Professional Documents
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STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS.
2003 No. 22.
THE ELECTRICITY (SAFETY CODE) REGULATIONS, 2003.
_________
ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS.
PART I—PRELIMINARY.
Regulation.
1. Citation.
2. Application.
3. Interpretation.
30. General.
31. Requirements for work on dead low voltage apparatus and conductors.
32. Precautions for work on dead low voltage cables.
33. Precautions for work on dead low voltage overhead lines.
34. Work on live low voltage apparatus and conductors.
35. Precautions for work on live low voltage cables.
36. Precautions for work on live low voltage overhead lines.
37. Application of high voltage rules to work on low voltage apparatus and
conductors.
38. Testing and adjustment of low voltage apparatus.
39. General penalty.
STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS.
2003 No. 22.
PART I—PRELIMINARY.
1. Citation
These Regulations may be cited as the Electricity (Safety Code) Regulations,
2003.
2. Application
(1) These Regulations apply to electrical systems, and to associated plant and
apparatus under their ownership or control.
(2) Rules, documents or procedures issued by other authorities may apply in
accordance with management instructions, but where no such rules documents or
procedures have been issued or if there is any conflict between such rules documents
or procedures with these Regulations, these Regulations shall prevail.
3. Interpretation
In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires—
“Act” means the Electricity Act, 1999;
“key-safe” means an approved type of device used for the secure retention
of keys;
“limitation of access” means a safety document that defines the limits and
nature of work that may be carried out when verbal instructions are not
considered sufficient for that purpose, and where a permit-to-work or
sanction-for-test is not applicable;
“live” means electrically charged;
“low voltage” means voltage not exceeding 1000v AC;
“permit to work” means a safety document specifying the high voltage
apparatus made safe to work on and the work that is to be carried out;
“personal supervision” means supervision by a person having adequate
technical knowledge, experience or competence such that he or she is
always in the presence of the person being supervised while the work
or testing is being carried out;
6. Special procedures
A licensee shall ensure that work on or testing of apparatus, conductors or plant
to which these Regulations are, for special reasons not applicable, shall be carried
out according to a special procedure, which shall adhere to the safety requirements
prescribed under these Regulations.
7. Objections
(1) A person who receives instructions regarding the operation of or work upon
a licensee’s systems and associated plant and apparatus shall, if he or she has an
objection on safety grounds against the carrying out of such instructions, lodge such
objection with the person issuing the instructions.
(2) Where an objection has been raised under sub-regulation (1), the
licensee or other concerned entity shall cause investigations to be conducted into the
merits of the objection and if necessary refer the matter to a higher authority for a
decision before proceeding with such operation or work.
9. Duties
(1) A person engaged in the operations or work upon electrical systems and
associated plant and apparatus shall comply with these Regulations and other related
documents and legal procedures relevant to his or her duties.
(2) A person shall not neglect his or her duties on ground that he or she is
ignorant of the relevant legal requirements and procedures.
(3) A person who has any doubts as to any of these duties shall report the
matter to a higher authority for advice before proceeding with the work.
10. Safety equipment and protective clothing
(1) Every licensee shall obtain and issue to its employees safety equipment and
protective clothing approved by the Authority.
(2) A person shall not climb a pole which is impaired by decay or damage
or whose stability is in doubt until such pole has been supported by approved means.
(3) Where a pole is supported as provided under sub-regulation (2), such
pole shall be climbed by one person at a time or access to its top may be by other
approved means independent of the pole.
(4) A person gaining access to work on a tower, pole or other high structure
shall use safety belts, harnesses or other safety equipment of an approved type.
(5) A person working on a tower, pole or other high structure shall be in
visual range of another person who shall be fully conversant with approved rescue
procedures.
(6) Every gate or device to prevent climbing of towers and gantries
supporting high voltage conductors shall always be kept secured in an approved
manner, and access shall be controlled by a senior competent person or a competent
person in receipt of an appropriate safety document.
16. Access to high voltage apparatus and conductors
(1) Guards to an access ladder, barrier, door or gate on or in an outdoor
compound preventing access to a live high voltage conductor shall be kept secured
in an approved manner, and access to them shall be according to approved
procedure.
(2) Any barrier, door or gate preventing access to a totally enclosed
chamber, cubicle or cell containing live high voltage conductors shall be kept locked
and the keys shall be accessible only to a senior competent person.
(3) Any spout shutter not required for immediate work or operation shall, if
the spout is not otherwise made inaccessible, be locked and the key accessible only
to a senior competent person.
