A Small But Clever Step Forward in Health & Safety

Electricians make up a significant segment of the construction industry, accounting for 6 per cent of the UK’s entire workforce. The specialist skill set of electricians, coupled with necessary out-of-hours availability, makes it no surprise that the role is the highest earner in the construction industry, with many professionals choosing self-employment.

With such a large number of electricians operating as a singular workforce, the responsibility of safety standards falls to the individual on site, and maintaining these standards at a high level is critical. An injury at work has a financial impact on a tradesman at the very least, but the potential of fatal consequences is genuine.

Creating the safest environment

Every professional electrician knows that safety is the number one priority when undertaking a task, but with every precaution taken, even the most experienced electrician isn’t immune to danger.

Most electrical injuries happen in the workplace, and recent figures show that 28 fatalities occurred in just one year from low voltage electricity supplies. The majority of electrical injuries happen when equipment is assumed to be dead but is in fact live, or when a worker is undertaking sub-standard safety procedures. Sometimes unsafe measures are taken unknowingly, with safety equipment or inadequate tools failing the user, resulting in a near miss or injury.

While accidents do happen, most can be avoided. Every piece of equipment must be scrutinised in the selection process, with safety the primary focus. The tools available to electricians are a huge part of ensuring on-site safety and having the correct tools to hand for every job is vital.

Making safe choices

While the old adage claims, “a good workman never blames his tools”, this is not the case when it comes to the electrical profession. An electrician entrusts their tools with their life on a daily basis, as often it is the only thing that stands between them and dangerous currents.

A voltage as low as 50 volts can block electrical signals between the brain and muscles, which can lead to an irregular pattern in the heartbeat; preventing a person from breathing and causing muscle spasms.

For many years tools have been branded ‘insulated’, meaning only that the tools are coated with a material that is not a conductor of electricity. And current EU regulations (IEC 60900) only require insulated tools to offer protection up to 50V.  But when we consider that a standard plug socket carries 230V, insulated tools are not up to the job.

In comparison, Verband Der Elektrotechnik (VDE) certification protects the user up to 10,000V, and only by choosing a tool marked VDE are electricians safe in the knowledge that each tool has been individually tested to 10,000V – a sizeable voltage in comparison to the mere 50 volts that can cause substantial injuries.

VDE tested tools are designed specifically to reduce the user’s risk of injury plus reduce the risk of damage to electrical circuitry, a consideration that could save an electrician’s life.

Creating a solution

Following the recent success of C.K tools’ VDE-approved range of slim screwdrivers, the leading tool provider decided to take on the challenge of starting a new era of hand tools.

After undertaking research with professional electricians, C.K tools identified that most carry a non-insulated stubby screwdriver. Despite understanding the importance of using insulated tools, electricians often encounter situations where their usual VDE screwdriver won’t fit. The new C.K Stubby VDE Slim Screwdrivers are designed to fill this problematic void; featuring a shorter length, they are ideal for use in confined spaces, and full VDE approval provides the assurance that each is individually tested to 10,000v for safe working up to 1,000v.

Premium quality, chrome vanadium steel blades provide exceptional strength and durability while the slim shaft, allows access to recessed screws and fixings. Furthermore, anti-roll flats prevent the screwdriver from rolling off sloping surfaces.

Manufactured in Germany, the C.K Stubby VDE Slim Screwdrivers are available in four key tip types, the essential PZ2, Slotted sizes 4.0mm and 5.0mm and Modulo (+/-) 2, with tip type markings for easy identification.

Working in partnership with end users ensures that C.K tools is able to deliver tool solutions that are best suited to the actual work undertaken by professional tradesmen.

Though these changes may seem minor, they will make a huge difference to electricians, with one sparky stating, “I’m really excited to use the new C.K VDE Stubby. It’s a product that has been missing on the market.”

While a screwdriver may not be the answer to every issue when it comes to health and safety in the workplace, the innovation of revamping of a classic tool is a significant step in the right direction.