GENERAL MANAGEMENT

CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF AT LINES

MAINTENANCE OF VEGETATION IN ELECTRICAL SUBSTATIONS
CODE [Link]-49 VERSION 0.0 2019/12/27

1. OBJECTIVE

Establish the technical, safety, and environmental procedure for the execution of
maintenance of vegetation in electrical substations.

2. SCOPE

This instruction applies to the control of forest or shrub plant species that
they interfere, or may come to do so over time, with the energized modules that constitute
the connection yard of the High Voltage/Medium Voltage (HV/MV) and Medium
High Voltage/Medium Voltage (HV/MV); vegetation that obstructs the safety equipment of the same
or in some cases that cause interference in their telecommunications components, or
that may indirectly cause injuries to personnel present in those scenarios.

3. RESPONSIBLE PARTIES.

Operational Coordinator

Programming of activities and assignment of forestry operational groups, according to the

scope of work orders.
Coordinate the different resources necessary to ensure effective execution
of the service
Monitoring of the different states of the maneuvers (unloading, work plan), until
that are in CONFIRMED status for execution
Carry out the socialization of the work, for the cases where applicable.
Manage the acquisition of tickets for entry to substations or facilities
client details
Daily validation of the information reported by the operational groups (workforce)
work and material

Information manager

Prepare and print the field documentation to record the execution of activities
Manage the information necessary for the environmental compliance report

Leader of the operational group of substations (crew)

Direct the development of activities in accordance with the planning and recommendations.
described in the instructions.
Register the execution of activities (work execution sheet, applications
agreed with the client, photographic records showing the before and after of
the activities).
Direct the planning and risk analysis of the operation involving everyone
personal.

Forestry Worker

Make good use of the tools and equipment

To comply with the procedure during the execution of this activity
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CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF AT LINES
VEGETATION MAINTENANCE IN ELECTRICAL SUBSTATIONS
CODE [Link]-49 VERSION 0.0 2019/12/27

Verify the proper operation of the equipment

Timely report damages to equipment and tools
Make proper use of the protective elements and use the ones indicated for the task.
Report any health condition that prevents you from performing the work.
Participate in the planning and risk analysis of the operation
Participate in the training processes for the use of equipment and tools

4. DEFINITIONS

A.T. or AT: Understand it as High Voltage. Voltages greater than this class are considered.
50kV (RETIE).

Atmospheric discharge: Phenomenon of energy release caused when it

overcomes the dielectric rigidity of air due to a high potential difference of 2
electrodes: between clouds, cloud to ground and/or ground to cloud.

EPS: Health Service Provider Company.

Weeding: Action of removing weeds or unwanted grasses from a property, in this

context, from the high voltage connection yard of the substations.

Manual extraction: Weeding technique. It essentially relies on human effort to

manually remove a portion of weeds from a site or property.

Fumigation: Action of controlling or eliminating through the application of vapors or liquids.

portion of vegetation.

Trimmer: Motorized manual machine equipped with sharp blades used for cutting
of grass and low-growing vegetation.

Herbicide: Chemical compound used to destroy weeds in cultivated land.

Electromagnetic Induction: Transmission or exchange of electrical energy over a distance by

medium of an electromagnetic field.

Weeds: Dense and tight unwanted vegetation formed by shrubs or shrubby species
low door (between 20 cm and 1m in height with less than 10 cm thickness of stem). Synonyms: Grass
scrub, thicket, grove.

Maneuver: Activity carried out for the maintenance of high voltage (HV), medium voltage (MV), and/or low voltage (LV) substations.

energized or not.

AT Modules: Set of equipment needed for the interconnection of electrical equipment that
They operate at high voltage with the aim of possessing and keeping them safe and isolated.

Chainsaw: Motorized manual machine used for cutting wood and other tasks
Silvicultural. Within the weeding activity, it is applied to remove the plant individuals.
of greater stem thickness.

M.T. or MT: Understand it as Medium Voltage. Voltages between 1kV are considered of this class.
and 50kV (RETIE).
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CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF AT LINES
MAINTENANCE OF VEGETATION IN ELECTRICAL SUBSTATIONS
CODE [Link]-49 VERSION 0.0 2019/12/27

Nylon: Synthetic fiber that is installed in the yoyo and is used as a direct cutting element.
with the vegetation of smaller stem caliber.

