15 March, 2005 Guides:\Guide to Live LV Electrical Work (March 2005) 1
Guide to Live LV Electrical Work
March 2005 15 March, 2005 Guides:\Guide to Live LV Electrical Work (March 2005) 2 DISCLAIMER This document is recommended as good practice by electricity supply industry representatives, but it is not a substitute for legislative or other regulatory requirements. If there is uncertainty as to what guidelines or legislative requirements apply in any particular situation, specialist advice, including legal advice, should be sought. The Electricity Engineers' Association of New Zealand (Inc) and the electricity supply industry representatives involved in preparing this document accept no liability or responsibility for any error or omission contained in this document, or any injury, loss, damage (including indirect or consequential loss or damage), or any other claim arising from any reliance on, or failure to rely on, the contents of this document. COPYRIGHT 2005 Copyright is owned by the Electricity Engineers Association of New Zealand (Inc), PO Box 5324, Wellington. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or information retrieval systems) without the written permission of the copyright owner. 15 March, 2005 Guides:\Guide to Live LV Electrical Work (March 2005) 3 CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 4 1.1 Intent of Guide....................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Legislation and Other Related Requirements....................................................... 4 1.3 Definitions ............................................................................................................. 6 2. SAFETY EQUIPMENT.................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Insulating Gloves................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Insulating Boots..................................................................................................... 8 2.3 Insulating Covers and Blankets ............................................................................ 9 2.4 LV Safety Mats.................................................................................................... 10 2.5 LV Line Hose....................................................................................................... 10 2.6 Insulating Tools................................................................................................... 11 3. GENERAL PRINCIPLES............................................................................................... 11 3.1 Techniques.......................................................................................................... 11 3.2 General Precautions with Live LV Conductors ................................................... 12 3.3 Secondary Points of Contact .............................................................................. 12 3.4 Worksite Safety Plan........................................................................................... 13 3.5 Personal Protective Equipment........................................................................... 13 3.6 Electrical Worker Competency............................................................................ 13 3.7 Safety Observer .................................................................................................. 13 3.8 Low Voltage Networks ........................................................................................ 14 3.9 Phase Position of Lines....................................................................................... 14 3.10 Connection of Services ....................................................................................... 14 3.11 Working on Auxiliary Circuits .............................................................................. 14 4. WORK ON LIVE LV OVERHEAD CONDUCTORS ...................................................... 14 5. WORK ON LIVE LV CABLES ....................................................................................... 15 5.1 Gloved Hand ....................................................................................................... 15 5.2 Bare Hand........................................................................................................... 15 6. INSTALLATION OR REMOVAL OF LV CONDUCTORS ON POLES CARRYING LIVE CONDUCTORS............................................................................................................. 16 7. WORK ON OTHER LIVE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT ................................................ 17 15 March, 2005 Guides:\Guide to Live LV Electrical Work (March 2005) 4 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Intent of Guide This guide has been prepared to provide electrical workers with guidance on how to control risks inherent in live LV work and document techniques to enable live LV work to be carried out in a safe manner. The guide is intended to be read in conjunction with the Electricity Engineers Association publications Safe Practices for Low Voltage Electrical Work and Safety Manual Electricity Industry (SM-EI) July 2004. 1.2 Legislation and Other Related Requirements The requirements for working on LV conductors within the electricity supply industry, are governed by a number of regulations, codes of practice, standards and industry best practice guidelines. 