduction of Kim Rowe as Office Manager this has seen my position advance
into PA to MD/General Manager and within this new role I am now responsible for the
quality of our Administration procedures and the documentation we are submitting to our
clients as well as the operational admin side of the business with our aim to be paperless
by the end of the year!
One of my objectives is to revisit our current documentation with all of our office staff to
review the quality of the documentation we produce and how this represents the business.
I aspire to encourage everyone to review their work with a scrutinising eye and to ask
themselves “Am I pleased with presentation, is it concise and professional?”
With the re-branding it is an exciting time for KHESL with the introduction of a new Logo,
and associated stationery /work wear/van & office signage. I will require everyone to be
extra vigilant to ensure that all of our regular documentation is updated with K H
Engineering wording & logo. This will all be updated by May 1st, however there may be
something that slips through that notorious Admin Net! So we all need to be on the lookout
please to identify, amend and report.
I am really pleased to welcome the new members of staff to K H Engineering this month.
Sarah Jane, who has joined us as our Operations Administrator, Sophie as our Accounts
Apprentice & Derek as our Business Development Manager. They all bring additional
scope to the business with their new and enthusiastic attitudes and I am sure we will all
benefit from them being part of our team. Welcome to you all.
Little motivational Thought for the Month...
Thanks for taking the time to read this newsletter, hope you
agree that its both informative and involving, as it brings
our business together.
Soraya
Your feedback is always welcome. If you wish to include news or participate
please contact: [email protected]/[email protected]
Issue No. 5 April 2015
Page 1 of 7
Information from Network Rail, Home Safe
Incidents, Accidents &
Audits in numbers
Total no minor accidents 2015
3
Total no days lost due to accidents
0.00
Accidents reportable under
RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries,
Diseases and Dangerous
Occurrences Regulations) 2014
0
Total no teams audited from
26/02/15 to 01/04/15:
21
Total no non-conformities logged
02
Emergency
defibrillators for Kent
PSE project
UK Power Networks have taken the
decision to supply defibrillators in both
their main office and sites. This follows
a recent incident in the Network Rail
Cottons Centre office, where a
colleague suddenly collapsed. A UK
Power Networks contractor also died
suddenly from a heart attack.
Safety Site Stand Down Success
Last Wednesday 25 March, sites across the Southern region took part in a safety site
stand down. The purpose of the stand down was to address site tidiness and housekeeping, with the aim of reducing slips, trips and falls which account for the largest proportion of Close Calls each period.
Your feedback is always welcome. If you wish to include news or participate
please contact: [email protected]/[email protected]
Issue No. 5 April 2015
16 of their office and site staff have
since been trained to use the AED
machines. Nine of the defibrillators
have been located at permanent site
locations and one at the project's
main
office
at
Chatham.
Mark
O'Callaghan,
UK
Power
Networks, said 'we decided to do
what we can, to reduce the risk for all
of our employees and visitors as we
take their welfare very seriously.'
Page 2 of 7
Close Call
Operatives working at Fishergate noticed that there was a HV cable buried underneath the pavement, without any warning signs of the danger.
They installed a caution sign to alert others who may carry out works near
the area in the future.
Watch out for electrical burns
Whilst changing defective diodes
within a rectifier cubicle at High
Brooms Substation, an operative suffered minor burns to his wrist and lower
arm.
At West Worthing, whilst on a safety inspection tour, a faulty inspection chamber lid was
found in the station walkway. The team cordoned off the area around the lid and repaired it the following day.
Some good examples of before and after the site stand down:
Although wearing gloves, the staff
member's metallic wrist watch strap
was exposed and made contact with
the negative busbar and the earthed
equipment housing. Although low, the
residual voltage on the busbar was sufficient to drive a high current through
the watch strap causing the injury.
Consider removing metallic
watches and jewellery before
working with electricity.
HV substation Whytleafe South
Handle with care
An injury occurred at Strood when a
Construction Manager went to lift up
an empty cable drum and was
stabbed in the hand by a discarded
hypodermic needle.
Paddock Wood
The individual was taken to hospital
and received various injections to protect him against viruses and infections.
