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Unquestionably, there are new and inherent risks associated with the maintenance and repair of electric and hybrid vehicles in contrast to conventional vehicles.

This includes:

• Short circuits with potential to create explosions and fires

• E xposed connections and the presence of high voltage cable which has the potential for electric shock, resulting in serious death or injury

• Components that may retain a dangerous voltage even when a vehicle is switched off

• Harmful gases and liquids released when batteries are damaged

• Vehicles silently moving and people not aware

• Or components that may move unexpectedly due to magnetic forces.

Obtaining additional skills, appropriate training through registered training facilities and following the car manufacturer’s guidelines will be necessary to allow technicians to work safely with these vehicles. Having a proper procedure to disable, embolise, deenergise the vehicle, incorporating a lockout procedure so the vehicle can’t be re-energised until technicians have completed their tasks is essential to create safe work practices.

AS 5732:2022 ‘Electric Vehicle Operations- Maintenance and Repair’ lists necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) depending on the task and level of risk involved. Some of these last line of defence PPE measures include:

Electrical Insulating Gloves with an appropriate voltage rating. Commonly these are Class 0 that offer protection up to a working voltage of 1000V AC /15000V DC. These can be worn with a cotton under glove to reduce sweating and provide comfort. Leather over gloves are worn to protect the rubber insulated gloves from mechanical harm and also to provide protection against electrical arcing. The use of caution signage and warning steering wheel covers to alert others of potential risks and temporary exclusion zones to instruct non authorised people to keep away.

Using 1000V insulated rated tools when working on energised components to lessen the risk of shorting out the high energy battery source. Wearing arc rated face shields and clothing to protect the face and body against the direct force of an electric arc incident. Having an (AED) automated external defibrillator immediately available in the event of an electrical shock.

To get more information on product solutions that help technicians mitigate risk when electric and hybrids are worked on contact Electrical Factory Outlet. www.electricalfactory.com.au.

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