Work Order: Request for maintenance activities made by the client through the
officially agreed medium

Connection yard: It is the property where the AT modules are located.

Pruning: Silvicultural treatment practiced on a plant species, through which it is cut.

some vegetative organs in order to remove branches or roots, for phytosanitary aspects, of
security, aesthetic purposes or when they interfere with some type of infrastructure.

Sprayer (Pump): It is a pump that presses the herbicide liquid to come out through
from an opening (depending on the type of droplet, it is classified as aerosol, mist, fine spray and
coarse spraying.

RETIE: Technical Regulation of Electrical Installations. It is the standard that currently governs the
aspects of electrical installations in Colombian territory.

Step voltage: Electrical phenomenon caused by a voltage profile in the ground due to a
grounding poorly evacuated generating an electric current through the human body being the
the electrodes.

Transformer: Equipment for transforming higher voltage levels to lower ones or vice versa.

Thunder: Sound explosion resulting from an atmospheric discharge.

3.29 Yoyo: Accessory of the brush cutter that holds the nylon inside it to use it to perform the
cutting of less rigid plant species without causing major damage to the infrastructure
close to the work. It is essentially used for cutting grass and weeds that are found in
the connections yard of the substation. Replace the rigid blades of the brush cutter.

4. GENERAL CONDITIONS

4.1 Electrical safety is a fundamental aspect when performing maneuvers in close proximity to
the power substations. Below are some policies on this aspect
for the activities of pruning, weeding, and fumigation in these sites.

4.1.1 The precautionary measures to minimize the risks of this type consist of
fundamentally in preserving the safety distances shown to
continuation, these distances are established according to the RETIE. These distances are
the measurements from any part of the body, element, or tool that is available
equipped up to any energized element.

Tension Level Voltage Level Level of Tension

Elements
34.5kV – 57.5kV 115kV 230kV
Distances from
Phase - Phase 100 cm 1.5 m 2.5 m minimum security to
2600 meters above sea level

Phase - Earth 80 cm 1.05 m 1.50 m

 GENERAL MANAGEMENT
CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF AT LINES
MAINTENANCE OF VEGETATION IN ELECTRICAL SUBSTATIONS
CODE [Link]-49 VERSION 0.0 2019/12/27

In rainy situations, safety distances are drastically increased.

the staff from the substation yard must be evacuated until these cease and the ground is
find in an acceptable state of dryness.

4.1.3 Likewise, the bodily movements of the operators must be controlled by the
the same, that is to say, avoiding involuntary movements that cause the person to have
direct contact with elements that are energized or may become energized by
electromagnetic induction phenomenon. Additionally, it is not allowed to raise the
hands, or elements, tools that are in them at more than the height of the
shoulders, except in cases where these are dielectric poles and these are in
good condition, dry and comply with the appropriate insulation level for the voltage level of
energized element in question. Likewise, it is not permitted to throw objects into the air.

4.1.4 Activities should be avoided during strong electrical storms near the workplace.
with which there should be a space of 3 km around in which none should be present
atmospheric discharges. This can be measured by the speed of sound (~300 m/s)
implying then that the time lag between the perceptions of the lightning and of the
Thunder must not be less than 10 seconds.

The grounding system of an electrical substation is another fundamental element for

the safety of the staff carrying out work in these scenarios. Therefore, the following
precautionary measures:

4.2.1 Before starting the weeding and spraying tasks, an inspection is carried out.
complete the high voltage modules in the connection yard under the responsibility of the chief of the
squad to verify the correct condition of the grounding of each of them.

4.2.2 In the event that the AT modules have more than 80% of their groundings
removed in dry weather, or more than 40% with latent storms, work stops
for considering the site as unsafe since it may eventually
injure the staff through step tensions.

4.2.3 When the lack of grounding of the AT modules is detected, either due to poor
In case of vandalism, it is reported immediately to the client with photographic material.
who must take the respective corrective measures.

