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    Working Near Overhead Powerlines: Standard Operating Procedures

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    NTAMBO KABEKE
    This document outlines safety procedures for working near overhead power lines. It defines key terms and roles and responsibilities. A permit is required for any work within 75 feet of overhead lines. The minimum safe distances for different voltage lines are provided. The permit process involves the overhead power line supervisor, electrical general foreman, and work supervisor. Safety precautions like de-energizing lines, barriers, and spotters must be used based on the permit. Environmental conditions can halt work near power lines. Excavation work also requires a separate permit.

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    Working Near Overhead Powerlines: Standard Operating Procedures

    Uploaded by

    NTAMBO KABEKE
    63 views4 pages
    This document outlines safety procedures for working near overhead power lines. It defines key terms and roles and responsibilities. A permit is required for any work within 75 feet of overhead lines. The minimum safe distances for different voltage lines are provided. The permit process involves the overhead power line supervisor, electrical general foreman, and work supervisor. Safety precautions like de-energizing lines, barriers, and spotters must be used based on the permit. Environmental conditions can halt work near power lines. Excavation work also requires a separate permit.

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    12-352MOD_12FF.pdf

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    This document outlines safety procedures for working near overhead power lines. It defines key terms and roles and responsibilities. A permit is required for any work within 75 feet of overhead lines. The minimum safe distances for different voltage lines are provided. The permit process involves the overhead power line supervisor, electrical general foreman, and work supervisor. Safety precautions like de-energizing lines, barriers, and spotters must be used based on the permit. Environmental conditions can halt work near power lines. Excavation work also requires a separate permit.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    63 views4 pages

    Working Near Overhead Powerlines: Standard Operating Procedures

    Uploaded by

    NTAMBO KABEKE
    This document outlines safety procedures for working near overhead power lines. It defines key terms and roles and responsibilities. A permit is required for any work within 75 feet of overhead lines. The minimum safe distances for different voltage lines are provided. The permit process involves the overhead power line supervisor, electrical general foreman, and work supervisor. Safety precautions like de-energizing lines, barriers, and spotters must be used based on the permit. Environmental conditions can halt work near power lines. Excavation work also requires a separate permit.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 4

    Standard Operating Procedures

    Committed to Excellence in Mining Safety Working Near Overhead Powerlines


    MODULE 12

    Last Modified: Page:

    JAN 2013 1 of 4

    Working Near Overhead Powerlines


    I PURPOSE
    To establish a policy for working near overhead power lines or in their vicinity on the
    COMPANY site. This policy is applicable to all employees and contractors. The policy is not
    intended to cover production-related earthworks associated with mining.

    2 SCOPE
    This procedure applies to all operating sites, projects, and exploration including all employees
    and contractors within the scope of the Integrated Management System (IMS).

    3 DEFINITIONS AND ACRONYMS


    Definitions

    Absolute Limit of Approach Distance is the minimum safe distance a vehicle, equipment,
    machine, or load can approach an energized overhead power line. This distance is voltage
    dependent as shown in the following Table 1 of this document.

    At Risk Activities Work Near Overhead Power Lines any work such as excavations, earth
    moving, drilling, blasting, lifting or reaching with the use of cranes and boom trucks within 75
    feet of an energized overhead power line.

    Overhead Element is any overhead metal element that may inadvertently get dangerously
    close to a high voltage line, for example: crane booms, mobile scaffolding, dump truck
    hoppers, etc.

    Overhead Power Line is any above ground live or dead conductor that is not fully voltage
    sheathed or enclosed. Poles, guy wires, underground anchors and any such structural
    member that contributes to the structural integrity of the power line shall be included as part of
    the power line.

    Overhead Power Line Work Supervisor is the supervisor responsible for the work who is
    present at the work site to monitor and control work within 75 feet of an overhead power line.

    Site refers to any COMPANY location.

    Acronyms

    ANSI American National Standards Institute


    ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials
    FOPS Falling Object Protection Structure
    HMR HSLP Management Representative
    HSLP Health, Safety and Loss Prevention

    (Cont.) www.coresafety.org
    Last Modified: Page:

    Committed to Excellence in Mining Safety JAN 2013 2 of 4

    IMS Integrated Management System


    ISEA International Safety Equipment Association
    PPE Personal Protective Equipment
    ROPS Roll Over Protection Structure
    SAE Society of Automobile Engineers

    4 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES


    Document Owner
    HMR

    Responsible Roles and Position-Holders

    Electrical General Foreman or his Designee


    • Authorizes all work meeting the ”At Risk Activities” near overhead power lines
    definition within the 75 feet limit of overhead power lines.
    • Shall inspect the work site before work starts.
    • Signs the permit authorizing work to proceed within the 75 foot limit of overhead
    power lines after documenting all special requirements for the job on the.

