Field Instruction. Refer to General Safety Requirements in FI 10.6 Vegetation Management Work.

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1 Field Instructin 10.3 Specialised Insulated Plant fr Vegetatin Management Purpse This instructin utlines the minimum requirements and safe apprach distances (SADs) fr specialised insulated plant peratrs ding vegetatin management wrk. Scpe This field instructin is designed t prtect vegetatin management wrkers using specialised insulated plant frm electric shcks due t step-and-tuch ptentials and shrt-circuits. This is achieved by specifying the SADs and minimum requirements when wrking near pwer lines up t 132 kv. Safety Befre cmmencement f wrk, a risk assessment must be carried ut using the Risk Analysis Prcedure (OSH ), t identify and dcument the hazards and risks assciated with the task and ensure apprpriate cntrl measures are implemented. It is imprtant that, apprpriate cntrl measures must be identified, dcumented and implemented t lessen r cntrl the identified hazards. Refer t General Safety Requirements in FI 10.6 Vegetatin Management Wrk. Persnal Prtective Equipment (PPE) When undertaking vegetatin management wrk near live r de-energised verhead pwer lines, all vegetatin management wrkers must wear the apprpriate PPE, see (Sectin 2 Safety Field Instructins 2.1, 2.2, 2.5 and FI 2.6 Wrksite Clthing / PPE Requirements) in this manual. Training The minimum requirements t perate a specialised insulated plant are: Trained as a high vltage (HV) vegetatin management wrker, as defined by the Cde f Practice fr Persnnel Electrical Safety fr Vegetatin Cntrl Wrk Near Live Pwer Lines. (July 2012) T be assessed as a cmpetent peratr Cmpetent Operatr An peratr that has nt been recgnised by Hrizn Pwer as cmpetent must be cnsidered as a trainee, and wrk t clearances utside the SADs until assessed as a cmpetent peratr. T be cnsidered as a cmpetent peratr n specialised insulated mbile plant, all f the fllwing requirements must have been achieved. 150 hurs f n-the-jb training while supervised by an experienced and qualified cmpetent peratr the hurs must be lgged and signed by the supervisr must be experienced wrking n relevant vltages levels, wind cnditins, structure cnfiguratin, bay lengths and cnductr spacing CS10 # FI 10.3 Specialised Insulated Plant fr Vegetatin Management Page 1 f 6

2 Field Instructin Pssess written dcumentatin that an independent n-the-jb assessment has been cnducted by an apprved registered training rganisatin (RTO) as a cmpetent peratr n the specialised insulated plant Updated Netwrk authrity Card by Hrizn Pwer shwing cmpetency authrisatin Once an peratr is assessed as cmpetent, they are allwed t wrk t the SADs Hrizn Pwer Permits Permits are required t d vegetatin wrk in sme situatins. T wrk under a permit, a Recipient in Charge (RIC) must be nsite. Ensure that the wrk area Pick ID crrespnds t the permit The permit must be kept nsite in the supprt vehicle r specialised insulated plant fr the duratin f the wrk Mre than ne permit may be issued at any time fr different sectins f the netwrk Recipient in Charge (RIC) An RIC is a persn wh has been assessed as being cmpetent and has been authrised t receive permits The RIC must be able t be cntacted directly by the relevant Operatins Cntrl Centre fr the duratin f the wrk The RIC must ensure vegetatin management wrkers understand and cmply with all requirements f the permit Vicinity Authrity (VA) A VA is required when vegetatin is, r is likely t be, within: the vegetatin clearances as described in Table 1 This is a Hrizn Pwer requirement, and is acknwledged t exceed the requirements described in the Vegetatin Cde f Practice, sectin 6.6. The VA must be cancelled upn cmpletin f the wrk. Where SADs cannt be maintained, wrk must stp and alternative arrangements made, such as scheduling an Electrical Access Permit (see belw). Electrical Access Permit (EAP) When vegetatin management wrk is required within the SAD, an EAP must be issued frm HPCC. The vegetatin management RIC must sign n t the EAP. CS10 # FI 10.3 Specialised Insulated Plant fr Vegetatin Management Page 2 f 6

