Introduction: Historically the Reyrolle Fixed Maintenance Earth (FME) has always been considered the most onerous and difficult type of FME to apply. This is due mainly to their inherent design, manual handling and working at height issues surrounding the application of FMEs.

The FME is a three section portable earthing arm weighing 45kg in total, with one set of three primary earths being made up of nine sections in total. Many National Grid substations were designed and constructed in an era where health and safety considerations for maintenance staff were less of a concern than they are today. As a result the location of earthing points can be up to 10m above ground level and the ability to apply and maintain FMEs safely in these conditions is extremely restricted.

Objectives: This project has several objectives relating to three issues surrounding the continued use of FMEs by NG staff. These are:

• To implement and standardise the Manual Handling and Working at Height technique to transport/transfer FMEs from ground level onto high level working gantries

• To further develop a FME Access Platform for FME Maintenance

• To further develop an extended hand railing for FME Maintenance.

All three key objectives are an effort to reduce the manual handling and working at height requirements for MDE substation staff to complete required safety switching & maintenance activities in a manner which will not place unnecessary stresses on their bodies and thus reduce occupational health issues.