4.3 At the moment when all the workers are ready to start tasks, they
Conduct a general inspection of the workplace to identify the risks involved.
to submit: falls, electrical, biological, physical, mechanical, ergonomic, and public order,
as the case may be. It must also be taken into account what it is and where the hospital is located.
closer and present the phone numbers to report emergencies.

5 minutes should be allowed for muscle stretching before starting work.

to prevent injuries of this kind due to non-ergonomic positions (weeding
manual or loading of the brush cutter). Likewise, a time of 5 minutes must be allowed for
take active breaks and stay hydrated.

4.5 Although the group leader is the one who analyzes the site, they assign tasks to each of the
operators and supervises them, each of them should not work alone in an area with a radius
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CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF AT LINES
MAINTENANCE OF VEGETATION IN ELECTRICAL SUBSTATIONS
CODE [Link]-49 VERSION 0.0 2019/12/27

higher than 20 meters where there is no other worker or where there is not a presence
direct line of sight between them. This is to create optimal conditions for
communication and monitoring of the activities of the entire work group.

4.6 A photographic record of the conditions before and after the interventions must be taken.
silvicultural activities of the group per workday and per work area. Also with the updates.
that they present themselves.

The connection yard can consist of different types of surfaces among which are
they find: grass, gravel, soil or concrete and occasionally combinations of these. Of
According to the type of soil and the state of weed infestation, the technique is applied.
manual weeding (when necessary when the patio area is minimal for ergonomics
of personnel) or with machine.

Manual weeding is applied in cases where the weeds consist of a

only main stem of more than 1 or 2 cm in diameter. This technique ensures that
it is removed from the root and will not germinate again. This technique can also be used in
substations where the impact of weeds per square meter of the yard area is
minimum and/or appropriate under a criterion of efficiency and ergonomic care for the staff
operator.

In scenarios where manual weeding is unfeasible due to time inefficiency

execution, the weeding is carried out with a brush cutter implemented with
the Yoyo and nylon, keeping in mind the precautionary measures to minimize risks
electrical (electrical safety).

The care that must be taken into account for weeding with a machine depends on the
particles that are found on the ground and that can be shot by the brush cutter
being subject to damage to the infrastructure and equipment of the substation. Therefore, it
You must maintain a distance margin between the cutting element of the trimmer and the ground.
and/or protect fragile elements by using the protective fence. Thus, even though
remain cut vegetation standing, these will be removed later with the
herbicide.

4.7.4 The work area must be marked with yellow caution tape. In such case
Since that area is very extensive, signaling is only done on the access zone to the.
work area.

4.8 Plant residues must be removed from the soil after weeding and before the
fumigation. They must be stored in black plastic bags placed in a distant location.
of the energized modules marking them with delimitation tape for their later
collection. In case the volume of these waste exceeds 5 cubic meters, it is
possible to stack waste mounds and they will also be marked. In urban areas
Up to 24 hours is allowed for collection in more distant and/or rural substation.
there is a time limit of 3 days to transport the waste to the appropriate sites for
its elimination.

4.9 The use of active substances such as herbicide, 2-stroke oil, burnt oil,
regular gasoline, fats are an essential factor for the execution of the weeding tasks and
fumigation of the connection patio. For this reason, emphasis is placed on the care of the
 GENERAL MANAGEMENT
CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF AT LINES
MAINTENANCE OF VEGETATION IN ELECTRICAL SUBSTATIONS
CODE [Link]-49 VERSION 0.0 2019/12/27

manipulation of them in favor of environmental preservation and safety of the

personal.

4.9.1 Therefore, the operational staff per crew must be equipped with spill kits and
trained to know how to act in the event of a significant spill
the mentioned substances.

4.9.2 The group leader assigns the fumigation task to the workers he deems appropriate and
who should make use of the special equipment for this task which consists of a suit
impermeable, plastic face mask with replaceable filter that completely covers the airways
respiratory masks, gloves and rubber boots, and protective glasses. Additionally, it must continue
wearing the dielectric helmet and the overalls under the waterproof suit.

The application of the herbicide must be carried out only with the spray pump using
a suitable mixture of the product with another liquid indicated by its label. In
Under no circumstances shall it be applied directly from the original container.

