Construction Safety Week

Innovative Safety Initiative Award 2013

Automatic Power Cut-off

Device for Electricity
Distribution Board

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Temporary Electricity Distribution Board
• Temporary Electricity Distribution
Board (EDB) is essential for
construction site before the
permanent power is ready for use.
• To avoid person contacting with live
parts of EDB, a door is provided and
a pad-lock is installed
• To warn workers not to open the door,
there is a warning notice
• If power is tripped, worker should call
the REW with contact number printed
on EDB

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Problems to be tackled

• Major stakeholders have put the “lock” requirements in contract,

audit checklist, in-house rule etc.
• However, non-compliances (Lock damaged, not closed the door)
repeat project to project, day to day ..
• Lot of resources are being wasted in chasing who damage the lock,
issue warning letter, disciplinary procedures, handling client
complaint, follow up auditor’s findings, meeting, training etc … …

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Issues to be tackled – Deep Dive

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Way Out for the Unsafe Act

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Solution – Automatic Power Cut-off Device
Development Roadmap and Timeline
• Dec 2011 – Set up working group
Lead by : Safety Manager
EM Construction Manager - REW
EM Project Manager - REW
Senior Electricity Foreman - REW
Electricity Foreman – REW
Safety Officer
Supplier

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Design Criteria
• EDB provide electricity to both sockets and temporary lighting, trip
off the socket should not trip off the lighting at the same time
• When the door is opened and the power to the socket is tripped off,
close the door, the power shall not be suddenly resumed.
• Power resume must be done by REW after disconnect all the
socket connections (To prevent sudden restart of equipment)
• To warn workers not to open the door – Warning Notice
• To warn workers when illegally open the door – Alarm system
• To let REW to know which EDB is altered, Flash light indication
• Material cost must be affordable
• Installation must be simple and can be done by site REW.
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Development Roadmap and Timeline

Jan 2012 – Design and Built Prototype

Developed at Central Police Station Project
Circuit Diagram jointly approved by Construction Manager (EM)
and Project Manager (EM)
Supplier to supply material
REW to install
Modify existing EDB with the Automatic Power Cut-off Device
Material cost for a “64A capacity EDB” : HK$1500.

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Development Roadmap and Timeline

Jan 2012 – Develop Prototype

Emergency Stop Flashing Alarm

Magnetic Contactor REW Key slot Micro-switch 9

Development Roadmap and Timeline

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Development Roadmap and Timeline
2 February 2012 – First Prototype Ready for Trial

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Development Roadmap and Timeline
2 February 2012 – First Prototype Ready for Trial

REW Warning 3 colour

Emergency
Key Flash Status Lamp
Stop

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Development Roadmap and Timeline
2 February 2012 – First Prototype Ready for Trial

Emergency Press the button – All power to output socket will be OFF
Stop

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Development Roadmap and Timeline
2 February 2012 – First Prototype Ready for Trial

REW Key insert for reset or for maintenance/testing by REW

Key

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Development Roadmap and Timeline
2 February 2012 – First Prototype Ready for Trial
Warning Flashing when door is illegally opened (With siren)
Flash When door is closed, still flashing but siren stop

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Development Roadmap and Timeline
2 February 2012 – First Prototype Ready for Trial

3 colour
To indicate Status of EDB
Status Lamp

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Development Roadmap and Timeline
3 colour Status Lamp

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Development Roadmap and Timeline

March 2012 – Supported by Top Management

 Modified all Building Projects existing EDB
 Total 250 Nos of EDB
 Estimated material cost $400,000
 Target to complete within 3 month (Before June 2012)

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Development Roadmap and Timeline

April 2012 – May 2012

Discuss with Supplier to built-in the device into newly ordered EDB
Additional Cost (Material and Labour) for 64A EDB ~ $1800

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Development Roadmap and Timeline
Mar 2012 – Aug 2012 : Feedback after Trial
Pros :
• No more lock damage incident as worker start to know that open
the door, they will not get the power
• The only way to get the power is to call the REW.
• Affordable price ( $1500 to $1800 per EDB)
• Good comment from various clients (Public and Private) and from
assessors during for Considerate Contractors’ Award Assessment

Cons :
• Sealing of the Add-on device create water proof problem to EDB
• Some naughty worker will press on the Emergency Button
• When door is illegally opened, all power to sockets will be cut and
will affect the production if there are many naughty workers
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Development Roadmap and Timeline

Sept 2012
• Further affirmed by Top management as a Gammon Group Policy
• All newly ordered EDB must be installed with this Built-in Device

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Other accessories
Switched 110V Power Strip
• Individual overload circuit beaker and ELCB
• Power strip shall trip before EDB is tripped
• Convenient for use reduce cables from EDB
• IP 44 Standard
• Approx $750 per set

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 Development Roadmap and Timeline

March 2013
Contract No. SS X301
Redevelopment of Kwun Tong Swimming Pool Complex and
Kwun Tong Recreation Ground Project
Selected as Project represent Gammon for the competition

Construction Safety Week

Innovative Safety Initiative Award
2013

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Construction Safety Week
Innovative Safety Initiative Award 2013 - Video

Fan - Connect to socket Lamp - Direct from EDB

Illegal Opening EDB Door

• Illegal Open the door

• Alarm activate
• Flash and Siren
• Power to Fan : “OFF”
• Power to Lamp : “ON”
• Close the door
• Siren “OFF”, Flash “ON”
• Still no power to Fan

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Construction Safety Week
Innovative Safety Initiative Award 2013 - Video

Fan - Connect to socket Lamp - Direct from EDB

Reset the EDB

• Turn off the Fan

• Unplug the socket
Prevent sudden power on and
sudden start of equipment
3. Insert REW Key
4. Reset the device / Flash stop
5. Power to socket resume
6. Plug Fan’s socket
7. Turn on the Fan

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Construction Safety Week
Innovative Safety Initiative Award 2013 - Video

Fan - Connect to socket Lamp - Direct from EDB

Maintenance and Testing of EDB

• Insert REW Key
• Open the Door
• Power to Socket and Fan : ON
• Close the door and Lock
• Remove REW Key

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Construction Safety Week
Innovative Safety Initiative Award 2013
Automatic Power Cut-off Device for EDB
This is a creativity, unique with concept of innovation in HK.

We are glad to see the innovation has resulted in practical outcomes and the
safety performance in electricity safety is improved.

Worker are no longer opening the EDB thus with lesser chance to be
electrocuted.

The affordable cost and simple installation made this device a cost effective
innovation that can be widely used within the construction industry for Civil,
Building, E&M, Maintenance, A&A projects whenever temporary EDB is used.

Last but not least : Lesser resources in handling EDB lock being damaged
allow more time for managing other safety issues

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Construction Safety Week
Innovative Safety Initiative Award 2013
Automatic Power Cut-off Device for EDB

End of Presentation

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