Haven't got the BGB to hand (I'm working away left it at home)and I'm sure someone's mentioned it before but isn't there a reg which says all circuits/installations must have adequate means of isolation ( I do read the regs just can't quote them verse and number quite yet)
There is a proper procedure in place but everyone knows you can't afford to hang around all day for an Isolation/re energisation so what do most of us do, We turn the load off and remove the fuse illegally, surely this means that the DNO's are contravening the above reg and possibly the EAWR too indirectly by not installing a reasonable means of isolation.
Of course the person pulling the fuse is also breaking the rules too, but my point is the DNO's have a system in place which encourages individuals to remove fuses rather than doing it correctly and having the DNO blokes come out, so this implies that the system is not practicable , so surely the DNO have a legal liability somewhere in all of this, and they can't even feign ignorance as they know it goes on.
And yes I know they are guidelines but is it possible that the DNO would or have had to get their expensive Law departments out of the office and into court to defend their decisions regarding failure to fit an isolator in the event someone gets hurt or worse while illegally pulling a fuse
I'm sure the Coroner would have made a recommendation that Isolators are fitted after the event of a death, I know of at least one case of an electrician being killed in the last 10 years, and by making a recommendation in writing/on public record to an energy company then this would have some legal implications.
On my last assessment I commented to the Area Engineer at the beginning that they had become salesmen rather than promoting safe practice and Professional Electricians because for the first 1/2 hour he promoted the Niceic's services and products ,insurance and the like, and he went on to tell me I was wrong that they do promote their members to the public etc, funny really as I'm also a member of the public and I think I'd notice this, this led to a conversation about the idea to integrate an Isolation switch in the smart meters, in which they failed to convince the decision makers the ENA to do, ok bearing in mind the cost to the manufacturer of a new design and tooling etc I can see how they were stone walled ,the annoying thing is they concentrated on the smart meter isolator issue and should have said ok no isolator in the meter but there is nothing really stopping them from fitting a separate isolator, at the same time as the meter goes in, but apparently they never mentioned this, the Dno's couldn't really argue the expense factor as some already do so ,and still make a very nice profit.