4.9.4 The rain factor greatly minimizes the effectiveness of the herbicide's action on the
building recently weeded. In the case of latent rains, the field manager will decide whether to
whether or not you can carry out the fumigation work in order to guarantee the job, it is
to say, that the result is appropriate and that customer satisfaction is finally achieved.

Special care must be taken with herbicide gases or particles emitted.

controlled near private plantations and vegetation.

4.9.6 Other security measures or atypical general working conditions or that do not
explicitly outlined in this document will be delivered by the chief in
field (Group Leader) that, in case of not being sure in any situation, they.
He will raise it to his immediate boss (Forestry Coordinator) who will make the decision.

In case tree pruning is required in the green areas of the substations,

the tree pruning instruction [Link]-46 must be taken into account for the correct execution of
the activities.

5. RESOURCES

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

Individual
. Electrical helmet
. Cup ear protector
. Insertion ear protector
. Protective glasses with UV protection
. Disposable face masks
. Plastic masks with replaceable filters (for fumigation)
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CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF AT LINES
MAINTENANCE OF VEGETATION IN ELECTRICAL SUBSTATIONS
CODE [Link]-49 VERSION 0.0 2019/12/27

. Work clothing (overalls)

. Tivek suit (for fumigation)
. Cowhide gloves
. Nitrile gloves
. Electrical insulating boots
. Rubber boots
. Waterproof (against rain)
. Long meat strip.
. Monja (protection against solar exposure and particle projection).
. Mesh mask with attachment for helmet.
. Harness for brushcutting.
. Leather or suede gaiters

Collective
. Barrier (Guard against particles)
. Cones
. Signal tape

Equipment and tools

. Mower with Yoyo accessory and nylon or flat blade

. Rake
. Fumigator
.
. Weeding hoe
. Blower
. Measuring tape
. Brush with handle
6. INSTRUCTION

ACTIVITY RESPONSIBLE DOCUMENT

1. The scope of the work must be known, area

assigned to intervene, the ticket number for the Coordinator Work order.
entry to the substation, and the work order for Operation
client's part.

2. You must ensure that all the documents are

operational personnel are valid: EPS, ARL,
identification. Likewise, each operator must have
Forest Coordinator
complete its equipment of elements of
Group leader, N.A.
personal protection. The vehicle must have the
Forest workers
papers in order, and all the implements,
materials and tools necessary to comply
with the work to be done.

ARO
As a first measure, the crew must carry out Group leader,
Record of the talk of
the risk analysis of the operation, where Forest Workers
5 minutes
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CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF AT LINES
VEGETATION MAINTENANCE IN ELECTRIC SUBSTATIONS
CODE [Link]-49 VERSION 0.0 2019/12/27

identify the workplace, its risks and

news. Similarly, 5 minutes are dedicated
to hold a talk on a topic of
security, technical or occupational interest and some
additional minutes for the exercises of
muscle stretching.

4. Before starting the weeding intervention or

fumigation, the group leader determines and must
take photographic record in the work area to Group leader Photographic record
highlight the initial state in which it is located
connection patio.

5. Each worker must prepare their tools.

perform lubrication, refueling and the assembly of the Forest Workers N.A.
trimmers with blades or the Yoyo.

6. The group leader will indicate where to carry out the

signage, whether in the area itself or just in the
access to it. The signage is carried out only with
signaling cones, since the tape can Group leader N.A.
to let go and be carried away by the wind towards someone
from the connection yard equipment of the
substation.

7. In the event of carrying out cutting work

grass or weeding in places where they are found
delicate elements: people, glass, vehicles
equipment, among others, the partition must be installed and
notify the vehicle owners, so that, in
Group leader u
to the extent possible, they are to be removed while... N.A.
perform maintenance in the area. The partition does not
Forest Workers
It should be handled in the connection yard, already
that, in its transport or arrangement, can break
the minimum safety distances, for
voluntary or accidental movements.

