Power System Safety Rules - TransGrid

1 Power System Safety Rules Revision 2020 Title: Power System Safety Rules Revision No Page 1 of 88 This page is intentionally left blank Title: Power System Safety Rules Revision No Page 2 of 88 Power System Safety Rules Summary This document sets out approved Rules for safe access to TransGrid substations and switchyards and to Power System apparatus Document Control Revision no: HP TRIM No: D2012/15325 Approval/ Reviewed date: 28 October 2020 Business process: Manage Health, Safety & Environment Document type: Corporate-wide procedure Process owner: Manager Health, Safety and Environment Author: Power System Safety Rules Committee Reviewers: Power System Safety Rules Committee Approver: Jeremy Roberts, Acting EM, Works Delivery Revision All significant new additions and alterations to Revision have been highlighted in this version by a red vertical sidebar. Editorial changes (where the intent of the associated Rule has not been changed) have not been highlighted.

2 Warning: A printed copy of this document may not be the current version. Please refer to to verify the current version. Title: Power System Safety Rules Revision No Page 3 of 88 Table of Contents Item Page Number Purpose .. 7 Scope .. 7 Application .. 7 Responsibilities .. 7 Reference Documents .. 8 Structure of Authorisations .. 9 Associated Documentation .. 10 Training and Competency .. 11 Special provision for young people and persons in training .. 11 Personal Protective 11 Work involving apparatus of other organisations .. 11 Work on Disconnected Apparatus .. 12 De-energising apparatus in an emergency .. 12 Mobile Plant and Equipment .. 12 Limited Entry Provision .. 12 1. Safe Access to Substations (Observation only) .. 13 Entering a Substation .. 13 Departing a Substation .. 13 When Escorting Others Not 13 2. Power System Access and Operation .. 14 Request for Access (RFA) .. 14 Changes to Requests for Access (RFA).

3 14 Assessment of a Request for Access (RFA) .. 15 Producing a High Voltage Preparation and Restoration Instruction (HVPRI) .. 15 Alteration to a High Voltage Preparation and Restoration Instruction .. 16 Operating Switchgear via SCADA .. 16 3. Work in Substations - General .. 17 Work within Substation Buildings and Car Parks .. 17 Substation Hazards 1 - 2 .. 17 General facilities work .. 18 Electrical work .. 18 Work in Switchyards and High Voltage Areas not affecting Substation Apparatus .. 18 Substation Hazards 3 - 11 .. 19 Work in Switchyards or High Voltage Areas affecting Substation Apparatus .. 21 Substation Hazards 12 19 .. 21 Excavation .. 22 Work affecting earthing systems .. 22 Safety Observer .. 23 4. Work on Low Voltage (LV) and Mechanical (MECH) Apparatus .. 24 LV/MECH General .. 24 Low Voltage and Mechanical Apparatus Hazards .. 24 Working under a LV/MECH Access Authority.

4 25 Low Voltage and Mechanical Apparatus Hazards .. 25 LV/MECH Access Authority Flow Chart .. 26 Responsibilities of persons working under a LV/MECH Access Authority .. 26 Receipt of a LV/MECH Access Authority .. 27 Transfer of a LV/MECH Access Authority .. 27 Title: Power System Safety Rules Revision No Page 4 of 88 Suspension of a LV/MECH Access Authority .. 28 Alterations to conditions of work under a LV/MECH Access Authority .. 28 Resumption of Work Following Suspension of a LV/MECH Access Authority .. 28 Cancellation of a LV/MECH Access Authority .. 28 LV 29 Issue LV/MECH Access Authority .. 29 LV/MECH Access Authority General requirements .. 29 Responsibilities of the person issuing a LV/MECH Access Authority .. 29 Responsibilities of the authorised person issuing a LV/MECH Testing Access Authority .. 30 Responsibilities of the Controller .. 30 Operate LV/MECH Apparatus .. 30 Operate LV/MECH Apparatus - General.

5 30 Making LV/MECH Apparatus Safe for 30 Produce/Check LVMPRI .. 31 Prepare and Restore LV/MECH Apparatus .. 32 5. Work in Substations High Voltage (HV) .. 33 Working under a HV Access Authority .. 33 HV Access Authority Flow Chart .. 34 Responsibilities of persons working under a HV Access 34 Entry to designated work areas .. 35 Receipt of a HV Access Authority .. 35 Transfer of a HV Access Authority .. 36 Alterations to conditions of work under a HV Access Authority .. 36 Suspension of a HV Access Authority .. 36 Resumption of Work Following Suspension of a HV Access 37 Cancellation of a HV Access Authority .. 37 HV Testing .. 37 Testing disconnected HV apparatus .. 37 Testing involving a source not capable of producing currents hazardous to the human body38 Testing under a HV Testing Access Authority .. 38 Responsibilities of the authorised person in charge of a HV Testing Access Authority.