17. High voltage switching
(1) High voltage switching shall not be carried out by any person other than an
authorised person, a senior competent person or by remote control directed by a
control engineer.
(2) Notwithstanding sub-regulation (1), a competent person may for the
purpose of training and acting under the personal supervision of an authorised
person or senior competent person, carry out high voltage switching.
(3) Except in cases of emergency, high voltage switching shall not be
carried out without the authority of the appropriate control engineer.
(4) When a control engineer gives authority for high voltage switching to be
carried out, he or she shall communicate directly with the person intending to carry
out the switching, and where for special reasons direct communication is not
possible, an approved procedure shall be followed.
(5) Before any high voltage switching is carried out on any system that may
affect another system, the control engineer authorising the switching shall
communicate with the control engineer of the other system and the switching shall
be agreed between them and recorded in the respective control books of all control
engineers concerned.
(6) Where high voltage switching is to be carried out for issuing a safety
document and there are two or more control functions involved, in the absence of a
standing agreement for such matter, the control engineers concerned shall agree on
the person to be in control of the part of the system in the isolated state and to be
responsible for giving consent to the issuing of a safety document, and such
agreement between the control engineers shall be recorded in the respective control
log books by each control engineer.
(7) Where there are special requirements to be complied with before, during
or after high voltage switching operations, approved procedures shall apply and
special provisions shall be made to ensure that the control engineers, the operators
and others affected are aware of their responsibilities.
(8) High voltage switching with the control engineer’s authority shall be
carried out without undue delay and all such switching or switching in emergency,
shall be reported to the control engineer as soon as possible. For emergency
switching, the circumstances demanding such switching shall be reported at the
same time.
(9) If a switchgear shows any sign of distress, the operator shall report its
condition to the control engineer who shall in turn report to a higher authority in
order to have it examined before taking a decision about further operation.
18. Records
(1) Every message by telephone or otherwise relating to the operation of a high
voltage system shall be recorded down and shall be repeated to the sender to ensure
that it has been accurately received.
(2) A control engineer shall ensure that a record is made of the time and
particulars of all high voltage switching including that carried out by the control
engineer by remote control.
(b) as a safeguard for personnel carrying out cleaning and painting works
on substations, the system diagram in the appropriate local office
shall be marked to show the work locations;
(c) high voltage live line work on high voltage overhead lines may be
carried out but only according to approved procedures;
(d) where the design of apparatus does not allow strict compliance with all
the requirements in that sub-regulation and if an operational
procedure for carrying out the work does not exist, the work shall be
carried out in accordance with special instructions issued by an
authorised person, to ensure that safety is achieved, and shall be
carried out under the personal supervision of the authorised person,
with the control engineer kept informed of the circumstances.
(2) Safety locks shall be used to lock all switch gear at points where the
circuit on which work is to be carried out is likely to be energised and the keys for
such locks shall be kept in a key safe, if provided, or in some other safe place in the
possession of an authorised person.
(3) Safety locks shall be fitted to the switch gear at all points of isolation
immediately following the sectionalisation of defective apparatus.
(4) Details of the isolation referred to in sub-regulation (1) and the deposit
of safety lock keys associated with the isolation shall be recorded by the Control
Centre.
(5) Where the circuit on which work is to be carried out is controlled only
by fuses or links, the fuses or links (and carriers) shall be removed and kept in a safe
place preferably in the possession of the person responsible for issuing the safety
documents, or where such removals are not practicable approved procedures to
ensure safety shall be followed.
(e) due to the possibility of low voltage and high voltage inversions like
from customers generation, care shall be taken when using earthing
lead following a test with the indicator, to verify that the circuit is not
live, and one conductor shall be earthed and subsequent tests carried
out to verify that the retaining conductors are not live before applying
an earth to them.
(2) Earthing leads and associated clamps shall be of an approved type and
of adequate capacity for the duty at the point of application, and shall be adequately
maintained and always examined immediately before use.
(d) all phases shall be earthed, even if work is to be carried out only on one
phase;
(e) earthing leads shall not be applied in any cell or compartment in which
there is any exposed metal live at high voltage that may be a source
of danger, and shall be applied so that they remain clearly visible as
far as it is reasonably practicable;
(f) when earthing leads are being removed, each shall be disconnected from
its phase conductor by means of an approved eathing appliance
before it is removed from its earth connection;
(g) for earthing on spout contacts of metal-enclosed switch gear, only
approved appliances shall be used and a person shall not insert a hand
or tool into contact with spouts for this purpose.