Remember...
All operatives should be briefed
not to put their hands anywhere
they cannot see. If unsure obtain
a torch first and check where you
are placing your hands.
Chelsea
Your feedback is always welcome. If you wish to include news or participate
please contact: [email protected]/[email protected]
Issue No. 5 April 2015
Page 3 of 7
Drugs And Driving: The Law
As you all know, the new drug drive law came into
force in England and Wales on the 2nd March 2015. The new law will make it illegal to drive
with a prescribed drug in the body, which are above the accepted limit.
This new legislation is an effective tool for dealing with the risks posed by drug drivers. If the
police stop you and think you’re on drugs they can do a ‘field impairment assessment’. This
includes a number of tests like asking you to walk in a straight line.
If they think you’re unfit to drive because of taking drugs, you’ll be arrested and will have to
take a blood or urine test at a police station. You could be charged with a crime if the test
shows you’ve taken drugs.
New offence codes have been introduced for drug offences, these are listed below:
25th Wedding
Anniversary
Congratulations to Alan and
Michelle Dolan as they
celebrate
25
years
of
marriage on 28th April.
Driving Speed Limits
Light goods vehicles (Not over 7.5
tonnes maximum laden weight,
e.g. Ford Transit Van)
National Speed Limits for these
vehicles are as follows:
•
•
•
•
Motorway - 70mph
(60mph if articulated or
towing a trailer)
Dual Carriageway
- 60mph
Single Carriageway
- 50mph
Built-up Area (Indicated
by a regular system of
street lighting) - 30mph
Sarah Shoults
We are pleased to include the
recent photo below of Sarah
Shoults and her daughter
Phoebe.
Sarah is currently on maternity
leave following the birth of
Phoebe in December.
The consequences of drug driving are the same as drink driving. If you're convicted you will
receive:
•
•
•
A minimum 12 month ban
A criminal record
A fine of up to £5000 or up to 6 months in prison, or both
It could cost you your job! Don't take the risk.
For more information on the drug driving law, visit GOV.UK or THINK!.
Your feedback is always welcome. If you wish to include news or participate
please contact: [email protected]/[email protected]
Issue No. 5 April 2015
Page 4 of 7
Advice from Tony Mace – 3rd Amendment 17th Edition As many of you may be
aware in June the 3rd Amendment of the 17th Edition will come in effect. Listed below are
some of the major changes that will affect you and your work practices.
•
UK Specific Rags- There are now some new regulations which are specific to the
UK. Any new UK regs will end in a .200 number.
•
Definition of Competent- “Competent” persons will now be defined as “Instructed”
persons.
•
RCDs for ALL Sockets- Reg 411.3.3 now refers to RCD protection for ALL socket outlets
unless i) it is specifically labeled ii) a documented risk assessment has been carried
out. Please Note However, the circuit cable must not require RCD protection in that;
it supplies mobile equipment not exceeding 32 amps, or the installation does not
comprise of cables without an earthed metallic sheath installed in walls or partitions
at depth of less than 50mm and not protected by an earthed containment system.
•
Lower Max Earth Loop Impedance Values (ZS) –ZS values to take into account the
Cmin factor which is for Minimum Voltage Factor. For low voltage supplies Cmin is
given as 0.95 which will lower all the permitted values issued in the previous version
of the IET Regulations by 5%.
•
Plastic Consumer Units- Reg- Reg 421.1.200 – Consumer Units, Switch Boards and
assemblies in domestic electrical installations are now to be made of noncombustible material such as metal, or enclosed in a fire proof boxing or enclosure.
There is a proposed extended implementation period until January 2016 (presumably
to allow the manufacturers to sell off all their plastic stock and make lots of metal
ones!).
•
Escape Route Wiring- Wiring on escape routes should be supported and fixed so it is
not liable to collapse in the event of a fire. This would include the use of metal cable
ties, metal containment and support fixings which would not fail due to excessive
heat. (All routes are to be considered escape routes)
•
RCDs for Cables In Walls- Regs 522 – Any cable in a wall or partition, even commercial
or industrial, would likely require RCD protection. Note that some types of lighting
(fluorescent or LED) may cause RCDs to trip. RCD would not be required if the cabling
had an earthed metal sheath such as SWA/FP200.
