In this Division:

"approved" means, as applied to electrical equipment. that the equipment meets the requirements of the Electrical Safety Act;

"conductor" means a wire, cable or other metal component installed for the purpose of conveying electric current from one piece of equipment to another or to ground;

"control system" means a manual, remote, automatic or partially automatic system for controlling the operation of equipment;

" damp location" means an exterior or interior location that is subject to condensation of moisture in, on or adjacent to portable electrical equipment;

"electrical equipment" includes machinery , plant, works, pipes, conduits, apparatus, appliances and equipment designed or used, or intended for use, for or in connection with generation, transmission, supply, distribution or use of electrical energy for any purpose;

"electrical worker" means a person and/or employee who meets the requirements of the Electrical Safety Act for installing, altering or maintaining electrical equipment;

"hardwired" means electrical connection .,?f components within a system by means of electrical conductors so that the only way the system can be modified is by changing the connection;

"high voltage" means a potential difference (voltage) of more than 750 volts between conductors or between a conductor and ground; .

"isolated" means that the normal sources of energy have been disconnected by opening and securing all associated switches, and that mechanical equipment has been rendered and secured non-operative by disconnecting, stopping, draining, venting or other effective means;

"low voltage" means a potential difference (voltage) from 31 to 750 volts inclusive, between conductors or between a conductor and ground;

"mimic display" means a symbol representation of the configuration and status of all or part of a power system, complete with device designations;

"power system" means all plant and equipment essential to the generation, transmission or distribution of electricity , including any plant or equipment that is out of service, being constructed or being installed;

"safety protection guarantee" means an assurance that a power system or part of the power system is isolated and will remain isolated;

"safety watcher" means a qualified person whose sole task is to observe the activity when equipment, vegetation or material will be moved relative to energized electrical equipment or conductors, and signal in a clear and predetermined manner to stop the movement whenever contact with electrical equipment,

14 - 167

conductors or guarding appears probable, or whenever conditions prevent the watcher from having a clear view of the movement relative to the electrical equipment;

"service room" means a room or space in a building provided to accommodate building service equipment, and meeting the requirements of the BC Building Code;

"vault" means an isolated enclosure, either above or below ground, with flre-resisting walls, ceilings and floors for the purpose of housing transformers and other electrical equipment; and

"wet location" means an exterior or interior location, in which uncontrolled liquid may drip, splash or flow on or against portable electrical equipment.

4.20.1.1

An employee who installs, alters or maintains electrical equipment must be qualified as required by the Electrical Safety Act and the regulations made under it.

Poles and Structures
14.20.1.2

(1) Before an employee climbs or is supported by a pole or structure, or before any work is done that will affect its stability:

(a) the pole or structure must be tested for soundness and stability , and

(b) if there is any doubt as to soundness or stability, the pole or structure must be effectively supported before any wires or cables are changed, and the supports must be left in place until employees are clear of the pole or structure.

(2) An employee must not climb or be on a pole or structure supported laterally by pike poles only.

Obstruction on Poles ..
14.20.1.3

(1) Mailboxes, signs, clothes lines, or other obstructions are prohibited on or close to poles on which employees are required to work.

(2) Tags authorized by the owner which are placed for identification purposes must be less than 1.7 m (5.5 ft) above grade, on the side which a climbing employee will face.

Informing Employees
14.20.1.4

An employee must be informed of the potential electrical hazards before being permitted to do work in proximity to energized conductors or equipment.

Service Rooms
14.20.1.5

If practicable, service rooms and electrical vaults must be used only for the purpose for which they were intended.

Space Around Equipment
14.20.1.6

(1) Passage ways and working space around electrical equipment must be kept clear of obstructions, be arrange so as to give authorized persons ready access to all parts requiring attention, and not be used for storage.

(2) Flammable material must not be stored or placed close to electrical equipment.

Testing Equipment
14.20.1.7 (1) Electrical testing equipment may be used if it meets the requirements of:

(a) CSA Standard C22.2 No. 160-M1985 (Reaffirmed 1992), Voltage and Polarity Testers ,

(b) CSA Standard CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 231 Series-M89, CSA "Safety Requirements for Electrical and Electronic Measuring and Test Equipment", or

(c) other standard acceptable to the safety officer

14 - 168

(2) Electrical testing equipment not meeting a standard specified in subsection (I) may be used if it has:

(a) fusing or circuitry designed to protect the operator in the event of a fault resulting in inadvertent misuse of the meter, or a fault on the circuit being tested;

(b) clearly and unambiguously marked measuring ranges;

(c) lead wire insulation rated to the maximum voltage reading of the meter;

(d) lead wires that are not cracked or broken, and having a current carrying capacity (ampacity) that meets or exceeds the maximum current measurement of the meter; and

(e) minimum exposure of metal on lead wire probes.

(3) Appropriate safe work procedures must be established and followed for testing electrical equipment and circuits.

