Educational guides on how workplace documents fit together — which document is typically completed before another, what is used alongside it and what follows. Connected to workplace forms, checklists and registers. Informational only — not legal advice; employers remain responsible for required documents and compliance.
What an electrical isolation workflow is
Electrical isolation is the process of disconnecting a circuit or item from every source of supply and securing it so it cannot be re-energised while someone works on it. The workflow is the chain of documents around that isolation — the assessment, the point of isolation, the lock-off and caution notice, and the proving-dead test with a verified instrument.
This page is an educational overview of how those documents connect. It is not an official procedure, is not jurisdiction-specific, and using it does not isolate any system or guarantee compliance — the employer decides what their electrical safety system must contain. Working on electrical systems requires separate competence and authorisation.
Why these documents connect
- The risk assessment identifies the circuits and supplies that must be isolated.
- The isolation point is selected and disconnected from all sources of supply.
- A lock-off and caution notice secure the isolation and warn against re-energising.
- Proving dead with a tested instrument confirms the conductors are not live.
- A permit may reference the isolation so work is only authorised once it is proven safe.
The typical sequence
In a typical example, a risk assessment identifies the supplies and the isolation method; this is normally required before work begins. The system is switched off, isolated from all sources, locked off and labelled. A test instrument is proved on a known source, the conductors are tested dead, and the instrument is proved again.
Work proceeds only once dead is confirmed, and any permit referencing the isolation is issued. On completion, the area is cleared, the lock-off is removed by the person who applied it, and a record is completed afterwards before re-energising.
Who owns each step
- The employer owns the electrical safety system and decides who is competent and authorised.
- A competent person makes, secures and records the isolation.
- The person doing the work proves dead before touching the conductors.
- A supervisor confirms the isolation and permit before work starts.
- The person who locked off removes the lock and confirms it is safe to re-energise.
Common mistakes
- Isolating one supply and missing a second feed or back-feed.
- Locking off but not proving dead before starting work.
- Using a test instrument that has not been proved before and after.
- Someone else removing the lock-off and re-energising the system.
- No caution notice, so others do not know the isolation must stay in place.
Records and retention (high level)
Completed isolation records are generally kept with the risk assessment and any permit that referenced them, so the work can be traced. How long they are retained depends on the employer, the work and the applicable rules.
This page does not state a required period — confirm retention with the applicable law and the official authority.
Completing and sharing as a PDF
Isolation procedures and records are commonly compiled, signed and stored as PDFs so the steps can be shared and kept as a record. Exporting to PDF supports the record; it does not make any document official or guarantee compliance.
Employer notes
- Ensure only competent, authorised people isolate and work on electrical systems.
- Identify all sources of supply, including back-feeds and stored charge.
- Require proving dead with a verified instrument before work.
- Keep isolation records with the assessment and any related permit.
Worker notes
- Only isolate or work on electrical systems if you are competent and authorised.
- Lock off, fit a caution notice and prove dead before touching conductors.
- Keep your lock on until your work is finished and never remove another’s.
- Confirm the system is safe before it is re-energised.
Country considerations
Rules for electrical isolation, competence and authorisation vary by country, and the official authority differs. This page is general and high-level — not a statement of any country’s law and not a guarantee of validity.
Confirm current requirements with the official authority for your country and a qualified professional.
Who is responsible
The employer is responsible for electrical safety, for ensuring isolations are complete, proven and carried out by competent people, and for compliance. This page is an educational overview with a template example; it does not isolate any system, does not authorise anyone and does not transfer responsibility.
Export, edit and share documents
The documents, policies and templates this involves can be exported, edited, signed, stored and shared as PDFs with the HELPERG PDF Editor.
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