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Safety Recommendation

A Recommendation to Adopt Voltsticks

Improving safety. Reducing risk. Protecting people.

Test Before Touch

A simple check today can prevent a life-changing incident tomorrow.

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Engineer in hi-vis testing a live street cabinet with a voltstick

Executive Summary

Adopt the routine, mandatory use of voltsticks (non-contact voltage detectors) for all work on or around electrically connected street furniture.

This small investment significantly improves workforce safety, reduces the risk of electric-shock incidents, supports legal compliance and strengthens a proactive safety culture.

The Risk

Green street cabinet with a danger high-voltage warning sign

Lighting columns, traffic signals, feeder pillars, EV charging points and illuminated signs can become live through faults, damaged cables, water ingress or incorrect installations.

Live electricity may not be visible, but it can cause serious injury or a fatality.

The Solution

Adopt the routine use of voltsticks as a standard pre-contact safety check on all electrically connected street furniture. A simple, quick and effective check that identifies the possible presence of voltage before anyone touches the equipment.

A yellow and black voltstick non-contact voltage detector, tip glowing red

Key Benefits

Improved Safety

  • Reduces the risk of electric shock, burns and serious injury.
  • Helps protect your people, contractors and the public.

Risk Reduction

  • Identifies potentially live equipment before contact.
  • Reduces exposure to hidden electrical faults.

Legal & Regulatory Compliance

  • Supports compliance with health & safety legislation (HSWA 1974, EAWR 1989).
  • Demonstrates reasonably practicable steps to protect your workforce.

Financial Benefits

  • A low-cost investment with high impact.
  • Helps reduce the cost of accidents, claims, downtime, damage and reputational harm.

Culture & Reputation

  • Reinforces a Test Before Touch culture.
  • Demonstrates a visible commitment to working safely and responsibly.

Cost Consideration

Voltsticks are an affordable, low-cost piece of equipment.

Estimated investment

£15 – £20 per unit

depending on specification and supplier

Proposed Implementation Plan

  1. 1

    Procure

    Provide approved voltsticks for all relevant team members.

  2. 2

    Train

    Provide practical training on correct use, limitations and daily function testing.

  3. 3

    Implement

    Make the voltstick check mandatory before any physical contact.

  4. 4

    Monitor

    Supervisors monitor compliance through site inspections and safety audits.

  5. 5

    Review

    Regularly review process effectiveness and incident data.

Conclusion

Adopting voltsticks is a simple, effective and cost-efficient measure that improves safety, reduces risk and supports legal obligations.

It aligns with a commitment to safeguarding people and delivering operations to the highest safety standards.

Recommendation

Approve the mandatory use of voltsticks for all work on or around electrically connected street furniture, and incorporate this requirement into your Safe Systems of Work, RAMS and training programmes.

Test Before Touch

A simple check today can prevent a life-changing incident tomorrow.

How Sygma helps

We turn Test Before Touch into everyday practice

Sygma Solutions builds the voltstick check into your Safe Systems of Work, RAMS and training programmes, and delivers the practical training your teams need to use the equipment correctly and with confidence.

Talk to Sygma

A proactive check today. A safe tomorrow. Test Before Touch. Protect people. Prevent harm.