Insulated Aerial Device
14.20.1.8

(1) An insulated aerial device must be dielectrically tested at least annually in accordance with CSA Standard CAN/CSA-C225-M88, "Vehicle Mounted Aerial Devices" or other standard acceptable to the safety officer and its insulating capacity is certified by the testing agency

(2) An insulated aerial device which has not passed the testing required by subsec1:ion (1) must be considered noninsulated and any markings or identification on the device indicating insulated capability must be removed or effectively covered over and the user informed of the noninsulated status of the device.

Disconnection and Lockout
14.20.2.1

(1) Low voltage electrical equipment must be completely disconnected and locked out as required by division 25 of this Part, before starting work on it.

(2) Except as specified in subsection (3), it is not practicable to completely disconnect low voltage electrical equipment, work must be performed by a qualified and authorized employees and in accordance with wriu.a. safe work procedures which:

(a) require the use of the appropriate electrical protective equipment, including rubber gloves and cover up, and other necessary live line tools;

(b) provide that, if practicable, uncontrolled liquid is not permitted close to any employee working on the equipment; and

(c) if applicable, control the use of metal ladders, wooden ladders with wire reinforced side rails, metal scaffolds or metal platforms.

(3) Work must be not done on energized parts of electrical equipment associated with lighting circuits operating at more than 250 volts-to-ground without prior written permission 01' the safety officer .

Warning Signs
14.20.2.2

(1) Before completing installation and after energizing low voltage electrical equipment, conspicuous signs visible to employees must be placed close to the equipment stating "DANGER, ENERGIZED EQUIPMENT" .

(2) After installation is complete, signs in the low voltage equipment area must meet the requirements of the Electrical Safety Act and the regulations made under it.

Working Close to Energized Equipment
14.20.2.3

(1) Uninsulated, energized parts of low voltage electrical equipment must be guarded by approved cabinets or enclosures unless the energized parts are in a suitable room or similar enclosed area that is only accessible to qualified and authorized persons.

(2) Each entrance to a room and other guarded location containing uninsulated and exposed, energized parts must be marked with a conspicuous warning sign limiting entry to qualified and authorized persons.

14 - 169

(3) If insulated energized parts are not guarded with approved cabinets or enclosures:

(a) suitable barriers or covers must be provided if an employee unfamiliar with the hazards is working within 1 m (3.3 ft) of the uninsulated, energized parts, or

(b) the employee must be informed of the potential hazards, and provided with and follow appropriate written safe work procedures .

Identification of Controls
14.20.2.4

Each electrical distribution switch, circuit breaker and control must be clearly marked to indicate

the equipment it serves.

Grounding Portable Equipment
14.20.2.5

(1) Exposed and non-current carrying metal parts of portable electrical equipment must be effectively grounded as required be the Electrical Safety Act and the regulations made under it.

(2) Portable electrical equipment having double insulation or equivalent protection, and so marked, need not be grounded.

(3) Portable electrical equipment, required to be grounded and not permanently connected to the wiring system, must be effectively grounded by the use of approved cords and polarized plugs inserted in grounded polarized receptacles.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters
14.20.2.6

(1) When used outdoors or in wet or damp location, portable electrical equipment, including temporary lighting, must be protected by an approved ground fault circuit interrupter of the class A type installed at the receptacle or on the circuit at the panel, Unless another acceptable means of protection is provided.

(2) A ground fault circuit interrupter must not be used in place of grounding except as permitted by the Electrical Safety Act and the regulations made under it.

Isolation and Lockout
14.20.3.1

(1) High voltage electrical equipment must, if practicable, be completely isolated, grounded, and locked out as required by division 25 of this Part before starting work on it.

(2) If it is practicable to completely isolate electrical equipment:

(a) written safe work procedures acceptable to the safety officer must be followed;

(b) two or more qualified and authorized persons must be present while the work is being done, unless the procedure being followed under paragraph (a) specifically permit the work to be

done by one person;

(c) appropriate electrical protective equipment, including rubber blankets, hoses, hoods, gloves and live line tools must be selected, used, stored, tested, and maintained with a standard acceptable to the safety officer; and

(d) the use of metal ladders, wire reinforced side rail wooden ladders, metal scaffolds or metal work platforms must be in accordance with the procedures established under paragraph (a).

Warning Signs
14.20.3.2

(1) Before completing installation and after energizing high voltage electrical equipment, conspicuous signs visible to employees must be placed close to the equipment stating "DANGER- ENERGIZED EQUIPMENT" .

(2) After installation is complete, signs in the high voltage equipment area must meet the requirements of the Electrical Safety Act and the regulations made under it.

14 - 170

Isolation and Lockout
14.20.4.1

(1) Before working on a power system that for reasons of safety must be de-energized, the employee in charge must ensure that the part of the system being worked on is isolated and grounded, and locked out as required by division 25 of this Part.

(2) Barriers or distinctive identification must be used to differentiate high voltage electrical equipment which has been de -energized for safety reasons from similar energized equipment at the work location if lack of such identification would result in undue risk to employees.