(4) A person shall not operate a high voltage earthing switch or circuit main
earth connected or disconnected, except with the consent of the Control Engineer or
under the terms of a sanction-for-test or by an authorised person or by a senior
competent person acting under the personal supervision of an authorised person.
(5) Each operation of circuit main earths shall be reported to the Control
Engineer as soon as possible after completion and when operating to an HV
switching schedule, the application or removal of circuit main earths shall be
reported to the control engineer at the appropriate control break.
(6) The location of each circuit main earth shall be recorded on the safety
document.
(7) Additional earths applied after the issue of a permit-to-work or sanction-
for-test may be attached or removed by a senior competent person.
(6) Where exposed conductors are isolated but not proved dead, the only
objects that shall be caused to approach them or insulators supporting them within
the safety distances specified in sub-regulation (2) shall be insulated devices
approved for high voltage live line work or approved voltage testing devices.
(8) Taking account of the nature and location of the work and the hazards
and the presence of persons, an authorised person or the person in charge of the
work, shall establish working and access clearances such as to ensure that the safety
distances specified in sub-regulation (2) are maintained both in respect of those
persons present and the objects being handled.
(10) Where work is to be carried out within a one metre distance of the
safety distance specified in sub-regulation (2), the supervisor shall ascertain if any of
the following additional precautions have been taken before work commences-
(a) danger notices or red pennants are attached to the pole or structure at a
distance not less than is specified in that sub-regulation; or
(b) a limitation-of-access has been issued defining the work to be carried
out in the vicinity of live conductors and detailing any specified
potential hazards to be avoided.
(11) Danger notices or red pennants shall be attached by a senior competent
person or engineer or by a competent person acting under personal supervision of an
authorised person or senior competent person.
25. Work in substations and switching stations containing exposed live high
voltage conductors
(1) The following provisions apply to a zone of work—
(a) when work is to be carried out in a substation, or switching station in
which there are exposed live high voltage conductors, the zone of
work shall be properly identified by an authorised person, and shall
be defined as far as possible by the use of approved barriers roping,
yellow demarcation ribbons or by other approved means and shall be
so arranged that the specified working and access clearances, from
the nearest exposed live conductor or supporting insulator to ground
level or platform or access way which may be repaired to be used, are
established;
(b) the zone of work to be defined at ground level shall be only that in
which the work is to be carried out;
(c) if the work cannot be carried out without leaving the ground level or a
platform or access way, the working and access clearances shall be
obtained from the nearest exposed live high voltage conductor to the
points from which work is actually carried out, and in such cases
access shall only be by means of an approved ladder or other
approved means;
(d) a person shall not climb any structure to gain access. In the case of
terminal poles in substations, access shall be in accordance with
approved procedures;
(e) if the work is such that the specified working and access clearances are
not sufficient to avoid danger, other suitable arrangements shall be
made; and
(f) the approved barriers or roping shall be clearly visible, so far as it is
reasonably practicable, and shall not be supported by any structure
carrying electrical apparatus or conductor and shall not carry any
notice; and at ground level the section so defined shall be clearly
distinguished by green flags by day or, if not otherwise satisfactorily
illuminated, by green lights at night, fixed on separate supports and
suitably spaced within the safe boundary. Danger notices shall be
attached to adjoining apparatus containing live conductors or adjacent
conductor supports at the limits of the zone of work.
(2) Where necessary to prevent danger, the means of access to and from the
zone of work shall be defined in an approved manner.
(3) The working and access clearance required at the zone of work under
sub-regulation (1) shall be as specified in sub-regulation (8) of regulation 24.
(4) The following provisions apply to the use of portable ladders and long
objects where there are exposed live conductors—
(a) the type of portable ladders shall be approved and shall be of no greater
length than is required for the work involved;
(b) portable ladders and other long objects shall not be used without the
permission of an authorised person, who shall define the conditions
of use to the senior competent person in charge of the work, the
movement and erection of such ladders and objects shall then be
carried out only under the personal supervision of the senior
competent person in charge of the work, and when moved at ground
level shall be carried only in a horizontal position and as near the
ground as reasonably practicable;
(c) portable ladders provided for giving access to fixed ladders which
terminate above ground level, and to provide access in other
approved cases, shall be padlocked in position or otherwise secured
by a senior competent person while work is being carried out; and
(d) all portable ladders within substations, or switching stations shall be
securely locked to a suitable anchorage when not in use.
(5) The following provisions apply to the use of cranes, scaffolds and other
equipment—
(6) Danger notices, barriers and screens shall be fixed or moved only by, or
under the personal supervision of an authorised person.
