ScottishPower Safety Instruction EM/SI/005 1st Edition (Issue 1)

SI-5 Access to Plant and Operational Locks

Electrical and mechanical Plant is designed so that it may be accessed and operated by suitably trained and
authorised Persons without Danger provided that appropriate procedures are correctly used.
This Safety Instruction sets out the procedure to prevent Danger through the unintended, inadvertent, or
unauthorised access to, or operation of, Plant.
This is achieved through the application of ‘Access Lock’ and Operational Lock schemes.

SI-5.1 Definitions

5.1.1 For the purpose of this Safety Instruction the following definitions apply:
 ‘Access Lock’ – a lock used to secure buildings, compounds, enclosures, or Structures against
unauthorised access
 ‘Compartment’ – an enclosure, chamber, cubicle or cell containing Plant having exposed HV
conductors that is not intended by design to prevent inadvertent infringement of Safety
Distance during access by Persons
 ‘Structure’ – a tower, gantry or other means of supporting or giving access to exposed HV
conductors
 ‘Upper Portion’ – of steel towers or wood poles, are those parts which are:
(i) Within Safety Distance of HV conductors, and / or;
(ii) Within 300mm of unearthed steelwork supporting HV conductors or bonded to unearthed
steelwork supporting HV conductors, and / or;
(iii) Above a horizontal line through the lowest HV conductor that can be accessed from the
tower or pole on which Work is to take place.

5.1.2 The following term is defined in Part D of the Safety Rules:

 Operational Lock – a lock used to prevent the unintended, inadvertent, or unauthorised
operation of or access to Plant

SI-5.2 General Requirements for Access to Plant

5.2.1 Buildings, compounds, enclosures, or Structures containing Plant shall be securely Locked to
ensure that access is only possible by appropriately trained and authorised Persons.
Considerations for Persons visiting such Locations include, but are not limited to:
 Once access has been gained, and throughout the time that they are in the building, compound,
or enclosure, ensuring that all access gates and doors are secured to prevent further
unauthorised access
 Minimising the period of time spent near to energised Plant
 Minimising access to remote telemetry units or other critical infrastructure
 Ensure the Location is left secure on departure

5.2.2 Where there is a requirement for shared access, dual access arrangements shall be employed as
and where appropriate.

5.2.3 Combination locks shall not be used as Access Locks.

5.2.4 Padlocks, rim locks, or smart locks may be employed to control access.

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SI-5.3 Specific Requirements – Operational Locks

5.3.1 Operational Locks shall be used to prevent Danger arising from the unintended, inadvertent, or
unauthorised operation of Plant.

5.3.2 Operational Locks may comprise:

 Standard Operational Locks – where a common Key operates all locks of the same suite
 Unique Operational Locks – which can only be operated by a unique Key

5.3.3 Due to the complexity of Plant design it is not always possible to stipulate precisely where and when
an Operational Lock shall be used. The decision whether to lock any particular item of Plant shall
be determined on the merits of the particular situation and shall form part of the process for additions
to the System in accordance with the requirements of Safety Instruction-7, ‘Addition to and
Removal from the System’.

5.3.4 The business-specific ‘Application of the Safety Rules’ procedure shall detail the Operational Lock
arrangements employed.

5.3.5 An Operational Lock shall where practicable be applied to operating mechanisms used to apply
an earth, and outdoor switchgear should have an Operational Lock preventing operation of any
feature.
It is not necessary to apply an Operational Lock to every feature if another Operational Lock or
an interlock achieves the same result.
Operational Locks should not be applied to circuit breaker tripping facilities in normal operation.

5.3.7 Care shall be taken to ensure that the application of Operational Locks does not adversely affect
the correct operation of interlocks or the safe operation of Plant.

5.3.8 The application and use of Operational Locks shall be audited in accordance with Safety
Instruction-11, ‘Safety Rules Auditing’.

SI-5.4 Specific Requirements – Issue and Control of Operational Keys

5.4.1 Keys for Operational Locks shall only be issued to Persons with sufficient technical knowledge
and / or experience to avoid Danger.
This shall apply regardless of whether the Key to the Operational Lock is issued on a short-term
or permanent basis.
Each business unit shall determine the process for nomination of key coordinators and the purchase
of keys. Key coordinators shall be identified in the business-specific ‘Application of the Safety
Rules’ procedure.

