Recover a broken down or damaged electric vehicle
Overview
This standard is designed for those who provide a recovery service to a broken down or accident damaged electric vehicle, for example, those working for roadside recovery operators and the emergency services; the standard would also be appropriate for those involved in the dismantling and disposal of electric vehicles. It covers the working practices and knowledge needed to carry out a risk assessment and work safely around an electric vehicle that may have damage to its high and/or low voltage systems.
For the purposes of this standard, an electric vehicle is any vehicle that is in part or wholly electrically propelled. This would include:
- Hybrid (HEV) - to include mild/micro hybrid vehicles where the voltage is considered dangerous
- Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)
- Extended Range Electric Vehicle (ER-EV) or Range Extended Electric Vehicle (RE-EV)
- Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) or Pure Electric Vehicle (PEV)
- Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)
This standard does not deem someone competent to maintain, service or repair an electric vehicle’s high voltage systems and their components.
N.B. This NOS may be used in conjunction with other vehicle recovery NOS, for example IMIRR0406. It may also be used in conjunction with NOS for EV first responders – IMIEV02a and IMIEV02b.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
P1 Identify the electric vehicle type, collect relevant information about the vehicle and associated electrical hazards and mark the vehicle as an EV
P2 Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and use vehicle protection equipment (VPE) appropriate to the work activities you are carrying out
P3 Identify the hazards and assess the risks presented by the electric vehicle
P4 Follow the correct procedures to make the vehicle safe prior to starting any work activities, in line with your dynamic risk assessment, including where necessary, isolating high voltage electrical systems, within your level of authority and competence
P5 Carry out work activities in a way that minimises risks to yourself and other people
P6 Refer any problems with the vehicle that you cannot deal with yourself to a relevant person in your organisation and follow their instructions
P7 Establish a safe and appropriate transportation route and location for delivery
P8 Follow workplace procedures in case of emergency
P9 Record and report the work activities you have carried out on or near the vehicle to relevant colleagues.
P10 Follow a robust handover procedure
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
Use of technical information
K1 How to identify an electric vehicle and its type
K2 How to find, interpret and use sources of information applicable to electric vehicles as appropriate to your job role
K3 Why industry recognised guidance and recommendations are important and the implications of not following them
K4 How to identify high voltage electrical components in an electric vehicle
Legislative and organisational requirements and procedures
K5 The health and safety legislation, industry codes of practice or guidelines and workplace procedures relevant to working on, near or with electric vehicles, including the appropriate personal protective equipment and its use, and the safety of the working environment
K6 The hazards associated with high and low voltage systems including batteries and other high voltage electrical vehicle components
K7 The manufacturer’s and your workplace procedures for:
K7.1 assessing and managing the risks associated with damaged and broken-down electric vehicles
K7.2 ensuring that the vehicle has been made safe as appropriate to the work you are carrying out, in line with your dynamic risk assessment, including isolating high voltage systems when necessary, within your level of training
K7.3 referring/reporting problems when working with electric vehicles
K7.4 recording and reporting work carried out on electric vehicles
K7.5 ensuring safe receipt and handover of a damaged electric vehicle, including marking the vehicle as an EV
K8 The implications of video recording equipment on a vehicle and the relevant workplace procedures to follow if fitted.
K9 How to carry out a dynamic risk assessment on damaged and broken-down electric vehicles, including components and cabling, battery integrity, shorting and loss of coolant
K10 The implications and effects of electricity through the human body
K11 The signs and symptoms of electrocution
K12 The implications of strong magnetic fields and the effects on medical devices
K13 Organisational procedures that must be followed in the event of electric shock
K14 The hazards associated with electric vehicles when exposed to extreme temperatures, impact and other adverse conditions
K15 What to do in an emergency, within your level of authority
K16 The importance of adhering to a robust, documented handover procedure
High voltage component construction and layout
K17 The fundamental features and principles of high voltage components, including battery modules, electric motors, associated components and auxiliary systems
K18 How to identify the location of high voltage cables and components, for example, by labelling and colour and their associated voltages
K19 The different types of energy storage systems and voltages associated with electric vehicles
K20 The components of all fuel sources and systems on electric vehicles, including alternative fuels and hydrogen fuel cells
K21 The hazards associated with all fuel systems, including alternative fuels and hydrogen fuel cells
Vehicle system operation
K22 The main differences in recovery techniques between an electric vehicle and a non-electric vehicle
K23 How to safely operate an electric vehicle
K24 The charging systems associated with electric vehicles and how to use them safely, including the use of plug-in charging equipment
K25 The specific manufacturer’s guidelines and the precautions necessary when charging, connecting an auxiliary power source to, moving or towing an electric vehicle
K26 How to immobilise an electric vehicle safely
K27 The implications of remote vehicle control
K28 When vehicle systems may self-operate
Scope/range
- Vehicle - any vehicle that is in part or wholly electrically propelled. This would include
1.1. Hybrid (HEV) - to include mild/micro hybrid vehicles where the voltage is considered dangerous
1.2. Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)
1.3. Extended Range Electric Vehicle (ER-EV) or Range Extended Electric Vehicle (RE-EV)
1.4. Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) or Pure Electric Vehicle (PEV)
1.5. Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)
Scope Performance
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Skills
Glossary
Additional Information
This section contains examples and explanations of some of the terms used but does not form part of the standard.
Dynamic risk assessment - the practice of mentally observing, assessing and analysing an environment while working, to identify and remove risk. The process allows individuals to identify a hazard on the spot and make quick decisions in regard to their own safety.
Handover procedure – to include mark up of vehicle and detailed incident record, including hazards encountered and actions taken.
Hazards associated with high voltage electrical vehicle components - Exist not only during work on high voltage systems, as specified above, but also on all other high-power electrical drive systems and high-pressure storage systems. Vehicle and equipment manufacturers’ guidance should be followed at all times.
High voltage – Regulation No 100 of the Economic Commission for Europe of the United Nations (UNECE) — Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to specific requirements for the electric power train, states that: ‘High Voltage’ means the classification of an electric component or circuit, if its working voltage is > 60 V and ≤ 1 500 V DC or > 30 V and ≤ 1 000 V AC root mean square (rms). Electricity at Work Regulations (1989), and associated HSE guidance should be followed at all times.
N.B. Some electric vehicles may operate at voltages below or above industry recognised standards.
Sources of information applicable to electric vehicles - Examples include hard copy manuals, data on computer and data obtained from on- board diagnostic displays. Also, Department for Transport guidance for recovery operators, phone apps for recovery operators
Status of vehicle – broken down, with damage which may present a hazard, end of life.
Work activities – dealing with electric vehicles as part of carrying out recovery/collection activities.
Links To Other NOS
IMIRR0406
IMIEV02a
IMIEV02b