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.
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.