5.4.2 A register shall be maintained of Persons issued with Keys for Operational Locks.
The Certificate of Authorisation incorporates a Key issue section. Only those Persons appointed
as key coordinators are permitted to control the issue and recovery of operational Keys. The key
coordinator shall update the authorisation database with details of any Keys issued or recovered.

5.4.3 On cancellation of an authorisation, or termination of contract, all operational Keys issued shall be
returned to a Key coordinator who shall update the authorisation database.

5.4.4 Persons have individual responsibility for any operational Keys with which they are issued and they
shall ensure that they do not allow any unauthorised person to make use of Keys personally issued
to them.

5.4.5 The loss of any operational Keys shall be handled in accordance with the requirements of Safety
Instruction-4, ‘Absence of Persons or Loss of Documents, Keys or Equipment’.

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SI-5.5 Specific Requirements – Removal and Replacement of Operational Locks

5.5.1 Operational Locks have to be routinely removed to make Plant available for the application of
safety precautions or other Work.
The removal and replacement of Operational Locks shall be controlled.

5.5.2 A Senior Authorised Person shall not remove any Operational Lock or issue an instruction to
any other Person to remove an Operational Lock until Plant conditions present no Danger.

5.5.3 Where return of Plant to service does not allow the immediate replacement of Operational Locks
the Control Person shall ensure that the requirement to replace the lock at the earliest available
opportunity is adequately recorded.

SI-5.6 Specific Requirements – Access to Compartments Containing High Voltage Plant

5.6.1 Barriers, including plates on access ladders, designed to prevent access to Compartments shall
where practicable be kept Locked.

5.6.2 Access to Compartments shall only be permitted by a Senior Authorised Person. A lock controlling
access to a Compartment shall only be un-Locked by a Senior Authorised Person or by an
Authorised Person acting under their Personal Supervision.

5.6.3 Only a Senior Authorised Person, or an Authorised Person acting under their Personal
Supervision, shall have access to a Compartment in which the exposed HV conductors are Live.

5.6.4 When Work is to be undertaken on HV Plant in a Compartment, all the exposed HV conductors
shall be Isolated, Earthed and, where practicable, proven Dead using an Approved voltage
indicator. The voltage indicator shall be tested immediately before and immediately after use.
An appropriate Safety Document shall be issued for the Work.

SI-5.7 Specific Requirements – Access to Structures

5.7.1 Access gates to towers, high Structures and gantries supporting Live HV Plant shall be secured
either with an Operational Lock or specially designed Approved locking bolt and nut or other
Approved security arrangement to prevent unauthorised access.

5.7.2 Gates and devices designed to prevent the climbing of HV Structures shall only be opened:
(i) Under the authority of a Safety Document, or;
(ii) By a Senior Authorised Person, or;
(iii) By a Person acting under the Personal Supervision of a Senior Authorised Person, or;
(iv) When limited access is to take place outside the Upper Portion of the Structure.

5.7.3 An Authorised Person may access above the anti-climbing device on an overhead line tower
without the issue of a Safety Document provided that the tower is not located inside a substation
and the Upper Portion of the tower is not to be accessed.
A Safety Document shall be issued for access to the Upper Portion of any tower.

SI-5.8 Specific Requirements – Operational Locks for High Voltage Plant

5.8.1 High Voltage (HV) Plant such as switchgear shall where practicable be fitted with Operational
Locks to prevent unintended, inadvertent, or unauthorised operation.

5.8.2 HV Indoor Withdrawable Circuit Breakers – the operating facilities of circuit breakers shall not be
Locked when the circuit breaker is in its normal service position unless an exceptional hazard
exists, for instance regular third party interference.

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Where the circuit breaker is withdrawn from the normal service position, all fixed portion spout
shutters of HV Compartments shall where practicable be Locked shut.
Whether or not a fixed interlock is fitted, all Compartments containing exposed Live HV conductors
shall where practicable be Locked.

5.8.3 HV Outdoor Circuit Breakers – all switchgear access doors and external operating features shall
where practicable be Locked.
Operating features need not be Locked provided that the circuit breaker is in the normal service
position and the operating features are rendered inaccessible by the use of an Operational Lock.
Where the circuit breaker is of the withdrawable type and is not in the normal service position, all
fixed portion spout shutters of HV Compartments shall where practicable be Locked shut.
Whether or not a fixed interlock is fitted, all Compartments containing exposed Live HV conductors
shall where practicable be Locked .

