SAFETY, COMPETENCY

COURSE

WORKING ON LOW VOLTAGE LINES

PETER WAWERU
LECTURER-TRAINING SCHOOL
LOW VOLTAGE WORK PRACTICES

 Definition of low voltage

The IEC defines low voltage as electrically

operated circuits, apparatus, components and
networks in which the electrical voltages is at
or below 1000 Volts a.c or 1500 Volts d.c
LOW VOLTAGE WORK PRACTICES

Definitions from KPLC electrical safety rules

 Low voltage apparatus

◦ Any apparatus, equipment and conductors that are
normally operated at a voltage not exceeding 250V

 Medium voltage apparatus

o Any apparatus, equipment and conductors that are
normally operated at a voltage exceeding 250V but
not exceeding 650V
LOW VOLTAGE WORK PRACTICES
 HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH LOW VOLTAGE
Electric shock
Burns
Falls

Electric Shock
An electric shock results when current flows
through the body of a person/animal.
LOW VOLTAGE WORK PRACTICES

 The effect of shock depends on

◦ Amount of current
◦ Duration
◦ The path followed by current

Current in turn depends on

◦ Voltage
◦ resistance
LOW VOLTAGE WORK PRACTICES
 ELECTRIC BURNS
 Low voltage can result in the following types

of burns:-

◦ Electrical burns
◦ Arc of flash burns
◦ Thermal burns

Electrical burns occur when electric current flow

through tissues or bone, generating heat that
causes tissue damage.
LOW VOLTAGE WORK PRACTICES
 Arc or flash burns result from high temperatures
caused by an arc or explosion near the body.

 Arcs may cause severe burns to the skin and/or flash

burns to the face and eyes

 Inhaled hot gases and molten particles can cause serious

internal burns to the throat and lungs

 Injury can also occur through the impact from flying

debris and dislodged components
LOW VOLTAGE WORK PRACTICES
THERMAL CONTACT BURNS
These are coursed when the skin touches hot surfaces of
overheated electric conductors, conduits or other
equipment

HOW DO YOU AVOID THE ELECTRICAL HAZARDS

 Switching off supply
 Isolating the work place from all sources of supply
 Taking precaution to ensure that the supply points remain
isolated by locking-off
 Tagging to alert others that the circuit has been isolated
for a purpose
 Proving the supply is de-energized by using an approved
testing instrument.
LOW VOLTAGE WORK PRACTICES
 WORKING ON DE-ENERGIZED LOW VOLTAGE

SYSTEMS
LOCK OUT/ TAG OUT PROCEDURE
To work on low voltage de-energized system the lock out
procedure is followed, This involves:-

• Identification
• Isolation
• Securing the isolation-lock off
• Tagging
• Testing
• Earthing(where necessary)
LOW VOLTAGE WORK PRACTICES
 IDENTIFICATION
Clearly and correctly identify the:-

• The electrical equipment to be worked on

• All the points of isolation/ supply
• The appropriate means of isolation
WORKING ON ENERGIZED LOW VOLTAGE LINES

 When electrical workers are required to work on

live LV conductors, the following precautions shall
be observed:-
1. Working on energized circuits and apparatus is
only preferred only in situations where safety
and the risk of harm would be greater if that part
were to be de-energized.
2. Only electrical workers who are competent are
allowed to undertake live LV work.
one needs to be authorized to CLASS 16 OF
AUTHORISATION as competent person capable
of working on live LV equipment.
WORKING ON ENERGIZED LOW VOLTAGE LINES

3. Before work is commenced the scoop of the

work to be undertaken must be known
4. Before work is commenced an assessment
of the work area needs to be conducted
identifying all live or potentially live
conductors, and conductors or conductive
surfaces at different potentials, to enable
the worker to maintain minimum clearance
from these surfaces.
5. Appropriate PPE for the task must be worn
which MUST include rubber gloves.
WORKING ON ENERGIZED LOW VOLTAGE LINES

6. No worker should conduct live LV work alone

7. All conductors are to be treated the same as
live exposed conductors unless the conductor
insulating covers is found in a satisfactory
condition and rated for the voltage.
8. Neutral conductors are to be treated as live
conductors.
9. No two conductor may be worked on at the
same time.
No attempt should be made to reach or
touch the other conductors while working on
one conductor.
WORKING ON ENERGIZED LOW VOLTAGE LINES

10. When work is completed on one conductor, it

shall be re-insulated before work is
commenced on another
11. Where conductors are to be joined or
terminated, care must be taken to prevent
accidental contact with surfaces at different
potentials.
12. Where conductors are to be joined or
terminated any exposed ends of conductors are
to be restrained to prevent accidental contact
with surfaces at different potentials.
The conductors to connected at are to be
tested to ensure they are at the same potential
and phase.
WORKING ON ENERGIZED LOW VOLTAGE LINES

13. Consideration needs to be given to the

connection method where potential load
current may exist due to minimize arcing.
14. When two workers are working within reach
of each other, they should not work on
different phases or on a phase and neutral,
and tools should not be passed to a worker
in contact with a live conductor.
15. Workers should keep clear of earthed metal.
Where it is not possible insulating covers
shall be applied to it.
WORKING ON LOW VOLTAGE LINES

KPLC ELECTRICAL SAFETY RULES ON

LAW VOLTAGE SYSTEM

Refer to Rules 2.4.1 to 2.4.5

o Precautions to be taken before working on medium
and low voltage system
Rule 3.6.6-3.6.7
o Work on medium and low voltage overhead line
ISOLATION
 The electrical equipment to be worked on
must be SWITCHED OFF and ISOLATED from
all sources of supply.
 Where isolation is affected at the removable

circuit breaker or fuse, if practicable it must

be racked out or removed.
 Wear appropriate PPE while carrying out

isolation.
Locking off

 All circuit breakers, switches and combined

fuse switch units should be locked off where
possible
 Where locking facilities are not fitted,

temporary securing devices must be used.

 Securing devices must be able to withstand

any disrupting environment, for example, not

becoming ineffective due to vibration
Tagging
 Where practicable, appropriate tags should be
placed at all points of switching.
 Where appropriate, tags should be signed

and dated by the supervisor in charge of the

work party.
 Tags should not removed until the work is

completed
 Tags should only be removed with the

permission of the signatories to the tags or

his immediate supervisor.
Testing
 Electrical equipment should not be assumed
de-energized after being switched off
 Testing must be done prior to touching
 All electrical equipment, unless proven to be

de-energized through testing should be

treated as live.
 The voltages testers must themselves be

tested for correct operation immediately

before use and again after use, to confirm
that the instrument is still working
Testing
 Any voltage tests should be conducted
between ALL de-energized conductors and
between them and earth.
 Consideration must be given to the possibility

of becoming live of the operation of

automatic control devices e.g. Thermostats
,float switches
 When returning after being absent from the

immediate work area, checks and tests

should be carried out to ensure that the
equipment being worked on is still isolated.
Earthing
 Where isolation of electrical equipment is made at
a remote location, all conductors supplying the
equipment should be bonded together and
connected to earth at the work site, if practicable.
 Bonding to earth should be affected through
adequately sized conductors
 The nearest de-energized conductor will be
connected first and the furthest last
 Removal of the bonding conductors must be
carried out in reversed order
 Suitable safety PPE should be used when attaching
or removing temporary bonding conductors