• Maintenance, inspection, testing and repairs should only be carried out by someone who is suitably qualified and/or experienced such as an electrician.
• Do not rely on other people's equipment being in a safe condition or properly connected. Check before you use it.
• Do not connect or use incompatible items of equipment.
• Use a residual current device (RCD) on the power supply to instruments, audio equipment and any other equipment which you or your colleagues may handle. RCDs are relatively inexpensive and widely available from retail outlets selling electrical goods.
Relative magnitude and effect of electric current
• Current necessary to light a 60 watt lamp is sufficient to electrocute five people simultaneously – 250
• Ventricular fibrillation, usually fatal - 100
• Respiration is affected, victim dies of suffocation - 50
• Trip rate for RCD protection because anything above this level is dangerous - 30
Muscles convulse - 2
• Perception level - 1
Residual current devices
Good quality, well maintained equipment provides the best safety. However, it is recommended that RCDs are used because:
1. They detect very small leakages of current to earth.
2. They automatically and quickly cut off the electricity supply.
It is recommended that the sockets you use, particularly for audio equipment, are protected by RCDs suitable for personal protection. These are commonly referred to as 30 mA 30 ms devices. The best place for an RCD is at the main switchboard or at the socket outlet itself (see below). If these are not already provided you can use an RCD fitted plug or RCD adapter, which is better than nothing.
Remember!
1. It is important that you always keep your equipment in good condition.
2. An RCD is a back-up to protect you if something goes wrong.
3. If the RCD trips it is a sign that there is a fault that could be dangerous. Do not ignore this warning. Have it checked and get the fault fixed by someone competent to do so.
4. Never bypass the RCD so that you can carry on using equipment which may be faulty, and possibly dangerous.
Where should the RCD be? Main switchboard – safest place for RCD.
Socket outlet - good place for RCD Equipment.
Plug - RCD if none in fixed installation.
Extension sockets - RCD helps but does not give maximum protection.