1.2.1 Regulations Electricity Regulations (1997) (a) Regulation 29 covers work on live conductors of LV overhead lines in electrical installations. It covers those parts of overhead lines which belong to customers. When working on such lines and there is exposed live metal or the likelihood of contact, associated equipment and personal protective equipment necessary to ensure safety must be used. (b) Regulation 31 covers the construction of overhead lines on existing poles or other supports. Where any additional conductors are being strung between poles or supports already holding conductors then either the existing conductors must be isolated and earthed or the additional conductors are earthed and applicable associated equipment is used. (c) Regulation 35 requires the employer to ensure the safety of employees. In particular the employer must provide safe working procedures for employees to follow when carrying out prescribed electrical work and ensure that associated equipment and personal protective equipment is safe for the employee to use. The employer must also ensure that employees have adequate knowledge and experience of the type of work being carried out, be adequately trained in the safe use of associated equipment, personal protective equipment and the procedures. Employees must also check that associated equipment and PPE is in good condition and use the equipment and procedures. (d) Regulation 37 covers the testing of prescribed electrical work, and requires testing to ensure operational safety, and that the work does not reduce the safety of existing works. (e) Regulation 69 requires works and associated equipment to be electrically safe. (f) Regulation 87 covers compliance with regulation 69 and requires, amongst other requirements, that connections between conductors and between conductors and other fittings are safe and reliable. 15 March, 2005 Guides:\Guide to Live LV Electrical Work (March 2005) 5 1.2.2 Electrical Codes of Practice New Zealand Electrical Code of Practice for Electrical Safe Distances NZECP 34:2001 ECP 34 sets minimum safe electrical distance requirements for overhead electric line installations and other works associated with the supply of electricity. The minimum distances have been set primarily to protect persons, property, vehicles and mobile plant from harm or damage from electrical hazards. The distances are also a guide for the design of electrical works within substations, generating stations or similar areas where electrical equipment and fittings have to be operated and maintained. 1.2.3 Industry Best Practice Guidelines (a) Safety Manual Electricity Industry (SM-EI) (July 2004) (i) Rule 3.710 covers work associated with installation or dismantling of LV conductors where contact with or induction from other conductors could occur. (ii) Rule 3.721 covers work on live LV overhead conductors. (iii) Rule 3.731 covers work on live LV cables. Note: Safety Manual Electricity Industry (SM-EI) where adopted by an asset owner or contractor is mandatory. (b) EEA Guide to Safe Practices for Low Voltage Electrical Work The EEA publication Safe Practices for Low Voltage Electrical Work provides the requirements for safe work on LV systems generally. (c) EEA Guide to Portable Equipment for Work On or Near Conductors The EEA publication Portable Equipment for Work On or Near Conductors provides guidance on selected purchase specification, and the inspection and testing requirements of portable equipment used on; (i) HV conductors for the purpose of isolation, testing, and earthing; and (ii) LV conductors for temporary insulation. (d) EEA Guide to the Identification of and Work on Cables The EEA publication Identification of and Work on Cables provides guidance on the requirements for identifying and making safe HV and LV power cables, and for working on LV power cables, including live cables. 15 March, 2005 Guides:\Guide to Live LV Electrical Work (March 2005) 6 (e) Line Mechanics Handbook The EEA Line Mechanics Handbook, 5th edition 2004, provides guidance and training information for line mechanics who work on electricity supply industry assets, including LV overhead conductors. The Handbook covers the theory applicable to electrical systems, support structures and maintenance techniques, as well as practical guidance on how to carry out various tasks. 1.3 Definitions For the purpose of this guide, the following definitions apply: 1.3.1 Approved - Have a relevant organisations endorsement for a specified function. 1.3.2 Brush Contact - Momentary accidental contact. 1.3.3 Competent An employee is competent when they can demonstrate to their employer, at any time, that they have the necessary knowledge, skills and experience to carry out the work safely and to the standards used by the employer, having acquired through training, qualification and experience the knowledge and skills to correctly perform the task required. 1.3.4 Conductor - Bare conductor or conductor not insulated to full working voltage (unless the context conveys another meaning). Conductor includes conductive parts. 1.3.5 De-energized - Not connected to any source of electrical supply but not necessarily at zero voltage (eg. may have an induced voltage). 1.3.6 Discharge - The removal of an electric charge by the application of a suitable discharge device. 1.3.7 Disconnected - Physically separated from any source of electrical energy, isolated where necessary and secured in a position clear of any electrical equipment that is capable of being energised. 