3 Field Instructin Specialised Insulated Plant Key Safety Pints Field instructin FI 2.7 Safety Requirements when wrking frm a EWP in this manual cvers many pints that are relevant t specialised insulated plant. Specialised insulated mbile plant must nly be used n vltages equal t r less than the bm insulatin rating indicated n the test certificate The specialised insulated plant must be earthed as indicated All persns must maintain the grund apprach distance (GAD) at all times whenever any part f the specialised insulated plant is within duble the SAD (e.g. fr 1 33 kv pwer lines this wuld be 2 x 400 mm = 800 mm) The peratr and safety bserver must be trained and cmpetent in the use f the relevant emergency retrieval systems Safety Observer In additin t the requirements described in FI 2.27 Safety Observer Rle, safety bservers must: maintain effective cmmunicatin with the specialised insulated plant peratr at all times bserve the peratr s blind spts at all times be able t bserve the drp zne at all times Testing prevent access t the drp zne unless access t the zne is prevented by sme ther methd, e.g. a fence, wall r ther effective barrier Specialised insulated mbile plant must: Be electrically tested every six (6) mnths Display a current electrical test sticker r carry an electrical test certificate If the plant des nt meet these requirements, it must nt be used and cnsidered uninsulated. The mbile plant must be withdrawn frm the wrk site if the bm has been subjected t abnrmal mechanical r electrical stresses. Befre it can be returned t service, the mbile plant must: Be mechanically and structurally inspected Be repaired Pass a new electrical test CS10 # FI 10.3 Specialised Insulated Plant fr Vegetatin Management Page 3 f 6

4 Field Instructin Instructin Preparatin Prir t Vegetatin Management Wrk The bm must be cleaned befre use accrding t the manufacturer s specificatins Take special nte f stay wires that may be a hazard when mving the plant nsite r cutting branches Befre starting vegetatin wrk, visually inspect the wrk area and cnductrs fr hazards, e.g. lse wires, hanging wires, burn marks, presence f LV spreaders between cnductrs, lse cnductrs sagging at different heights Wrk Clearances fr Specialised Insulated Plant In rder t minimise the risks f wrking with vegetatin near pwer lines, SADs must be strictly fllwed. In additin, the distance between the vegetatin and the pwer line must als be taken int accunt. Maintain a n cntact wrk methd, i.e. n intentinal cntact between an EWP r branches and the live cnductrs. All cntact must be avided at all times Specialised insulated plant must be perated utside the SADs specified in Table 1 (SADs and vegetatin clearance specialised insulated plant), belw Table 1 SADs and Vegetatin Clearances Under a VA Specialised Insulated Plant Nminal phase t phase ac vltage Specialised insulated mbile plant SADs (mm) Vegetatin within these clearances requires a VA Overhanging, belw and beside the pwerline (mm) (B) (A) LV Physical clearance kv kv kv* kv Nt permitted Wrk Methds * Seek permissin frm HPCC befre planning 132 kv wrk The bm must be parked at least twice the SAD distance frm the line if the peratr needs t leave the machine. The peratr s cab dr must be clsed when the bm is being mved r the cutting tl is in mtin, t prtect the peratr frm falling vegetatin and machine malfunctins The specialised insulated plant must nt be: mved while the bm is elevated between cnductrs f the pwer line perated during the hurs between sunset and sunrise CS10 # FI 10.3 Specialised Insulated Plant fr Vegetatin Management Page 4 f 6

