HEALTH AND SAFETY

GUIDANCE FOR ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

ELECTRICAL SAFETY
The nominal electrical supply at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) is 230v single phase/400V three
phase at 50Hz frequency on the event floor.

Whereby WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017 supplies a tool requiring 110v they will also be supplying a step down
transformer to suit. These reduce the voltage risk from 230v to a safer 110v or below during operation and on
the event floor.

Whereby a Competitor plans to bring their own 110v tooling, they must also bring with them a suitable and
compliant transformer. All persons involved in the Competition, who bring electrical equipment to Abu Dhabi,
should remember to bring an adaptor for each individual item.

If transformers or electrical equipment do NOT meet the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (equivalent to United
Kingdom (UK)) requirements, alternative equipment can be purchased or hired from the selected electrical
contractor (details to be confirmed), who will facilitate any requirements. These can be booked or hired in
advance.

DOS AND DON’TS

1. Flexible leads for static appliances must not exceed 2 m.
2. 3-pin 4-way multi-plugs are permitted to a maximum of 1 per fixed socket outlet and the lead must not
exceed 2 m.
3. Emergency stops/cut offs must be accessible at all times.
4. Low voltage system transformers must have external fuses correctly rated for each fitting on the secondary
side. Internal fuses and thermal type cut-outs are not acceptable.
5. Electrical installations/equipment that do NOT comply with UAE regulations will not be energised.
6. Competitors must always perform visual checks on their equipment, wires, and contacts before starting
work.
7. Always perform a visual check on the condition and earthing of extension cords and other wires before
starting work.
8. Monitor the condition of equipment connections and extension cords.
9. Brittle, cut, split, or otherwise damaged cords must be replaced before works start.
10. Cords must NEVER be patched with regular or insulating tape.
11. Any defects or flaws in electrical equipment must be reported immediately to the Workshop Manager or a
member of the Skill Management Team.
12. All electrical work unrelated to the skill competition is absolutely forbidden.
13. Always switch off the mains voltage from the mains switch when stopping work.

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PLUGS
The official name is: Type G, BS 1363 (British 13 A/230-240 V 50 Hz grounded and fused).

• Multiple connections – No more than one flexible cord shall be connected to one plug.
• Fuses – The rating of the fuses in fused plugs shall be appropriate for both the equipment and the flexible
cord/extension lead connected.
• All portable electrical equipment should be fitted with a BS 1363 or IS 401 (as applicable) plug or have the
appropriate plug adaptor to comply with the UAE (UK) required standards.

PLUG ADAPTORS
If your tool is terminated to a connection other that a UAE (UK) standard plug, an adaptor such as the one above
will need to be used. Non UAE (UK) multi-way type adaptors and bayonet adaptors must NOT be used.

The use of trailing/block type 4-way fused sockets shall be restricted to the following:

• One 4-way extension lead unit per fixed socket outlet, subject to a maximum loading of the primary outlet
(i.e. the socket that the 4-way is plugged into) and its plug fused accordingly (13 amp or a maximum pull of
3250 watts).
• 4-way extension leads cannot be plugged into another 4-way extension to provide additional sockets.
• Primary outlets will be rated and fused to the suitable capacity in each skill area. Skill areas will have fixed
socket outlets specifically for electrical tools (labelled accordingly).
• The standard 2-pin country/region plug that is fitted to double insulated electrical equipment indicates that
the equipment is designed to operate within the parameters of non-industrial type socket outlets (13-16A).
• A maximum flexible cord length of 2 metres from plug to trailing block unit.
• 2-pin 4-way splitters will NOT be allowed if they are not earthed to the earth point of the primary socket
outlet.

PERSONAL ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

Workshop Managers and Skill Competition Managers will perform visual checks on ALL personal electrical
equipment e.g. chargers, laptops, tablets, mobiles phones etc., belonging to Experts, Competitors, Interpreters,
and others that is not for use within the skill competition but still within the skill area, before connecting to
ADNEC’s services. Any defective electrical equipment must be removed and logged by the Workshop Manager
or Skill Competition Manager and is not to be used within the skill area or venue.