1.3.8 Earthed Effectively connected to the general mass of earth: (a) If protective devices are fitted, in a manner that ensures the electrical isolation of any defective equipment through the operation of the protective devices; or (b) in a manner that ensures the removal of any charge. 1.3.9 Electrical worker - A person engaged in the installation, maintenance, repair, alteration, testing or fault finding on electrical equipment, including the supervision of such work. 1.3.10 Energised (live) Electrically livened, or connected to or containing some other source of energy (eg. steam, compressed air, hydraulic energy, spring under compression, tension or torsion, etc). 1.3.11 Equipment (electrical) - Apparatus, transmission/distribution lines, cables, and circuits, or plant (electrical, mechanical, civil) that can be removed from service and which, when it is removed from service, if energised or put back into service inadvertently, could be a hazard to 15 March, 2005 Guides:\Guide to Live LV Electrical Work (March 2005) 7 employees and other persons. Such equipment is typically fixed in location, and used for the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. Such equipment is typically personal protective equipment, mobile or portable equipment and is used for maintenance or construction. 1.3.12 Exposed conductors - Electrical conductors and parts, approach to which is not prevented by a barrier of rigid material in good order or by insulation that is adequate for the voltage concerned and that is in sound condition. 1.3.13 Fault finding - The process of making measurements or carrying out tests on equipment to locate faults. It may also include the process of connecting testing instruments or devices to various parts of the equipment to determine how the equipment is operating. 1.3.14 Hazardous area - An area in which an explosive atmosphere is present or may be expected to be present, in quantities such as to require special precautions for the construction, installation and use of electrical equipment. 1.3.15 Insulated - Separated from adjacent conducting material by a non- conducting substance permanently providing resistance to the passage of current, or to disruptive discharges through or over the surface of the substance or space, to obviate danger of shock or injurious or damaging leakage of current. 1.3.16 Isolated Deliberately disconnected from external sources of harm, eg. energy (electrical or mechanical) or asphyxiating, toxic or flammable gas, and rendered incapable of being reconnected without predetermined deliberate action. Notes: 1. Isolation can be achieved by opening disconnectors, closing valves or similar actions. 2. Where practicable, points of isolation shall be tagged in the isolated position. 3. Despite equipment being isolated, it may still contain hazards, eg. induced voltage, LV supplies, stored energy, toxic gas. 1.3.17 Isolator - A device which for reasons of safety, provides in the open position, breaks appropriate to the voltage and the insulating medium. 1.3.18 Personal protective equipment (PPE) - Items that electrical workers can use to protect themselves against a hazard. 1.3.19 Secondary point of contact - A conductive or semi-conductive object at a different potential from the live conductor to be worked on. The general mass of earth is to be considered a secondary point of contact. 1.3.20 Testing - The use of logical methodology or test instruments or test equipment by a competent person. 1.3.21 Voltage - Differences of potential normally existing between conductors and between conductors and earth as follows: 15 March, 2005 Guides:\Guide to Live LV Electrical Work (March 2005) 8 (a) Low voltage (LV) - exceeding extra-low voltage but not exceeding 1000 V a.c. or 1500 V d.c. (b) High voltage (HV) - exceeding low voltage 2. SAFETY EQUIPMENT 2.1 Insulating Gloves All insulating gloves should be either class 0 or 00 rated or other equivalent rating and comply with ASTM D120 Specification for Rubber Insulating Gloves or an equivalent internationally recognised Standard. It is electricity supply industry practice that insulating gloves be clearly identified with their maximum safe working voltage and that inspection of safety equipment, including insulating gloves, be carried out at six monthly intervals. Inspection alone is considered inadequate by the industry to ensure the continuing safety of insulating gloves used for protection against LV. Accordingly, it is the practice of the industry, as a practicable step to safeguard employees, to also test LV insulating gloves at the required inspection intervals and mark their container with a next due for test date. A recording system must be used to record the scheduled inspections, tests and service lives of insulating gloves. For tracking and recording purposes, the gloves should be marked with a unique identifying number. Gloves that do not carry the required information, including the next due for test date, must not be used; instead they must be withdrawn from service until they have been re- tested, found to be safe and adequately marked. Immediately prior to use, the gloves should be visually checked for defects the test certification for currency i.e. not past the next due for test date and then tested for any air leaks through cuts and weak spots. This is best done by rolling them up tightly, beginning at the cuff end, and noting if air escapes. Always use over-gloves for mechanical