5 Field Instructin When the cutting tl is rtating, it is nt permitted t be clser t a live cnductr than the distances stated in Table 1, clumn (A), abve Specialised insulated mbile plant is permitted t cut beside, belw, abve r between live cnductrs When cutting vegetatin verhanging the pwer line: the length f vegetatin cut abve cnductrs is subject t a risk assessment, t ensure the cuttings will nt shrt ut r make cntact with multiple cnductrs. the preferred methd f cutting is in lengths n lnger than 200 mm. Where this is nt pssible due t clearances, cut at lengths n greater than the shrtest distance between cnductrs. the bm may nly be extended thrugh cnductrs t cut vegetatin where: - the cnductr separatin is greater than 1200 mm in any directin. - SADs are maintained by the bm and cutting tl, as indicated in Table 1, clumn (A), abve. The cutting tl must be cmpletely statinary and in a vertical psitin befre passing between pwer lines Wrking thrugh LV and HV at the same time is prhibited Vegetatin hanging n cnductrs may be remved using the machine, but nly when: the peratr and bserver agree that it is safe. the cutting tl is statinary. All wrk must be suspended under the fllwing cnditins Unplanned events when wind causes the vegetatin t fall unpredictably and pssibly cllide with the cnductrs r apparatus when the bm mvements cannt be cntrlled and are greater than 300 mm in any directin during an electrical strm r in the presence f rain, mist, fg, snw r sleet. when the wind speed is abve 40 km/h in lw light cnditins Any uncntrlled cntact between vegetatin, bm r cutting tl with live cnductrs must be immediately reprted, including the time and lcatin f cntact t the issuing fficer, because a feeder may have tripped and/r cnductr damage may have ccurred. If the specialised insulated plant becmes inperable when in an extended psitin between r thrugh cnductrs, the peratr shuld initiate the plant s recvery prcedure. If this is nt pssible, then the peratr must: shut the mbile plant ff, leaving the bm as it is remain in the peratr s cabin f the plant until the bm is mved utside f the SAD r the line has been declared safe by HPCC CS10 # FI 10.3 Specialised Insulated Plant fr Vegetatin Management Page 5 f 6

6 Field Instructin nt attempt t make any unauthrised repairs t the plant keep all persns at least three metres away frm the plant and the RIC must infrm the issuing fficer f the situatin Cutting must be stpped immediately if a persn r animal enters the wrk, cutting r drp znes. Wrk may nly recmmence when they have been remved If a cnductr has been damaged, all wrk must be stpped. All persns in the vicinity f the wrksite must remain at least three metres away frm any damaged cnductr Cuttings HPCC must be infrmed immediately f the situatin and advised f the lcatin and time f ccurrence Cuttings must nt be left in a place that culd cause a hazardus cnditin fr the general public r ther wrkers Cuttings must be remved as the wrk prgresses Cuttings must nt be allwed t accumulate n ther branches as they culd fall r be heavy enugh t break a tree r branch References Department f Cmmerce, Energy Safety: Cde f Practice fr Persnnel Electrical Safety fr Vegetatin Cntrl Wrk near Live Pwer lines, July Nte: Specialised insulated mbile plant means all-terrain tree trimming machines which are perated frm the grund. References Occupatinal Safety & Heath Act 1984 Occupatinal Safety & Health Regulatins 1996 SHMS OSH Jb Risk Analysis (JRA) Prcedure SHMS OSH Persnal Prtective Equipment SHMS OSH Mbile Plant and Equipment Field Instructin 2.6 Wrksite Clthing / Persnal Prtective Equipment Requirements Field Instructin 2.7 Safety Requirements when Wrking frm an EWP Field Instructin 2.17 Safe Apprach Distances Field Instructin 2.23 Jb Hazard and Risk Management (JRA) Field Instructin 2.27 Safety Observer Rle Persnnel Electrical Safety fr Vegetatin Cntrl Wrk near Live Pwer lines, July Field Instructin 8.21 Wrk Permits Vegetatin Cde f Practice, sectin 6.6 CS10 # FI 10.3 Specialised Insulated Plant fr Vegetatin Management Page 6 f 6

Field Instruction. 5.2 Poles Inspection and Support Prior to Commencement of Work

Field Instruction. 5.2 Poles Inspection and Support Prior to Commencement of Work Field Instructin 5.2 Ples Inspectin and Supprt Prir t Cmmencement f Wrk Purpse This instructin utlines the minimum inspectin and supprting requirements fr wrk n ples. Safety Befre cmmencement f wrk, a