Tools and Safety Practices
What the exam tests
This domain tests hand tools, test instruments, personal protective equipment, isolation procedure, shock response and safe working practice in domestic electrical work.
Core rules
- Use tools with insulated handles rated for the voltage; check insulation before use. Use wire strippers and crimpers correctly rather than cutting with pliers.
- Isolate at the main switch or MCB, lock and tag where possible, and prove the tester on a known live source before and after testing the circuit. Treat conductors as live until proved dead.
- Wear rubber-soled shoes, safety goggles and insulating gloves as required. Gloves supplement, not replace, isolation.
- Do not work live. Discharge capacitors before touching appliance terminals. Keep water away from electrical work.
- For electric shock: switch off supply first; do not touch the casualty if still in contact; call emergency help; start CPR if trained.
Worked example
A socket is to be checked for a fault. Switch off the circuit MCB, lock the board, remove the plug, and prove the voltage tester on a known live point. Test the socket terminals; they should be dead. Only then inspect connections. If the tester fails on the known live point, stop: the tester is unreliable.
Traps
A neon screwdriver is not a substitute for a two-pole voltage tester or proving dead. Do not assume switching off the appliance switch isolates the circuit; the supply may still be present. Do not touch a shocked person before isolation. Do not use damaged cords or tools.