Simulated fault-finding will play a key part in the high voltage (HV) training now being offered at Eastwood Park’s new in-house HV facility at its Falfield, Gloucestershire site.
Created following significant investment, the new facilities ‘mimic’ those in a small-scale hospital site – with distribution sub-stations representing hospital services, a dedicated Authorised Person (AP) HV office, and a variety of different switchgear, ‘reflecting typically what is found in hospital estates in the UK’.
Kevin Furey, Eastwood Park’s new HV trainer (pictured), says that practical HV training, with a combined focus on safety rules and procedures, is essential for safely managing HV supplies on site. Eastwood Park accredited courses will ‘combine the highest safety levels and a structured approach to HV switching and fault-finding’.
Kevin Furey explained: “Our practical guidance and exercises comprise working with a live 11 kV testing rig and live 11 kV phasing. Our simulated 11kv open ring system, with six distribution sub-stations and an intake sub-station, is based on a typical hospital system with dual feeds and a bus coupler. Learners will also undertake pressure testing of cables and vacuum circuit breakers. Our open ring system comprises newly refurbished switchgear, typifying what is most common in industry. The open ring has switched simulated faults, to gives delegates the opportunity to fault-find and operate the switchgear under close supervision.”
He added: “There will also be testing of protection systems and grading exercises, as well as tuition on how to make safe underground cables prior to working on them by using the Ackvoke spiking gun, plus cable fault location. The new site also features a cutaway of a typical 11 kV transformer, showing the internal workings.”
Learners will be trained on the safe operation of HV systems, including via participation in several scenarios covering typical maintenance and repair tasks, and on ‘all the necessary and latest safety documentation, Permits to Work, and Sanctions to Test, required to carry out these tasks’. Assessments will take place on typical practical scenarios, and via a formal technical awareness exam.
Kevin Furey added: “Learners can be assured that they will leave Eastwood Park having received the best training available, and equipped to follow vital safety procedures when operating HV equipment.”
Eastwood Park is delivering HV City & Guilds-accredited programme status training for Authorised Persons within healthcare, industry, and the Ministry of Defence, as well as a comprehensive overview for managers/heads of departments responsible for HV.