protection wherever practicable. Insulating gloves should be kept in special containers to prevent damage in storage or being transported. Note: Insulating gloves for use on LV are available with protective ratings for up to 650V AC nominal maximum voltage and 1000V AC nominal maximum voltage and the correctly rated gloves must be selected for the nominal voltage of the equipment to be worked on. 2.2 Insulating Boots All insulating boots should be either dielectric boot design for over foot with steel toe or dielectric over shoe boots rated to a standard at least equal to the equivalent of ASTM class 0 or class 00, or an equivalent internationally recognised Standard. It is electricity supply industry practice that insulating boots be clearly identified with their maximum safe working voltage and that inspection of safety equipment, include insulating boots, be carried out at six monthly intervals. Inspection alone is considered inadequate by the industry to ensure the continuing safety of insulating boots used for protection against LV. Accordingly, it is the practice of the industry, as a practicable step to safeguard employees, to also test LV insulating boots at the required inspection intervals and mark their container with a next due for test date. 15 March, 2005 Guides:\Guide to Live LV Electrical Work (March 2005) 9 A recording system must be used to record the scheduled inspections, tests and service lives of insulating boots. For tracking and recording purposes, the boots should be marked with a unique identifying number. Boots that do not carry the required information, including the next due for test date, must not be used; instead they must be withdrawn from service until they have been re-tested, found to be safe and adequately marked. Immediately prior to use, the boots should be visually checked for defects, the test certification for currency (ie. not past the next due for test date), and then tested for any air leaks through cuts and weak spots. This is best done by rolling them up tightly, beginning at the cuff end, and noting if air escapes. Insulating boots should be kept in special containers to prevent damage while in storage or being transported. Insulating boots are only to be used for actual live LV work. Alternative protective footwear is to be used for all other activities including preparation for and tidy up after the actual live work. Note: Insulating boots are available in a range of protective ratings and correctly rated boots must be selected for the nominal voltage of the equipment to be worked on. 2.3 Insulating Covers and Blankets All insulating covers and blankets should be class O rated and comply with D1049, Specification for Rubber Insulating Covers or ASTM D1048 Specification for Rubber Insulating Blankets, or an equivalent internationally recognised Standard. It is electricity supply industry practice that insulating covers and blankets be clearly identified with their maximum safe working voltage and that inspection of safety equipment, including insulating covers and blankets, be carried out at six monthly intervals. Inspection alone is considered inadequate by the industry to ensure the continuing safety of insulating covers and blankets used for protection against LV. Accordingly, it is the practice of the industry, as a practicable step to safeguard employees, to also test LV insulating covers and blankets at the required inspection intervals and mark their container with a next due for test date. A recording system must be used to record the scheduled inspections, tests and service lives of insulating covers and blankets. For tracking and recording purposes, the covers and blankets should be marked with a unique identifying number. Covers and blankets that do not carry the required information, including the next due for test date, must not be used; instead they must be withdrawn from service, until they have been re-tested, found to be safe and adequately marked. Immediately prior to use, the covers and blankets should be visually checked for defects such as cuts, abrasions or cracking, the test certification for currency i.e. not past the next due for test date. Insulating covers and blankets should be kept in special containers to prevent damage while in storage or being transported. Note: Insulating covers and blankets for LV are available with protective ratings for up to 650V AC nominal maximum voltage and 1000V AC nominal maximum voltage and the correctly rated insulating covers and blankets must be selected for the nominal voltage of the equipment to be worked on. 15 March, 2005 Guides:\Guide to Live LV Electrical Work (March 2005) 10 2.4 LV Safety Mats All LV safety mats should be specifically manufactured for foot traffic with a rating to a standard at least equal to the equivalent of AS/NZS 2978-1995 Insulating Mats for Electrical Purposes class A, or an equivalent internationally recognised Standard. It is electricity supply industry practice that insulating mats be clearly identified with their maximum safe working voltage and that inspection of safety equipment, including insulating mats, be carried out at six monthly intervals. Inspection alone is considered inadequate by the industry to ensure the continuing safety of LV Safety mats used for protection against LV. Accordingly, it is the practice of the industry, as a practicable step to safeguard employees, to also test LV safety mats at the required inspection intervals