(7) In the event of a lightning storm, work on exposed conductors in
outdoor substations or outdoor switching stations, or on apparatus directly connected
to exposed conductors shall cease immediately where necessary, to prevent danger,
and the control engineer shall be informed.
26. Permit-to-work
(1) A permit-to-work shall be issued by an authorised person before any work is
carried out on any apparatus or conductor.
(a) when work on the apparatus or conductor for which it was issued has
been completed;
(c) where it is necessary to change the person in charge of the work detailed
on the permit-to-work; or
(d) at the discretion of an authorised person, when it is necessary to
interrupt or suspend the work detailed on the permit-to-work.
(10) The recipient shall sign the clearance and return the permit-to-work to
an authorised person who shall cancel it and inform the control engineer, and in all
cases the recipient shall indicate in the clearance section whether the work is
complete or not and all gear and tools have been removed or not.
(11) Where more than one permit-to-work has been issued for work on high
voltage apparatus or conductors associated with the same circuit main earths, the
Control Engineer shall ensure that all such permits-to-work have been cancelled
before the circuit main earths are removed.
29. Limitation-of-access
(1) A limitation-of-access shall be issued by an authorised person or a senior
competent person specially authorised to do so, when it is considered necessary to
have written instructions to avoid danger and when a permit-to-work or a sanction-
for-test is not applicable.
(2) Where a limitation of access is required for work above ground level in
a 132kV compound, it shall only be issued by an authorised person with the
knowledge of the Control Engineer.
(3) A person issuing a limitation-of-access shall determine from the nature
of the work, occasions when the Control Engineer shall record its issue and
cancellation.
(4) A limitation-of-access shall when there is danger, be issued for the
following types of activity—
(a) work in proximity to, but outside the working and access clearance from
exposed live high voltage conductors, when work is to proceed in the
vicinity of an overhead line and the line is made dead in accordance
with regulation 21;
(b) access to and work in underground chambers and similar confined
spaces;
(c) work on plant operated by or containing compressed air or other gases;
or
(d) such other access or work as may be specified by a designated engineer.
(5) A limitation-of-access shall be explained and issued to the person in
direct charge of the work, who after reading its contents and confirming that he or
she understands it and is conversant with the nature and extent of the work to be
done, shall sign its receipt and duplicate.
(6) The recipient of a limitation-of-access shall be a competent person who
shall retain it in his or her possession at all times whilst work is being carried out.
(7) Where more than one working parties is involved, a limitation-of-access
shall be issued to the competent persons severally having personal supervision of
each working party.
(8) A limitation-of-access shall be cancelled by the recipient signing the
clearance and returning the limitation-of-access for cancellation to an, authorised
person or senior competent person specially authorised to do so.
PART V—SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND PROCEDURE
APPLICABLE TO LOW VOLTAGES SYSTEMS.
30. General
(1) Where work or testing is carried out on or near low voltage apparatus and
conductors—
(a) precautions shall be taken to prevent danger from body injury due to
electric arc or electric shock;
(b) the conductors shall be covered with insulation and screening, and the
adequacy of these materials to prevent danger shall be assessed
before work or testing is carried out; and
(c) the precautions appropriate to work on or near exposed danger
precautions appropriate to work on or near exposed conductors shall
be applied.
(2) Danger may arise in the following circumstances—
(a) where a person confuses apparatus and conductors which have been
made dead with those which remain live;
(b) dead apparatus and conductors are accidentally or inadvertently made
live;
(c) if a person accidentally or inadvertently makes contact with adjacent
live conductors; or
(d) if inadequate precautions are taken during live work or testing.
(3) The term “earthed” when applied to the low voltage system comprises
the bonding of the phase conductors (including any switch or earth wire) to the
neutral conductors by means of an approved device or leads.
(6) Where work or testing involves the initial connection or the re-
arrangement of conductors to a consumer, the electricity supply shall not be
provided to the consumer until checks have been made at an appropriate point on the
system to ensure correct polarity at the supply terminals and where necessary, in the
case of a three-phase supply, the phase rotation shall additionally be checked.
(7) A person shall not erect or dismantle a low voltage overhead line under
a live high voltage overhead line without the authority of an authorised person, who
shall ensure that when necessary because of insufficient clearance, the high voltage
line is made dead and a permit-to-work issued.
(8) When a low voltage overhead line conductor is to be raised or lowered
or otherwise held on temporary support or connections, approved procedures shall
be followed to ensure that no danger is caused at locations such as road or rail
crossing where other persons may be present.