    Employees / Persons Performing the Work Near Energized Overhead Power Lines
    • Shall be trained to recognize the hazards associated with overhead power lines and to
    understand the provision of this standard.
    • Shall be properly tasked trained on any mobile equipment such as cranes, boom
    trucks, earth movers, etc.
    • Shall know the purpose and limitations of any safety devices used during the job.

    Spotter / Signalman
    • Must be competent to communicate effectively through hand signals or verbally
    through radio or other communication forms.
    • Remain vigilante to this assignment not allowing themselves to become distracted.
    • Position themselves in full view of the operator when hand signals are used.
    • Notify operator when electrical lines are approached.

    Overhead Power Line Work Supervisor


    • Responsible for signing the “Working near Overhead Power Lines Permit” and
    accepting responsibility for the safe execution of the work as stated on the permit.
    • Remains on the work site and oversees all workers and equipment activities.

    (Cont.) Working Near Overhead Powerlines www.coresafety.org


    MODULE 12
    Last Modified: Page:

    Committed to Excellence in Mining Safety JAN 2013 3 of 4

    5 DIRECTION
    General
    A “Working near Overhead Power Lines Permit” is required any time “At Risk Activities” are to
    be performed within 75 feet of an energized overhead power line.

    De-energizing and grounding of lines (where possible) shall be the primary means of
    preventing injury from contact between cranes or machinery and power lines.

    Evaluate alternative work methods that do not require use of cranes, boom trucks, or over
    head elements in the proximity of energized overhead power lines.

    Vehicles, equipment, booms, scaffolding, personnel etc. shall adhere to the appropriate
    “Absolute Distance of Approach” of any energized power line, except for specialized
    overhead power line crews with appropriate equipment and properly trained to handle this
    type of work safely.

    Absolute Distance of Approach

    Line Voltage Minimum

    Up to 50,000 volts 10 feet

    50,000 to 115,000 volts 12 feet

    115,000 to 230,000 volts 16 feet

    230,000 to 500,000 volts 25 feet

    All work requiring a “Working near Overhead Power Lines Permit” must be performed in
    daylight hours and shall be stopped anytime environmental conditions could potentially effect
    the safe completion of the work. Work shall be stopped if environmental conditions have some
    of the following characteristics:
    • Wind speed higher than 20 miles/hr
    • Heavy rain, hail and snow
    • Electrical storms
    • Other abnormal phenomena affecting safety

    Insulating barriers, proximity warning devices, insulating boom guards, swing limit stops,
    non-conductive tag lines, ground rods, and similar devices may be used for protection against
    electrical hazards, but shall not take the place of de-energized lines or minimum absolute limit
    of approach distances.
    When the work requires excavation, the SOP Excavation and Trenching must be adhered to,
    which includes an excavation and trenching permit.

    Working Near Overhead Power Lines Permit


    As part of the permit, an Overhead Power Line Supervisor must be assigned to the work /
    project. This person will be responsible for:

    (Cont.) Working Near Overhead Powerlines www.coresafety.org


    MODULE 12
    Last Modified: Page:

    Committed to Excellence in Mining Safety JAN 2013 4 of 4

    • Generating the permit with a complete sketch of the work area and any overhead
    power lines in the area.
    • Posting and barricading the work area prior to requesting authorization from the
    Electrical General Foreman.
    • Notify the Electrical General Foreman of the work / project and conduct an inspection
    of the work area.

    The Electrical General Foreman will review the permit, add any additional safety precautions
    required to the permit, and once the work site is determined safe sign the permit.
    The work Supervisor will sign the permit and be responsible to supervise the work and ensure
    the permit procedures are followed throughout the duration of the job.
    The permit will remain in the work area until the job is complete.
    When the work is completed, protective safety systems, i.e., warning signs and barricades
    must be removed.
    The Overhead Power Line Supervisor will sign the permit signifying it has been closed and
    returning the permit to the Electrical General Foremen.

    NOTE: The completed and signed permit shall be kept on file for a period of six (6) months.

    Equipment Spotter / Signalman

    A person shall be assigned to observe equipment when:


    • It is difficult for the equipment operator to visually observe how close his equipment or
    its load is to the energized overhead power lines.
    • The equipment is within a booms length of the energized overhead power line
    The spotter / signalman must warn the operator when:
    • The machine is working near a power line.
    • Any part of the machine is nearing the Absolute Minimum Distance of Approach Step.

    Working Near Overhead Powerlines www.coresafety.org


    MODULE 12

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