and mark their container with a next due for test date. A recording system must be used to record the scheduled inspections, tests and service lives of LV safety mats. For tracking and recording purposes, the mats should be marked with a unique identifying number. Mats that do not carry the required information, including the next due for test date, must not be used; instead they must be withdrawn from service until they have been re-tested, found to be safe and adequately marked. Immediately prior to use, the mats should be visually checked for defects such as cuts, abrasions or cracking, the test certification for currency i.e. not past the next due for test date. LV safety mats should be kept in special containers to prevent damage while in storage or being transported. Note: LV safety mats are available with protective ratings for up to 650V AC nominal maximum voltage and 1000V AC nominal maximum voltage and the correctly rated safety mats must be selected for the nominal voltage of the equipment to be worked on. 2.5 LV Line Hose All LV line hoses should be of an adequate rating to a standard at least equal to the relevant NZ standard or an equivalent internationally recognised Standard. It is electricity supply industry practice that insulating hose be clearly identified with the maximum safe working voltage and that inspection of safety equipment, including LV line hoses, be carried out at six monthly intervals. Inspection alone is considered inadequate by the industry to ensure the continuing safety of LV Line Hoses used for protection against LV. Accordingly, it is the practice of the industry, as a practicable step to safeguard employees, to also test LV insulating mats at the required inspection intervals and mark their container with a next due for test date. A recording system must be used to record the scheduled inspections, tests and service lives of LV line hoses. For tracking and recording purposes, the LV line hoses should be marked with a unique identifying number. LV line hoses that do not carry the required information, including the next due for test date, must not be used; instead they must be withdrawn from service until they have been re- tested, found to be safe and adequately marked. Immediately prior to use, LV line hoses should be visually checked for defects such as cuts, abrasions or cracking, the test certification for currency i.e. not past the next due for test date. LV line hoses should be kept in special containers to prevent damage while in storage or being transported. 15 March, 2005 Guides:\Guide to Live LV Electrical Work (March 2005) 11 Note: LV line hoses are available with protective ratings for up to 650V AC nominal maximum voltage and the correctly rated LV line hoses must be selected for the nominal voltage of the equipment to be worked on. 2.6 Insulating Tools All insulated tools and equipment should of a rating at least equivalent to BSEN 60900:2004 (Live Working Handtool for use up to 1000V a.c. and 1500V d.c.), or an equivalent internationally recognised Standard. It is electricity supply industry practice that insulated tools and equipment be clearly identified with their maximum safe working voltage and that inspection of safety equipment, including insulated tools, be carried out at six monthly intervals. Inspection alone is considered inadequate by the industry to ensure the continuing safety of insulated tools used for protection against LV. Accordingly, it is the practice of the industry, as a practicable step to safeguard workers, to also test LV insulating tools at the required inspection intervals and mark their container with a next due for test date. A recording system must be used to record the scheduled inspections, tests and service lives of insulating tools. For tracking and recording purposes, the tools should be marked with a unique identifying number. Insulating tools that do not carry the required information, including the next due for test date, must not be used; instead they must be withdrawn from service, until they have been re- tested, found to be safe and adequately marked. Immediately prior to use, the insulating tools should be visually checked for defects such as cuts, abrasions or cracking, and the test certification for currency i.e. not past the next due for test date. Insulating tools should be kept in special containers to prevent damage while in storage or being transported. Note: Insulating Tools are available with protective ratings for up to 1000V AC nominal maximum working voltage and the correctly rated tools must be selected for the nominal voltage of the equipment to be worked on. 3. GENERAL PRINCIPLES Any work to be undertaken on or within 150mm of live LV conductors is considered to be live work in the context of this guide. No live LV work is to be undertaken in hazardous areas. 3.1 Techniques 3.1.1 Gloved Hand Use of appropriately rated insulating gloves with over gloves to provide protection. 3.1.2 Bare Hand (a) Use of appropriately rated insulated footwear consisting of insulated boots, shoes, or over boots, to provide protection. (b) This technique requires all points of possible secondary contact to be covered up with insulated cover during the live work. (c) Electrical workers shall not touch each other, nor hand each other tools while a worker is in contact with a live conductor. 