The Mad Rush For Solar PV Will Result In Death.....

By Chris Dodds on 18th March, 2013

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Courtesy of Kevin Hann from Linked In's HVMS Group with Contribution from Group Member T&D....

"The current rush to get large solar power stations generating by the end of March could very easily result in death. The government is forcing the energisation of these 33kV and 11kV high voltage substations to be completed far too quickly and with over £250k of lost income if sites are not finished by 31st March pressure is on to work unsafely. Even Western Power Distribution are failing to take action over potentially dangerous switchgear as they rush through schemes. Some companies are hiding safety critical issues from the DNO and preventing properly managed boundary procedures. Due to the speed of connections many sites are being energised on the same day resulting in enormous stress on field operations staff with pressure from the PV companies to break or not even create properly considered commissioning procedures. On some sites there is not even a clear date when sites will be 'under safety rules'.

Without proper immediate on site supervision I expect as a minimum that inverter installation engineers cable jointers switchgear testers may all be working on plant at the same time and all experience dc pressure test voltage!

I believe the situation is a death trap and that the date for energergisation for ROC2 should be postponed on the grounds of safety. The HSE should be aware of this mad panic rush and engineers and technicians should all stop and look for the dangers.

Of course we all work safely but when the pressure is high and supervision slips that's when accidents happen

Does anyone agree or is facing the same pressure? What can we do?" - Kevin Hann.

 

Chris Dodds • Thorne & Derrick are a supplier of 11kV and 33kV cable terminations and cable joints to PV projects and are currently experiencing unprecedented panic demand for 2/3 days and even same day deliveries to sites throughout the South West and South generally. Pressure on suppliers for materials soon becomes pressure on HV jointers to work faster and faster ; yes we agree thats when accidents can happen.

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Category:  HV Cable Jointing & Terminating

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