The Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT) has once again teamed up with Electrical Safety First (ESF) to give free lockout kits to Scotland’s trainee electricians. 

Now in its 12th year, the partnership saw SECTT training officers visit colleges and training centres across the country to hand out more than 650 of the kits to 3rd Stage apprentices and adult trainees, observing physical distancing at all times.

Worth £30 each, the kits save lives by ensuring that electricity is turned off – and stays off – until work is completed. This fundamental process, known as safe isolation, is essential in helping to prevent serious or fatal electric shocks.

Among the recipients were trainees at Ayshire College, Ayr Campus, Dundee & Angus College and Perth College UHI, with other apprentices presented with their kits at all 21 SECTT Approved Centres.

Anne Galbraith, CEO of SECTT, said: “Adopting safe working practices and procedures is essential and embedding the right approach at the start of an electrician’s career is key.

“The kits not only provide crucial safety equipment but also promote safe practice throughout these trainees’ working lives.

“Everything we do at SECTT is safety critical, so as an organisation we are proud to do everything we can to support this.”

Lesley Rudd, Chief Executive of ESF, added: “It’s vital that safe working procedures are undertaken across the industry, but to be properly effective they need to be established at the start of an electrician’s career.

“These free kits don’t just provide essential safety equipment that will make safe isolation an ingrained habit, they could also make the difference between life or death.”

Established in 1990, SECTT is a not-for-profit charitable trust that manages high-quality training on behalf of the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB).

Fiona Harper, The Secretary of the SJIB, said: “This annual handout demonstrates the industry’s ongoing commitment to safety as well as skills. Ensuring that the next generation of electricians are educated in safe isolation is essential, and sits alongside other measures to ensure we have a properly trained and qualified workforce, such as the current consultation to introduce regulation of electricians as a profession.”

SECTT organises and provides financial assistance for training, carries out pre-employment assessments for all applicants and monitors the progress of all apprentices and adult trainees from their first day at college to the completion of their training.

ESF is a campaigning charity that aims to reduce deaths and injuries caused by electricity in UK homes. It works closely with government, the electrical industry, manufacturers, retailers and consumer safety organisations to improve safety regulation and standards. It also runs media and digital campaigns to share advice and guidance with consumers to help them stay safe in their homes.