15 March, 2005 Guides:\Guide to Live LV Electrical Work (March 2005) 12 (d) It is recommended that LV safety mats be used in conjunction with insulated footwear where the insulated footwear is not specifically design for primary protection. 3.1.3 Insulated Tools Use of appropriately rated insulated tools and equipment to provide protection. 3.2 General Precautions with Live LV Conductors When electrical workers are working on live LV conductors, the following precautions shall be observed in addition to those set out in SM-EI rule 3.721 Work on Live LV Overhead Conductors: All conductors are to be treated the same as live exposed conductors unless the conductor insulating covering is found to be in a satisfactory condition and rated for the voltage. For the purpose of this neutral conductors are to be treated as live conductors. No two conductors may be bared at the same time (except for the purpose of connecting them together) if one bare part can be reached while working on the other. When work is completed on one conductor, it shall be re-insulated before work is commenced on another. (a) Where conductors are to be joined or terminated: (i) Any exposed ends of conductors are to be restrained to prevent accidental contact with surfaces at different potentials. (ii) The conductors to be connected are to be tested to ensure they are at the same potential and phase. Where new or modified conductors are installed the requirements of the Electricity Regulations are to be carried out. Consideration also needs to be given to the connection method where potential load current may exist due to a connected load. (b) Where conductors to be worked on may become live, they are to be treated as live conductors. (c) Where conductors are connected to devices containing stored energy, they are to be treated as live until the device has been discharged. (d) Before energising a conductor by connecting it to a live conductor, a test shall be made to check that it is safe to do so. (e) When two electrical workers are working within reach of each other, they shall not work on different phases or on a phase and a neutral, and tools shall not be passed to a worker in contact with a live conductor. Electrical workers shall keep clear of earthed metal such as telephone wires, stay wires, messenger wires, cable potheads and sheaths, earth wires, transformer cases, street light brackets and steel or concrete poles and stay bars (crossarm braces) on such poles. Where it is not possible for an electrical worker to keep a safe distance from such earthed metal, insulating covers shall be applied to it. 3.3 Secondary Points of Contact When planning work an assessment of the work area needs to be conducted identifying all live or potentially live conductors, and conductors or conductive 15 March, 2005 Guides:\Guide to Live LV Electrical Work (March 2005) 13 surfaces at different potentials, to enable the 150mm minimum approach distance for LV to be maintained from these surfaces. For the purpose of this, the earthing of all exposed metal including the lead sheaths, neutral screens or armouring of cables, needs to be considered. All secondary points of contact that are identified including any exposed metal in or adjacent to the planned work area that may present a brush contact hazard during the live work should be covered up using rated covers, mats, barriers, tubing etc. 3.4 Worksite Safety Plan As required by SM-EI, prior to the commencement of work, a worksite safety plan is to be established. For live LV work this should include but not be limited to: (a) A thorough assessment of work site for potential hazards paying particular attention to prevention of access into the work area of other parties and the general public, weather conditions if outside and lighting. (b) A method of hazard management for each identified hazard. (c) An assessment of the condition of conductor insulation or covering should be carried out in planning where additional cover up may be required. (d) Identification of personal protective equipment required. (e) The scope of the work to be undertaken. (f) The competencies of the electrical workers to undertake respective work tasks. (g) Work procedure to be used including the selection of adequately rated live LV protective equipment. 3.5 Personal Protective Equipment For work on live LV equipment, industrial work wear, including overalls shall be worn at all times so that the body is fully covered including arms, torso and legs and shall be a minimum of 100%/185gsm cotton or flame retardant and shall have no metal fittings, unless they are protected by a layer of the same material as that of the garment on both the top and undersides. Eye protection is to be worn for the duration of live LV work consisting of suitable protective glasses, goggles or face shield. Anti-glare eye protection should be used as appropriate. 3.6 Electrical Worker Competency Only electrical workers who are competent to undertake the task intended to be carried out live when the line or equipment is in a de-energised state, and deemed competent by their employer or supervisor to do so, shall undertake live LV work. Where a worker is undergoing training in live LV work, direct supervision must be provided for the duration of the live work activity. 3.7 Safety Observer It is recommended that a safety observer who is competent in the task to be undertaken is appointed for the duration of the live LV work activity. 