Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly useful in engineering, inspection, training and assessment. It can review large amounts of information quickly, identify patterns, organise evidence and produce remarkably professional reports. That capability is precisely why we need to understand its limitations. At Electrical Testing Ltd, we had been using AI to help review video evidence from […]
The Risk We Quietly Accept: When Identifying Risk Is Mistaken for Managing It A recent and widely reported street lighting column collapse, which resulted in life-changing injuries to a member of the public, has prompted a familiar response across the highway lighting sector. Predictably, attention has focused on ageing assets, corrosion at the base, inspection
A Persistent Safety Gap in Highway Lighting Across the highway lighting industry, one safety issue continues to cause concern: the inconsistent and sometimes unsafe slinging of lighting columns during lifting operations. Despite improvements in other areas of health and safety, column lifting remains a weak point. These inconsistencies increase the risk of serious accidents, near
Does the addition of a small flag or banner create a structural risk to the lighting column?
The Problem with Outdated Systems Imagine driving down a motorway at night, only to find vast stretches plunged into darkness. Beyond the inconvenience, these outages pose safety risks, escalate maintenance costs, and present compliance challenges for local authorities and contractors alike. In the past, the highway electrical sector relied heavily on paper-based inspections, disconnected systems,
Across the UK, structural safety of lighting columns is a matter of public trust, engineering integrity, and increasingly, legal and financial liability. Yet, while most local authorities appreciate the importance of inspecting their street lighting stock, many still rely on non-accredited providers or procurement processes that prioritise cost over competence. It’s time for a sector-wide
A Case Study in Highway Electrical Operations Creating a robust safety culture is both an art and a science. For organisations in high-risk industries, the challenge lies in translating theoretical safety principles into practical, measurable improvements. This article chronicles our journey in the highway electrical sector from 2020 to 2024, showcasing how we progressed from
Competent Persons Schemes, HERS, and UKAS Accreditation: Ensuring Quality in Highway Electrical Contracting In the complex world of highway electrical contracting, ensuring both the competence of individuals and the robustness of assessment processes is paramount. Clients need confidence that their projects are in capable hands, and this is where schemes such as the NICEIC Approved
I was pretty sure about the distances required for vertical clearances between overhead lines and goalposts at a work site this week, but I thought I’d double-check with ChatGPT – you know, just to feel comfortable, like getting a reassuring hand on the shoulder. What I didn’t expect was to have my confidence undermined by
For National Apprenticeship Week 2024, we want to spotlight the real value and success stories of apprenticeships. These aren’t just training courses; they’re stepping stones to brilliant careers. Our apprenticeship programs have led to some amazing career achievements and even caught the eye of national award panels. Our Apprentices’ Success Stories Our apprenticeship programs do