8. We proceed to carry out weeding with the

sickle in the connection yard of AT or MT.
With the constant supervision of the work of Group leader, N.A.
group leader, verifying and taking the necessary measures Forest Worker
precautions to maintain distances
minimum safety standards.
The transportation of the brush cutter must be
done at the height that the extended hands give
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CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF AT LINES
MAINTENANCE OF VEGETATION IN ELECTRICAL SUBSTATIONS
CODE [Link]-49 VERSION 0.0 2019/12/27

downward of the worker. It should never be

transported to
shoulder.
Active breaks are taken into account and the
hydration during breaks of no more than 5 minutes,
according to the intervention area and the
heat conditions.

9. After doing maintenance in the yard of

connections, the lawn mowing is proceeding
in the other green areas that make up the
interior of the substation, as long as they do
part of the maintenance scope defined in the Group leader,
N.A.
client work order. For the substations Forest Worker
rural areas, is contemplated in accordance with the
client requirements, carry out the clearing in the
perimeter of the substation in a strip of 1m
around it.

10. After the lawn mowing and weeding of the

intervened area, the removal of the must be carried out
vegetable waste through manual collection,
with a rake, or with the support of a blower, having
make sure to clean all areas
hard as ditches, sumps, and pedestals. The Forest Workers N.A.
waste is removed from the connection yard
to the points where the collection staff
waste has access, they are collected and must be
marked with love y later
transported by the collection truck for its
final disposition.

11. Application of the herbicide. As long as the

the climate is appropriate (dry) and does not occur
latency of rains.

The assigned staff must dress in the

tyvek suit, nitrile gloves, boots of
rubber and double cartridge mask.

The mixture of the herbicide is made of Forest Workers N.A.

agreement with your technical data sheet and is introduced
in the sprayers.

The fumigation is proceeding to be carried out of the

floor of the substation where the ... was removed
weeds, in the gravel, cracks, crevices,
walls, etc.
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CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF AT LINES
MAINTENANCE OF VEGETATION IN ELECTRICAL SUBSTATIONS
CODE [Link]-49 VERSION 0.0 2019/12/27

12. Activities of maintenance

supplementary: These tasks are carried out a
if the cutting work is successfully completed
from grass, the pruning of trees in the areas
greens, weeding and spraying:

Release of vines in the nets and Forest Workers N.A.

concertinas from the substation with the
unhinging tool.
Removal of the branches that from outside
they are approaching from the substation towards
inside her with the de-jointing tool.
Removal of plant material

13. After the activities have been carried out, the leader
from the crew or internal supervisor proceeds to
Non-compliance
carry out the quality inspection to verify the Supervisor
compliance with customer requirements and their Internal
Action registry
respective release of the service if the work is
corrective and
as agreed. If there are non-compliances, they ... Crew Leader
they report, document, and are handled as if not
preventive
compliance.

14. At the end of the intervention, the group leader

take a photographic record of the work area for
highlight the final state in which the patio is delivered Photographic record
Group leader
of connections and the green areas of the
substation.

15. The group leader records in the formats

corresponding, relating to a sketch of the
substation and the intervened areas. The Group Leader
Field Sheet
information on the activities carried out must be
truthful and clear (without corrections).

16. Once the activity is finished, the procedure is to

remove the signage installed in the area of Forest Coordinator
work, and it must be reported to the immediate supervisor the Group leader,
NA
abandonment of the workplace who in turn reports Forest Worker
to the Control Center for the respective closure of the
activity.

7. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
 GENERAL MANAGEMENT
CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF AT LINE
MAINTENANCE OF VEGETATION IN ELECTRICAL SUBSTATIONS
CODE [Link]-49 VERSION 0.0 2019/12/27

Take into account the 'control and disposal procedure for plant waste [Link]-47' and follow it.
the following recommendations:

When planning the execution of vegetation maintenance in substations

Electric, the collection of these vegetable waste should be planned online, since
the harvesting time can be breached and it can also hinder the
vehicular or pedestrian steps that could generate customer complaints.
The operational staff must be equipped with spill kits and trained to know
act to address a significant spill of the substances that are
they are used for the operation of the brush cutter and for the fumigation process.
The chemical substances used for the work must be properly labeled.
agreement with the SGA.
The herbicide that will be used in the spraying must be Roundup Active or one of equal or
better quality biodegradable type with license approved by the Ministry of the Environment
Environment
The handling of the herbicide for filling the spraying pump must be done in
a well-ventilated place, on a concrete floor, outside the control room of the
substation and places where food, beverages or other products are handled for the
human consumption.
For the handling of the herbicide and the execution of spraying tasks, it is necessary to
use all the personal protective equipment indicated in this instruction manual
When a worker carries out fumigation tasks, they must position themselves in the direction of the wind to
prevent the product from returning to its body.