•
RCDs for Special Locations- Reg 701.411.3.3 – Cables “passing through” the zones of
a Special Location are to be RCD protected.
•
RCDs for Generator Sets- Reg 551.7.1 – RCDs providing additional protection on
circuits connecting a generator to the installation will now be required to isolate
all phases including the neutral conductor.
•
•
Lighting General Requirements- Section 559 now only covers the general
requirements for fixed lighting. Changes include protecting cable which run through
luminaires against radiation and heat. Display stand lighting must have either SELV,
ELV or RCD protection.
Exterior Lighting Special Location- Part 7 new sections 714 & 715 – Requirements for
outside lighting and ELV installations moved here from section 559. 715 also has
requirement regarding switching and control of lighting installations.
Please note before the changes come into effect either myself or Alan will hold a detailed
briefing.
Your feedback is always welcome. If you wish to include news or participate
please contact: [email protected]/[email protected]
Issue No. 5 April 2015
Employee
Birthdays
Birthdays for KHESL staff in
May include Dean Smith,
Fred
Greenwood,
Paul
Copper, Soraya Mitchell,
Sarah-Jane Campbell and
Simon Taylor. Happy Birthday
to you all.
Staff Changes
New joiners:
Sarah-Jane Campbell –
Operations Administrator
Sophie Paige Curtis –
Accounts Apprentice
Derek Tierney – Business
Development Manager
Tony Freeman – Installation
Electrician
Bradley Slade – Installation
Electrician
We are pleased to confirm
that Alan Dolan has won the
Bonus ball with Number 45
from Saturday Lottery Draw
and the prize fund of £150.00!
We are also very pleased to
confirm that we raised £95.00
for a local charity which
provides theatre placements
for disabled children.
Thank you to EVERYONE that
took part and contributed
towards a worthy cause.
Page 5 of 7
Spotlight on….. Tony Mace Hi, as many of you are aware I have been at K H Engineering Services Limited for a long
time now. I first joined KH Electrical Services Limited on my 18th birthday and I wasn’t what you could call a model apprentice.
To be honest I think I spent much of my early days digging holes with the civils team as punishment, rather than actually
doing any electrical work. As an apprentice I worked on several sides of the company, doing reactive maintenance with
Tom Thompson on the McDonald’s sites then working with Chris Turner on the railway side of the company. On completion
of my apprenticeship I then joined the office as Operation Co-ordinator for the Southern Railways help desk. Sadly this was
not for me and I requested to go back out on site. I then moved through several roles for the company from PPM to testing
and finally as a Qualifying Supervisor.
As Qualifying Supervisor it is my job to ensure that the work we carry out at K H Engineering Services Limited complies with
the standards set by BS7671 and the NICEIC. Ultimately I take responsibility for the quality and safety of any installation
completed by K H Engineering Services Limited. This is a requirement we have to meet to maintain our status as a NICEIC
approved company. With the NICEIC accreditation it allows us to have access to a bigger client base allowing us to carry
out such contracts as the Southern Railway contract.
I am sure you all appreciate the environment we work in today is totally different from how it used to be, with safety being
top priority in all that we do, for both our clients and ourselves. All electrical work we do must be accompanied by either
an electrical installation certificate or a minor works certificate to prove its compliance, and it is your responsibility as an
installer to provide this “guarantee” of the installation safety.
Over the past few years I have seen a big improvement in the quality and amount of the paperwork handed in, but as
always there is room for improvement.
Lastly I would like to thank everyone for making my time at K H enjoyable ……. Most of the time!
Tony
Your feedback is always welcome. If you wish to include news or participate
please contact: [email protected]/[email protected]
Issue No. 5 April 2015
Page 6 of 7
Tea Break Puzzle
Your feedback is always welcome. If you wish to include news or participate
please contact: [email protected]/[email protected]
Issue No. 5 April 2015
Page 7 of 7