5.8.4 Ground-Mounted HV Metal-enclosed Switch Disconnectors, Ring Switches, RMU Circuit Breakers,
Isolators and Fuse-Switches – operating facilities, excluding the ‘earthing’ facility, need not be
Locked when in the normal service position.
On outdoor switchgear, the external operating features and any switchgear access doors shall be
Locked.
Where withdrawable switchgear is withdrawn from the normal service position all fixed portion spout
shutters of HV Compartments shall where practicable be Locked shut.
An Operational Lock shall be applied to the interlock or selector to prevent operation into the ‘earth’
position and in addition the mechanism for movement into the ‘earth’ position shall be Locked.
Where the design of the switchgear precludes this dual locking then other steps shall be taken to
ensure a comparable level of security.
Outdoor test access covers and access doors to HV fuse Compartments shall where practicable be
Locked. Indoors these need not be Locked if another Operational Lock or an interlock achieves
the same result.

5.8.5 Outdoor Air-Insulated Ground-Operated HV Switches or Isolators and Earthing Switches – unless
in use as a Point of Isolation or Primary Earth these items of Plant shall be Locked in all positions
with an Operational Lock.

5.8.6 HV Transformers – an Operational Lock shall where practicable be applied to lock off-circuit tap
change equipment on transformers.

5.8.7 Switchgear Mounted Voltage Transformers – the spout shutters of voltage transformers shall where
practicable be Locked when not in use unless made inaccessible by an Operational Lock.
Operating facilities shall be Locked with an Operational Lock when in service.

5.8.8 Measurement and / or Metering Equipment – Operational Locks or metering tags shall be used to
lock measurement and / or metering equipment for safety and / or security purposes.

SI-5.9 Specific Requirements – Operational Locks for Drains and Vents

5.9.1 Where the unintended, inadvertent or unauthorised operation of drain or vent valves can give rise
to Danger with Plant in its normal operating mode these valves shall where practicable be Locked
in the appropriate position to avoid Danger with an Operational Lock.
When assessing Danger from drains or vents, factors to be considered shall include, but not be
limited to the following:
 Expansive properties of fluids
 Hazardous nature of substances
 The orientation and point of discharge of any vent or drain

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Plant containing pressurised dielectric gas shall be operated in accordance with Safety
Instruction-31, ‘Plant Containing Dielectric Gas’.

SI-5.10 Specific Requirements – Access Locks

5.10.1 Access Locks shall be used to secure buildings, compounds, enclosures, or Structures against
unauthorised access.

5.10.2 Access Locks may comprise:

 Standard Access Locks – where a common Key operates all locks of the same suite
 Hierarchical Access Lock suites
 Unique Access Locks – which can only be operated by a unique Key
An example of an hierarchical Access Lock suite may be where a Class-A Key is a master to Class-
A and Class-B locks, but Class-B Keys can only open Class-B locks.

5.10.3 Individual Access Lock schemes shall be detailed in the business-specific ‘Application of the Safety
Rules’ procedure.

5.10.4 Access Locks and Keys can comprise physical and / or electronic suites such as smart locks and
Keys or high security contactless access card suites.
Where electronic suites are employed, they shall only be operable by appropriately authorised
Persons in accordance with the requirements of this Safety Instruction.

5.10.5 Keys giving access to a confined space or HV Compartment shall only be issued in conjunction
with a Safety Document or access shall take place under the Personal Supervision of a Senior
Authorised Person.

SI-5.11 Specific Requirements – Issue and Control of Keys for Access Locks

5.11.1 The issue and recovery of Keys for access to operational premises or for Plant shall be controlled
to ensure that a Person only has access to operational premises and Plant appropriate to their
level of training and authorisation.

SI-5.12 Specific Requirements – Access Locks for Low Voltage Plant

5.12.1 Where the opening of unsecured doors or covers has potential to expose Live LV conductors, the
LV Plant concerned shall where reasonably practicable be Locked with an Access Lock to prevent
unintended, inadvertent, or unauthorised access.
This instruction additionally applies to withdrawable sections of LV switchgear.

ISSUE DATE VERSION No. AMENDMENT DETAILS

2024 1 New Safety Instruction

PROCEDURE PROCEDURE PROCEDURE

AUTHOR APPROVAL ISSUE AUTHORITY
Name: PRG Name: PRG Name: CSRC
Title: Title: Title:
Date: 01-02-24 Date: 01-02-24 Date: 01-02-24

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