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PORTABLE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
All electric hand tools must comply with UAE (UK) standards. This requires that all portable electrical equipment
including power tools, transformers, and 4-way extension leads (4-way power boards) etc. are to be tested to
ensure it is electrically safe; this is known as a PAT (Portable Appliance Test). The WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017
Technical Team will arrange for the necessary PAT inspection of all tools (including Competitor’s own tools in
their toolbox), before the start of the Competition. It is anticipated this will take place during C-4 to C-3 within
ADNEC and will require the keys for the toolbox and the Expert from the corresponding country/region to be
present. Any tools that do not pass this inspection will NOT be permitted to be used or enter the skill area.

Items that are brought within a Competitor’s luggage will also need testing, this will be able to be tested at an
on-site area at ADNEC (location to be confirmed). Competitors or a representative from their Member, are
required to bring such items to this area on C-2 for testing.

All portable electrical equipment including power tools, transformers, and 4-way extension leads (4-way power
boards) etc., must meet the minimum requirements of WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017; this includes being marked
with a certification mark of quality standard such as the CE mark from the country of origin, or one of the
world-wide standard marks that WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017 will accept. (Some of which are shown below) –
European Economic Area Marking, Korea Mark, Australia Mark, Japan Mark, and China Mark.

HAND-ARM VIBRATION/NOISE
Due to the constraints of the WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017 activities in relation to the marking procedure and the
controlled work environment within each skill area all electrical hand tool usage will be kept to a minimum by all
Competitors. It is understood and planned that exposure action values of 2.5m/s2 A(8) (at which level employers
should introduce technical measures to reduce exposure) and a exposure limit value of 5.0m/s 2 A(8) (which
should not be exceeded) will not be reached through any operational activity during the Competition.

All participants of WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017 must be made aware of the Control of Vibration at Work
Regulations (the Vibration Regulations), and its aim to protect workers from risks to health from
vibration/electrical hand tools. It is a competition requirement for ALL applicable Competitors to complete Hand
Arm & Vibration (HAV) assessments before works commence on Familiarization Day (C-2).

All Experts are responsible for monitoring Competitors’ activities at all times during the open hours of the
Competition. Workshop Managers, Skill Competition Managers, and Experts in conjunction with WorldSkills Abu
Dhabi 2017 Health and Safety team all have a responsibility to monitor skill area activities in relation to health,
safety, and environment non-compliance for the open hours of the event.

Information and regulations relating to the above statement can be found at:

• Vibration action and exposure levels (Hand Arm Vibration Calculator) -

http://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/hav/vibrationcalc.htm
• Maintaining portable and transportable electrical equipment -
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/hsg107.pdf

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SAMPLE PICTURES
Below are some sample pictures (Dos & Don’ts) of overloading sockets, trailing leads, bad wiring, and the
correct way to wire a British standard plug.

 DON’T - NEVER overloading extension cord

with multiple adaptors.

 DON’T - NEVER overloading extension cord

with multiple adaptors. Overloading plug
sockets and adaptors and have trailing leads.

 DON’T - NO trailing leads can overheat and

are trip hazards problems. Don’t every plug
multi plug adaptors into each other.

✓ DO – UK 4-way Plug extension lead (4 Way

Power boards)

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  DON’T - NEVER put homemade or make
shift sockets adaptors in to plug sockets.

 DON’T - NEVER overload plug sockets

Multi plug extensions should be used when

more than one piece of electrical is required.

✓ DO - Only plug one plug into a wall

mounted socket.

 DON’T - NEVER use badly maintained

electrical equipment. i.e. transformers

✓ DO – Use well maintained electrical

equipment. Transformers such as these can
be hired from Travis Perkins

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  DO – Electrical equipment will require PAT
testing. This picture shows a typical PAT test
sticker.

 DON’T - ALWAYS Wire a plug properly. This

diagram shows the incorrect way of wiring a
plug (Live and Neutral wires have been
connected to the wrong terminals)

✓ DO - ALWAYS wire a plug properly. This

diagram shows the correct wiring of a British
type G three pin plug.

1 - Cable grip
2 - Neutral terminal
3 - Earth terminal
4 - Live terminal
5 – Fuse

REQUIRED - All electrical equipment should

be fitted with BS 1363 or IS 401 plug or
have the appropriate plug adaptor to comply
with the UK’s required standards.

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