15 March, 2005 Guides:\Guide to Live LV Electrical Work (March 2005) 14 3.8 Low Voltage Networks Electrical workers should make themselves familiar with the layout of lines in the area in which they are working. Special care is required when working on LV lines that are interconnected and supplied from more than one transformer. Before any connection is made at a line break termination, employees shall correctly identify the phase and neutral conductors. Note: Phasing may be identified by a disc system. 3.9 Phase Position of Lines The relative positions of the phase conductors and the neutral conductor should be standard throughout each electricity distributor's supply system. This may not always be the case and it shall be the responsibility of every electrical worker to familiarise themselves with the system of phase positioning in the area in which they are working. Particular attention shall be paid to identifying the neutral conductor. 3.10 Connection of Services When connecting or reconnecting a service, an electrical worker shall ensure that the connection is correctly made by appropriate testing as required by the Electricity Regulations. Before connecting the service, a positive identification shall be made of the house neutral, the main neutral and the street main neutral; if this is not possible, the service shall not be connected. 3.11 Working on Auxiliary Circuits When working on any auxiliary circuits, (eg. street lighting, pilot, control, communications, etc), precautions may be made necessary by the high voltages which can appear due to: (a) the capacitive effect where they parallel an HV circuit; or (b) the inductive effect where they parallel a fault carrying circuit. 4. WORK ON LIVE LV OVERHEAD CONDUCTORS Before commencing work on live LV overhead conductors, an electrical worker shall: (a) Wear insulating gloves: (i) The minimum class of glove shall be Class OO 500 volt working. (ii) Insulating gloves shall be worn at all times whilst aloft. (b) Cover with insulating material every part of such conductors (except the conductor on which work is being carried out) that could come in contact with any part of the body during the course of the work. If the conductor insulating covering is found to be satisfactory, and if there are no binders, line taps, clamps, preformed terminations and other fittings attached to the conductor in the proximity of the work, then conductor cover-up gear need not be used. (i) For the purpose of this requirement, the neutral conductor shall be regarded as a live conductor. 15 March, 2005 Guides:\Guide to Live LV Electrical Work (March 2005) 15 (ii) An assessment of the condition of conductor insulation or covering should be carried out in planning where additional cover up may be required. (c) Secondary points of contact are to be identified including any exposed metal in or adjacent to the planned work area. All such points of contact that may present a hazard during the live work should be covered up using rated covers, mats, barriers, tubing etc. 5. WORK ON LIVE LV CABLES One of the following methods of work shall be used: 5.1 Gloved Hand (a) Appropriately rated insulating gloves shall be worn by all workers involved in jointing live conductors. (b) Where the jointing is to take place in a joint hole the hole is to be prepared in such a manner to provide a level dry work surface on which to work. (c) All exposed earthed metal, including lead sheaths, neutral screens or armouring of cables in the immediate working area, shall be effectively insulated using coverup. (d) Only one core of the cable being worked on shall be made bare at a time, and the jointing work on each core shall be completed and the core re- insulated before a second core is made bare. (e) When jointing a de-energised cable to a live cable, the worker shall ensure that the de-energised cable is tested to meet the requirements of the Electricity Regulations before and after any connections are made. (f) Where a live cable is to be jointed to a cable already live, only one core of each cable shall be made bare at a time. These cores shall be tested before any connection is made between them in order to ensure that they are at the same potential and phase. 5.2 Bare Hand (a) Electrical workers shall adequately insulate themselves from earth, and from all exposed earthed metal and the general mass of ground. To do this, the floor and sides of the joint hole shall be covered with dry insulating material. The floor of the joint hole shall be free of sharp objects and be maintained in a level and dry state. (b) Electrical workers shall wear appropriately rated insulating rubber boots, shoes or over boots. (c) All exposed earthed metal within the joint hole, including the lead sheaths, neutral screens or armouring of all cables, shall be effectively insulated before the live core of any cable is made bare and shall not be uncovered until the cores of the cable have been re-insulated. (d) Electrical workers and any assisting workers shall not touch each other, nor hand each other tools while either is in contact with a live conductor. (e) Only one core of the cable being worked on shall be made bare at a time, and the jointing work on each core shall be completed and the core re- insulated before a second core is made bare. 15 March, 2005 Guides:\Guide to Live LV Electrical Work (March 2005) 16 (f) When jointing a de-energised cable to a live cable, employees shall ensure that the phase cores of the de-energised cable are insulated from other conductors, from one another and from earth, before any connections are made. (g) Where a live cable is to be jointed to a cable already live, only one core of each cable shall be made bare at a time. These cores shall be tested before any connection is made between them in order to ensure that they are at the same potential and phase. 