8. SECURITY CONDITIONS

For the handling of the scythe, please consider the following aspects:

Before using the trimmer, remove rings, bracelets, watches, among others.
Before operating the weed trimmer, put on personal protective equipment.
The operator must correctly understand the nature and functioning of the equipment.
The mower must have all its moving parts protected in such a way that
these be inaccessible to voluntary or involuntary movements of the person who it
drives.
If the cut comes out laterally, a protection must be installed to safeguard laterally the
thread along its entire path (divider).
Whenever the cutting bar is not working, a guard must be placed on it.
protection that prevents contact with the sharp part.
Under no circumstances should you put your hands in the cutting area while the machine is on.
operation.
Under no circumstances should the guard or shield of the cutting equipment be removed.
Keep the vibration damper and the silencer in good condition.
When cutting, describe brief semicircles from left to right, balancing the tool.
gently as it progresses.
In areas of tall grass, start cutting from the middle zone downwards. Do it.
immediately from the base can cause the stems to entangle in the head and it
blockage.
When installing the nylon thread in the head, do not tighten it too much, as it could hinder the output and
force to manually readjust their position during the workday.
Avoid cutting near walls, stones, or other high hardness objects, hitting them consumes
quickly the nylon thread from the spool.
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CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF AT LINES
MAINTENANCE OF VEGETATION IN ELECTRICAL SUBSTATIONS
CODE [Link]-49 VERSION 0.0 2019/12/27

The fuel tank must be filled before starting the work. If the mixture runs out and
it is necessary to refill, the machine must be turned off and wait for the engine to
cool before doing it. Always use the proportion indicated by the manufacturer for the
mix.
Before starting to use the tool, the area must be cleared of stones, wires, and
any object that can be struck by the cutting element, as it could cause
accidents.
All ungrounded metallic parts, of electrical equipment or devices such as
the casing of transformers, switches, disconnectors or lightning rods will be considered
as energized at the highest voltage to which they are exposed. No one should touch any
substation equipment with the brush cutter nor with the body.

9. Criteria for establishing controls/Worst consequence

Result of the systematic procedure to identify, locate, and evaluate 'those

consequences that affect the quality of life, to carry out activities of
maintenance of vegetation in substations.

Burns from electric shock or arc. Falls or blows as a consequence of

electric arc shock. Fires or explosions caused by electricity.
Death by direct contact due to electrical consequence
Fractures (limbs, spine, pelvis: fall onto lower limbs)
Blows (impact between a body in motion, can be intentional or accidental)
Amputation (cutting and separation of a limb from the body due to trauma or
surgery.
Localized pain in the lower part of the back, causing lower back pain.
chronicle.
Amputation (cutting and separation of a limb from the body due to trauma or
surgery.
Repetitive movements can cause numbness, tingling, weakness, or damage.
muscular in the hand and fingers Carpal tunnel syndrome.
Static, dynamic or repetitive muscle tension, due to excessive tension of the
set of the organism or to an excessive effort of the psychomotor system
musculoskeletal
Workplace Stress

CHANGE CONTROL

Version Date Reviewed Description of the modification Approved

 GENERAL MANAGEMENT
CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF AT LINES
MAINTENANCE OF VEGETATION IN ELECTRICAL SUBSTATIONS
CODE [Link]-49 VERSION 0.0 2019/12/27

Developed:
for
0 December 27, Catalina
2019 Casas Fernan Piñeros Creation of the document Enrico
Coordinator Director Fanfani
Forestry Operational Manager
General

1 September 21, 2020 It is included Criteria for establishing

controls/ Worst consequence

End of document.