31. Requirements for work on dead low voltage apparatus and conductors
(1) When work is to be carried out on dead low voltage apparatus—
(a) the conductors shall be isolated from all sources of supply from the
system;
(b) where the isolating devices are lockable, safety locks shall be applied;
(c) if components such as fuses and links are removable, they shall be
removed;
(d) caution notices shall be securely fixed at all points of isolation; and
(e) keys and removed components shall be kept in a secure place in the
possession of the person in charge of the work.
(2) Conductors shall be earthed using an earthing device or earthing leads
approved for use on the conductors concerned.
(3) Except when work on a low voltage system is being carried out as part
of approved high voltage live line work, the following requirements apply—
(a) if the work requires a point of isolation to be established on a high
voltage system, an appropriate safety document shall be issued;
(b) if the work requires a high voltage system to be made dead, isolated and
earthed, a permit-to-work shall be issued; and
(c) if the work is being done in conjunction with work on a high voltage
system which has been made dead, isolated and earthed, this work
shall be included on the permit-to-work issued for the high voltage
work.
(4) Suitable precaution shall be taken by approved screening or other
approved means to avoid danger from inadvertent contact with adjacent live
conductors including where necessary, the fixing of danger notices to apparatus
containing live conductors adjacent to other live conductors and at the limits of the
zone in which the work may be carried out.
(5) Where conductors are likely to become live due to the operation of a
consumer’s generator, the following precautions shall be taken to prevent danger—
(a) the conductors shall be isolated from the consumer’s system; or
(b) the conductors shall be earthed on an earth provided between the point
of work and the consumer’s system.
(6) Before work is connected the apparatus and conductors shall be
identified and proved dead at the point of work by means of an approved voltage
testing device, and whilst work is in progress, any live working method that can
reasonably be applied to minimise the risk of danger from the conductors being
accidentally or inadvertently made live shall be used.
(2) Any unearthed steelwork such as an offset racket or the upper portion of
a stay above the insulator shall be treated as live until it is or the conductors have
been proved dead.
34. Work on live low voltage apparatus and conductors
(1) A person shall not carry out low voltage live work except in accordance with
an approved procedure, which shall ensure adequate protection from danger from
electric shock and inadvertent short-circuiting of the conductors.
(2) Where low voltage live work is to be carried out, the competent person
in charge of the working party shall make an assessment of the site conductors, and
the work shall only commence where site conditions enable work to be done safely.
(3) If the site conditions become unsafe, low voltage live working shall be
suspended and the following requirements shall be assessed—
(a) the apparatus to be worked upon shall be visually inspected to ascertain
if it is in a satisfactory condition;
(b) there shall be adequate working space and safe means of escape;
(c) the working space and the apparatus to be worked on shall be
adequately illuminated; and
(d) if the work is outdoors, the weather conditions shall not be unduly
adverse.
(4) Every person who carries out live working shall be a competent person
and shall have received appropriate training in the particular low voltage live
working procedure, and adequately instructed by the competent person in charge of
the working party.
(5) Tools and equipment approved for that purpose shall be the only tools
used for work on, or the testing of low voltage apparatus and conductors.
(6) A person shall not carry out work which involves, or is equivalent to a
manipulation of bare live conductors unless accompanied by another person who
shall be available to render or obtain assistance in an emergency.
35. Precautions for work on live low voltage cables
(1) A cable to be worked on shall be identified by approved means, and all metal
work adjacent to the point of work shall be adequately shrouded with approved
insulating material to prevent inadvertent contact. The metallic sheaths of cables
shall be bonded to each other with an approved insulated conductor before jointing
and cutting to ensure continuity of the electrical circuit through the sheath.
(2) Unless alternative approved procedures allow, during all work including
the change of cut-outs, only one conductor shall be bared at a time and insulating
gloves and an insulating mat shall be used.
36. Precautions for work on live low voltage overhead lines
(1) Where work is carried out on live overhead lines, any unearthed steelwork
such as an offset bracket shall be proved dead using an approved voltage testing
device.
(2) When work is carried out on insulated but un-screened low voltage
conductors, a person working on such conductors shall wear insulated gloves and
use insulated tools to prevent danger that may arise if the insulation has deteriorated
or is damaged.
37. Application of high voltage rules to work on low voltage apparatus and
conductors
Safety rules applicable to work on high voltage systems, apparatus and
conductors may with the necessary modifications be applied to work on low voltage
systems, apparatus and conductors in accordance with approved procedures.