6. INSTALLATION OR REMOVAL OF LV CONDUCTORS ON POLES CARRYING LIVE CONDUCTORS (a) Insulating gloves shall be worn at all times when handling the conductor until such time as the conductor is terminated, earthed, and bound in. In addition, insulating boots or over boots may be worn. These requirements need not apply when all the following conditions apply: (i) The conductor being run out or removed is covered with rated PVC insulation. (ii) The live conductors are LV and are also rated PVC insulation covered and their covering has been examined and found to be satisfactory. (iii) The covering of all binders, line taps, clamps, preform terminations and other fittings attached to the conductors is equally satisfactory. (b) No electrical worker shall be on or supported by any crossarm while a conductor supported by that crossarm is being run out or removed, or while a conductor is being tensioned or released. (c) The conductor drums or coils shall be under the control of an electrical worker. They shall be positioned sufficiently far from the first pole, at least 40 metres wherever possible on flat ground, to avoid excessive vertical loading on the crossarm on which the conductor is being run and to prevent the loose-end flying into a live conductor. (d) A dry insulating hand line shall be attached to the conductor to pull or guide it over the crossarm. (e) The conductor shall be in sight for its full length and there shall be an agreed method of signalling in order to stop pulling should a conductor foul an obstruction or lift dangerously close to the live conductors. (f) An effective method of temporarily earthing bare conductors at the drum or on the crossarm of the first pole shall be arranged. (g) Observers shall be stationed at intervals along the line and, where necessary, they shall use a dry insulating hand line to prevent the new conductors contacting a live conductor. (h) All conductors being run under live HV lines shall be earthed immediately they are terminated or held at one end, and before any attempt is made to tension the conductor. (i) With bare conductors, before cutting these clear from the drums and removing the running earths, temporary earths shall be applied in the first span of conductor from the drum. 15 March, 2005 Guides:\Guide to Live LV Electrical Work (March 2005) 17 (j) When tensioning heavy conductors under light HV conductors, care shall be taken to ensure that termination or angle poles are well blocked or stayed to prevent the pull on the heavy conductors either over tensioning the light conductors or increasing the sag of the light conductors to bring them down on the LV conductors. When tensioning light LV conductors under heavy HV conductors, care shall be taken to ensure that the light conductors are not pulled up into the heavy conductors. (k) Care must be taken when removing conductors. When a conductor is being taken down, it shall be anchored before being cut to avoid sudden release of tension. (l) Particular care should be taken when handling any conductor, such as winch ropes, fencing wire, wires on the ground, etc, where there is a possibility of these conductors contacting live conductors. 7. WORK ON OTHER LIVE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT Where live LV work is to be carried out on equipment other than overhead line and underground or surface mounted cable systems the following should be applied: (a) Gloved hand and/or insulated tool, or insulated footwear or matting and/or insulated tool techniques should be used to provide protection for the electrical worker. It is recommended that the combination be used to provide added protection against brush contact either by un-insulated tools or the worker. (b) An assessment of the condition of conductor insulation or covering should be carried out in planning where additional cover up may be required. For the purpose of this requirement, the neutral conductor shall be regarded as a live conductor. (c) Secondary points of contact are to be identified including any exposed metal in or adjacent the planned work area. All such points of contact that may present a hazard during the live work should be covered up using rated covers, mats, barriers, tubing etc. (d) No two conductors may be bared at the same time (except for the purpose of connecting them together) if one bare part can be reached while working on the other. When work is completed on one conductor, it shall be re-insulated before work is commenced on another. (e) Before energising a conductor by connecting it to a live conductor, a check by testing shall be made that it is safe to do so. (f) When two electrical workers are working within reach of each other, they shall not work on different phases or on a phase and a neutral, and tools shall not be passed to a worker in contact with a live conductor. Electrical workers shall keep clear of earthed metal such as telephone wires, stay wires, messenger wires, cable potheads and sheaths, earth wires, transformer cases, metal brackets and steel or concrete. Where it is not possible for a worker to keep a safe distance from such earthed metal, insulating covers shall be applied to it.