6 39 Issue HV Access Authority .. 40 HV Access Authority General requirements .. 40 Responsibilities of the authorised person issuing a HV Access Authority .. 40 Responsibilities of the authorised person issuing a HV Testing Access Authority .. 41 Responsibilities of the Controller .. 41 Operate HV Air insulated switchgear (AIS) .. 41 Operate HV AIS - General .. 41 Making HV Apparatus Safe for Work .. 42 Making Disconnected HV Apparatus Safe for Work .. 43 Connection of HV Apparatus .. 44 Bridging of Earthing Grids .. 44 Entry to Cages .. 45 Restoration of apparatus .. 45 Emergency Requirements .. 45 Operate HV Gas Insulated switchgear (GIS) .. 45 Making GIS safe for work .. 45 Isolation .. 46 Earthing .. 46 Issue of a GIS HV Access 47 Making Disconnected GIS safe for work .. 47 Local Operation .. 47 Interlocking .. 47 Defeating of Interlocking .. 47 Procedure to be Followed when Defeating Interlocks.

7 47 Emergency Requirements .. 48 6. Overhead lines and Equipment .. 49 Overhead lines and Equipment General .. 49 Overhead lines and Equipment 50 Excavation .. 51 Title: Power System Safety Rules Revision No Page 5 of 88 Safety Observer .. 52 Work on structure earthing 52 Working under a Field Access Authority .. 53 Field Access Authority Flow Chart .. 53 Responsibilities of persons working under a Field Access Authority .. 53 Receipt of a Field Access Authority .. 54 Transfer of a Field Access Authority .. 55 Alterations to conditions of work under a Field Access Authority .. 55 Suspension of a Field Access Authority .. 55 Resumption of Work Following Suspension of a Field Access Authority .. 55 Cancellation of a Field Access Authority .. 56 Bridging of Earthing Systems .. 56 Issue a Field Access Authority .. 57 Prior to issue of a Field Access Authority .. 57 Field Access Authority General Requirements.

8 57 Responsibilities of the authorised person issuing a Field Access Authority .. 57 Responsibilities of the Controller .. 58 Operate HV AIS for work on or near Overhead lines .. 58 Operate HV AIS for Overhead lines - General .. 58 Making Overhead lines Safe for Work .. 59 Making Disconnected Overhead lines Safe for Work .. 60 Connection of Disconnected Overhead lines .. 60 Emergency requirements .. 60 7. High Voltage Transmission Cables .. 62 HV Transmission Cables General .. 62 Cable Hazards .. 62 Not used .. 64 Cable work not requiring a Cable Access Authority .. 64 Excavation of underground cables .. 64 Working under a Cable Access Authority .. 64 Cable Access Authority Flow Chart .. 64 Responsibilities of persons working under a Cable Access Authority .. 65 Receipt of a Cable Access 66 Transfer of a Cable Access Authority .. 67 Alterations to conditions of work under a Cable Access 67 Suspension of a Cable Access Authority.

9 67 Resumption of Work Following Suspension of a Cable Access Authority .. 67 Cancellation of a Cable Access Authority .. 68 Cable Testing .. 68 Testing Disconnected HV cables .. 68 Testing involving a source not capable of producing currents hazardous to the human body69 Testing under a Cable Testing Access Authority .. 69 Responsibilities of the authorised person in charge of testing .. 70 Issue a Cable Access Authority .. 70 Cable Access Authority General Requirements .. 70 Responsibilities of the authorised person issuing a Cable Access Authority .. 71 Responsibilities of the authorised person issuing a Cable Testing Access Authority .. 71 Responsibilities of the Controller .. 72 Making Disconnected HV Cables Safe for Work .. 72 Connection of Disconnected HV Cables .. 72 8. Radio Frequency Transmitting Apparatus .. 74 Radio Frequency Transmitting Apparatus Hazards .. 74 Radio Frequency Transmitting Apparatus - General.

10 74 Work on Radio Frequency Transmitting Apparatus Required to be Isolated .. 74 Testing Radio Frequency Transmitting Apparatus .. 75 Work on Active or Inactive Radio Frequency Transmitting 75 Access by Other Organisations .. 75 9. Definitions .. 76 10. Attachments .. 84 Title: Power System Safety Rules Revision No Page 6 of 88 Attachment A Switchyard entry briefing .. 85 Attachment B - Safe Approach Distances to Exposed Conductors .. 86 11. Amendments from Previous Issue .. 87 Title: Power System Safety Rules Revision No Page 7 of 88 Purpose The Power System Safety Rules are based on the Hierarchy of Controls . They are designed to reduce the risk of workers being exposed to the hazards of an electricity transmission network. Safety is TransGrid s highest priority and these Safety Rules are an essential part of TransGrid s Safety Management System . Use of the word 'shall' indicates mandatory provisions and use of the word 'should' indicates advisory or discretionary provisions.