This commitment to safety is embodied in a single, vital qualification: the SHEA Power passport. For anyone aspiring to work on or near the UK’s electrical infrastructure, from a new apprentice to a seasoned engineer, this course is the essential first step. It moves beyond simply listing rules, aiming instead to instil a deep-rooted culture of safety awareness. This guide will provide a detailed exploration of the SHEA Power scheme, delving into what it is, who it’s for, what you will learn, and why it remains the indispensable key to a safe and successful career in the power industry.
What Exactly is SHEA Power?
SHEA stands for Safety, Health and Environmental Awareness. It’s a comprehensive scheme developed and managed by the Energy & Utility Skills Register (EUSR), the official skills body for the gas, power, water, and waste management industries in the UK. The role of EUSR is to help these sectors attract, develop, and maintain a skilled, safe, and sustainable workforce. The SHEA schemes are a critical part of that mission.
The best way to understand the SHEA Power card is as a “safety passport.” Much like a driver’s license proves you have the basic knowledge to operate a car safely on public roads, the SHEA Power card proves you have the foundational safety knowledge required to be present on a live electrical site. It demonstrates a common understanding of the critical risks and procedures, ensuring everyone from the groundworker to the project director is speaking the same language of safety.
Crucially, the SHEA Power scheme is also affiliated with the CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme). This is a significant advantage, as it allows the SHEA Power card to be recognised on construction sites, giving holders greater flexibility and access across multi-sector projects. It confirms that the cardholder has met a nationally agreed-upon standard of health and safety competence.
Who is This Qualification For? A Detailed Look
The scope of the SHEA Power scheme is intentionally broad, designed to cover every individual who might need to enter an operational power environment. This ensures there are no gaps in safety understanding on a site. Let’s look at how it applies to different roles:
- For the Operational Team: For the overhead linesperson working at height, the cable jointer working in a trench, or the substation fitter installing new switchgear, SHEA Power is non-negotiable. It provides them with the specific context for the hazards they face daily, from arc flash to working in proximity to live conductors.
- For Engineers and Technical Staff: An electrical engineer designing a new connection or a surveyor mapping a cable route still needs to understand the on-site realities. The course gives them the practical safety perspective required to conduct site visits safely and to design systems that are safe to build and maintain.
- For Civil Contractors and Groundworkers: Excavating near underground power cables is one of the highest-risk activities in the industry. The SHEA Power course provides essential knowledge on safe digging practices, reading utility plans, and identifying the grave dangers of a cable strike.
- For Management and Supervision: A Project Manager or Site Supervisor holds ultimate responsibility for their team’s safety. Having every team member SHEA Power registered provides documented assurance that a baseline of safety training has been met. It helps them enforce a consistent safety culture and meets the requirements of clients like National Grid and other Distribution Network Operators (DNOs).
- For New Entrants and Apprentices: For someone just starting their career, perhaps as an apprentice here in Wales, the SHEA Power course is often the very first formal qualification they will receive. It sets the tone for their entire career, embedding safety as a core professional value from day one.
A Deep Dive into the Syllabus
The SHEA Power course is typically a one-day programme that is both comprehensive and highly interactive. It is structured into core modules common across all utility sectors, followed by modules tailored specifically to the power industry.
Core Health, Safety, and Environmental Modules:
- Understanding our Workplace Responsibilities: This module moves beyond rules to explore the legal framework, including the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It covers the ‘duty of care’ that every employee has for themselves and others.
- Understanding the Effects of our Work on the Environment: This covers practical environmental awareness, such as preventing oil spills from transformers, managing waste responsibly, and protecting local ecosystems during construction.
- Identifying and Controlling Risks: This is a cornerstone of safety. You will learn about the principles of risk assessment and the hierarchy of control (Elimination, Substitution, Engineering Controls, Administrative Controls, PPE), a structured way to make work safer.
- Common Hazards in the Workplace: This covers the universal risks present on any site, including slips, trips, falls, correct manual handling techniques, and fire prevention.
- Occupational Health Hazards: This module differentiates between immediate safety risks and long-term health hazards. It explores topics like noise-induced hearing loss, hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), and exposure to hazardous substances.
- Responding to Emergencies: Crucial for any site, this covers procedures for reporting accidents, understanding emergency plans, and the immediate actions to take in a first-aid situation, particularly one involving electric shock.
Power-Specific Modules:
- Hazards of Electricity: A foundational module covering the physics of electricity, how it can harm the human body, and the principles of insulation and earthing.
- Working in the Vicinity of Power Lines and Cables: This highly specific module details the dangers of working near overhead lines and underground cables, referencing crucial HSE guidance like GS6. It covers safe approach distances and permit-to-work procedures.
- Working in Substations: This module addresses the unique, high-risk environment of a substation, covering dangers like arc flash, the importance of restricted access zones, and the critical role of formal authorisation procedures like National Grid’s BESC scheme.
The Logistics and Road to Certification
The course is delivered by EUSR-approved training providers throughout the UK. The day involves presentations, videos, and group discussions based on real-world scenarios. Assessment is conducted through a multiple-choice test for each module, ensuring you have absorbed the key information from every section.
Upon successful completion, your details are registered on the EUSR, and you will receive a virtual card, accessible via the EUSR ‘Manta’ app on your smartphone, with a physical card also available. This registration is valid for five years. To maintain the qualification, a one-day refresher course is required before the expiry date to ensure your knowledge of legislation and best practices remains current.
In conclusion, the SHEA Power qualification is far more than a simple tick-box exercise. It is a vital investment in personal and collective safety, a passport to a career in a critical sector, and a testament to the industry’s unwavering commitment to ensuring every worker returns home safely at the end of the day.
Like Shea power, there are also Shea gas training courses that is required for gas safety workers
