|
The Electrical
Safety Program and its procedures apply to personnel working on or near any
energized installations. Some procedures apply to only "qualified"
personnel and are specifically identified as such.
A
"Qualified" Person:
1. Has the skills and techniques for avoiding the electrical hazards of working
on or near exposed energized parts,
2. Is familiar with the safety related work practices that pertain to the
respective jobs, and
3. Is trained and familiar with the following:
 |
Skills and
techniques necessary to distinguish exposed live parts from other parts of
electrical equipment, |
|
Skills and
techniques necessary to determine the nominal voltage of exposed live parts, |
|
Clearance
distances specified in the program and the corresponding voltages, to which
exposure will result, |
|
When the work
will involve either direct contact or contact by means of tools or
materials, qualified persons must also have training on use of precautionary
techniques, personal protective equipment, insulating and shielding
materials, and insulated tools. |
Only qualified
persons may work on electric circuit parts or equipment that have not been
de-energized. Such persons shall be made familiar with the use of special
precautionary techniques, PPE, insulating and shielding materials and insulated
tools.
Safety
Measures
All personnel are to use suitable protective equipment including rubber gloves,
mats, and blankets to provide insulation from other elements which are energized
or grounded. Personnel shall not wear rings, watches, glasses with metal frames
or other similar metallic objects while working on energized electrical
equipment.
Personnel must be trained annually in the requirements of this program. All
training must be documented.
Personnel may not enter spaces containing exposed energized parts unless
lighting is provided that enable the person to work safely.
Working
on Live Parts
Energy isolation must be done unless de-energizing introduces additional or
increased hazards (such as deactivation of emergency alarm systems, shutdown of
hazardous location ventilation equipment, or removal of critical illumination
from an area).
If the exposed live parts cannot be de-energized, safe work practices must be
used to protect the exposed personnel.
These include:
|
In the case of
overhead lines, guarding, isolating, or insulating materials must be used to
prevent personnel from direct contact of the lines with their body or
indirect contact with tools, equipment, or any other conductive materials. |
|
Protective
shields, barriers, or insulating materials must be used to avoid inadvertent
contact with energized parts in confined spaces such as manholes or vaults.
Doors, hinged panels, etc. must also be secured to prevent their swinging
into personnel. |
|
Ladders will
be of a non-conductive material. Metal and wooden ladders are prohibited. |
Circuit
Breakers
Only load-rated switches, circuit breakers, or other devices specifically
designed as disconnecting means may be used for opening, reversing, or closing,
circuits under load conditions.
After a circuit is automatically de-energized by a fuse or circuit breaker, it
will not be reenergized until determining that the equipment and circuit can be
safety energized. Manual re-closing of circuit breakers or re-energizing
circuits by replacing a fuse more than once is prohibited.
Bypassing protective devices or using a fuse or circuit breaker with a rating
too high to protect the circuit or equipment involved is also prohibited, unless
included in system design.
The following procedures will be followed when working at electrical control
panes:
|
Before
operating switches or breakers, ensure all protective panels are closed and
fastened. |
(When operating
the control or main switch, NEVER stand in front of the electrical panel. ALWAYS
stand off to the side of the panel to operate the switch. Never look at the
control panel. Should the panel explode, your eyes or body must not be in a
direct line with the explosion.)
Electrical
Disconnects, High Voltage, and Grounding
|
All electrical
disconnects must be legibly marked to indicate what each disconnect
controls, unless they are located and arranged so the purpose is obvious.
The service, feeder, and branch circuit must also be legibly marked to
indicate their purpose. The applicable equipment must be identified to
cross-reference when the disconnect is not obvious. The markings must be
durable to withstand the service environment. |
Pull and junction
boxes for systems over 600 volts must have their covers permanently marked
"HIGH VOLTAGE".
Portable
Electrical Equipment
Portable equipment must not be handled in a manner that could cause damage to
the equipment. Electrical cords will not be used for raising or lowering
equipment, be fastened by staples, or otherwise hung in a manner which could
cause damage to the outer insulation.
|
Extension
cords and cords on equipment must be visually inspected before use. |
Overhead
Lines
All power lines should be considered energized unless the proper measures have
been taken for de-energizing. When work is being performed near energize
overhead power lines, no part of the crane, boom, mast, gin poles or machinery,
should be permitted within 10 ft. of the power lines power lines rated 50 KV or
below.
For energized lines rated above 50 KV, the minimum distance between power lines
and the boom, mast, crane or its load, must be 10 ft plus .4 in for each KV over
50 KV.
Ladders
Use non-conductive ladders when working on or near electrical equipment or
conductors. The use of metal ladders is prohibited. Portable ladders shall have
non-conductive side rails.
Top of Page
|
