Carry out non high voltage operations on, near or with an electric vehicle
Overview
This standard is for people who work on, near or with electric vehicles but do not work on the vehicle’s high voltage system. Examples of relevant job roles include technicians, MOT testers, sales/reception staff, cleaners/valeters, delivery drivers or automotive managers. The standard covers safe working practices and essential knowledge of the hazards associated with electric vehicles and the precautions to follow to avoid these.
For the purposes of this standard, an electric vehicle is any vehicle that is in part or wholly electrically propelled. This would include:
- Hybrid (HEV) - to include mild/micro hybrid vehicles where the voltage is considered dangerous.
- Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)
- Extended Range Electric Vehicle (ER-EV) or Range Extended Electric Vehicle (RE-EV)
- Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) or Pure Electric Vehicle (PEV)
- Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV).
This standard does not deem someone competent to maintain, service or repair an electric vehicle’s high voltage systems and their components.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
P1 Identify the electric vehicle type and collect relevant information about the vehicle and any specific hazards
P2 Confirm with the relevant person in your workplace that the correct workplace procedure has been followed to make the vehicle safe prior to starting any work
P3 Operate in a way that:
P3.1 avoids contact with, or damage to, high voltage electrical systems and their components
P3.2 avoids damage to your working environment and injury to yourself and others
P4 Refer any concerns about the vehicle to the relevant person in your workplace
P5 Follow workplace procedures to report the operations you have carried out on, near or with the vehicle
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
Use of technical information
K1 How to identify an electric vehicle and its type.
K2 How to find, interpret and use sources of information applicable to electric vehicles as appropriate to your job role
K3 How to identify high voltage electrical components in an electric vehicle
Legislative and organisational requirements and procedures
K4 The health and safety legislation, industry codes of practice or guidelines and workplace
procedures relevant to working on, near or with electric vehicles, including the safety of the working environment
K5 The hazards associated with high voltage electric vehicle components and how to work safely in their proximity
K6 Your workplace procedures for:
K6.1 confirming with the relevant person in your workplace that the vehicle has been made safe as appropriate to the work you are carrying out
K6.2 referring/reporting concerns when operating with/around electric vehicles
K6.3 recording and reporting work carried out on electric vehicles
K7 The implications and effects of electricity through the human body
K8 The implications of strong magnetic fields and the effects on medical devices
K9 The precautions necessary when using plug-in charging equipment
K10 Workplace procedures that must be followed in the event of electric shock and other emergencies, including fire and flood
K11 The hazards associated with electric vehicles when exposed to extreme temperatures, impact and other adverse conditions
K12 Why an electric vehicle might be cordoned off
Vehicle system operation
K13 The main differences between an electric and non-electric vehicle
K14 How to safely operate an electric vehicle
K15 How to safely charge an electric vehicle
K16 The implications of remote vehicle control
K17 When vehicle systems might self-operate
K18 How to identify different operational modes in an electric vehicle
Scope/range
- Vehicle - any vehicle that is in part or wholly electrically propelled. This would include:
1.1. Hybrid (HEV) - to include mild/micro hybrid vehicles where the voltage is considered dangerous.
1.2. Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)
1.3. Extended Range Electric Vehicle (ER-EV) or Range Extended Electric Vehicle (RE-EV)
1.4. Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) or Pure Electric Vehicle (PEV)
1.5. Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)
Scope Performance
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Skills
Glossary
Additional Information
This section contains examples and explanations of some of the terms used but does not form part of the standard.
Hazards associated with high voltage electrical vehicle components - exist not only during work on high voltage systems, as specified above, but also on all other high-power electrical drive systems and high-pressure storage systems. Vehicle and equipment manufacturers’ guidance should be followed at all times.
High voltage – Regulation No 100 of the Economic Commission for Europe of the United Nations (UNECE) — Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to specific requirements for the electric power train, states that: ‘High Voltage’ means the classification of an electric component or circuit, if its working voltage is > 60 V and ≤ 1 500 V DC or > 30 V and ≤ 1 000 V AC root mean square (rms). Electricity at Work Regulations (1989), and associated HSE guidance should be followed at all times.
N.B. Some electric vehicles may operate at voltages below or above industry recognised standards.
Operations on, near or with an electric vehicle - Any activity which does not include working on the high voltage systems and components.
Sources of information applicable to electric vehicles - Examples include hard copy manuals, data on computer and data obtained from on- board diagnostic displays.