(3) If it is impracticable to lock out a power system or part of a power system:

(a) the boundaries of the power system or part must be clearly define;

(b) written work procedures governing the issue of safety protection guarantees, and which address the requirements of sections 14.20.4.2 to 14.20.4.6, must be followed; and

(c) all major equipment used to establish safety protection guarantees must be uniquely identified at a conspicuous place near the equipment.

Person in Charge
14.20.4.2

(1) One person must be assigned at anyone time the exclusive authority as the person in charge to establish the conditions for, and to issue safety protection guarantees for, the power system or a part of it.

(2) The person in charge must:

(a) ensure that the status of the power system or assigned part of the power system is accurately represented on a mimic display;

(b) maintain a log of switching details, safety protection guarantees and operational events; and

(c) authorize the commencement of any work on the power system or assigned part of it.

(3) There must be an effective communication system between the person in charge and the employees doing the work.

(4) Only an employee specifically authorized by the owner may receive a safety protection guarantee or do work on the power system.

Switching Sequences
14.20.4.3 If a switching sequence requires the operation of 3 or more devices, written switching order must be prepared and followed.

Isolation Devices
14.20.4.4

(1) Isolating devices used for safety protection guarantees must provide for visual verification of the opening of the isolation point.

(2) Lockable isolating devices must be locked in the position or condition required to protect workers before work commences under a safety protection guarantee.

(3) A distinctive "DO NOT OPERATE" tag must be placed securely on each isolating device used for a safety protection guarantee.

Grounding and Blocking
14.20.4.5

(1) After a safety protection guarantee is in effect, the equipment to be worked on must be tested to verify isolation before grounding and blocking begins.

(2) After testing to verify isolation, the person at the work site responsible for each crew must verify the required grounding and blocking devices are in place before work begins.

(3) Grounding and blocking of any equipment that may be hazardous to employees must be carried out as close as practicable to the worksite.

(4) If grounding and blocking is .not safe or practicable, written safe work procedures acceptable to the safety officer must be followed.

(5) Grounding and blocking devices may be removed for the purpose of conducting tests.

14 - 171

Multiple Authorities
14.20.4.6

If a safety protection guarantee involves 2 or more power systems, or 2 or more persons in charge of different parts of a system, appropriate written procedures must be established and followed to ensure that any safety protection guarantee will be effective.

Minimum Clearance
14.20.5.1

(1) The railway must ensure that at least the minimum applicable distance specified in Table
14.31 is maintained between exposed, energized high voltage equipment and conductors and any employee, work, tool, machine, equipment or material, unless otherwise permitted by this division.

(2) The railway must accurately determine the voltage of any energized electrical equipment or conductor and the minimum distance from it required by subsection (1).

Assurance in Writing
14.20.5.2

(1) If the minimum in Table 14.31 cannot be maintained because of the circumstances of work or the inadvertent movement of persons or equipment, an assurance in writing on a form acceptable to the safety officer and signed by a representative of the owner of the power system, must be obtained.

(2) The assurance must state that while the work is being done the electrical equipment and conductors will be displaced or rerouted from the work area, if practicable.

(3) If compliance with subsection (2) is not practicable the assurance must state that the electrical equipment will be isolated and grounded, but if isolation is not practicable the assurance must state that the electrical equipment will be visually identified and guarded.

(4) The safeguards specified in the assurance must be in place before work commences and effectively maintained while work is taking place.

(5) If guarding is used:

(a) neither equipment nor unqualified persons may touch the guarding, and

(b) a safety watcher must be designated, or range limiting or field detecting devices acceptable to the safety officer must be used.

(6) The assurance must be available for inspection at the workplace, as close as practicable to the area of work, and must be known to all persons with access to the area.

14 - 172

Assurance not Practicable
(1) If exposed high voltage electrical equipment and conductors cannot be isolated, rerouted or guarded, work must not be done within the minimum distance in Table 19-1 until approval is obtained from the board and the following precautions are taken:

(a) the area within which equipment or materials are to be moved must be barricaded and supervised to restrict entry only to those workers necessarily engaged in the work;

(b) a safety watcher must be designated;

(c) a positive means must be provided for the safety watcher to give a clear, understandable stop signal to workers in the area, and the watcher must give the stop signal by no other means

(2) While equipment is in motion in the area in proximity to energized electrical equipment or conductors, no person other than the equipment operator may touch any part of the equipment or material being moved by it.

(3) No person may move a load or any rigging line from its position of natural suspension if it is in proximity to an energized conductor or equipment.

Specially Trained
14.20.5.4

(1) An employee who has taken a course of instruction approved by the chief inspecting engineer

may work up to the adjusted limits of approach in Table
14.32 when all the following conditions apply:

(a) a high voltage electrical equipment is energized to a potential of not over 75 kV;

(b) the safety officer has determined that rerouting, de-energizing or guarding of the equipment is not practicable for the type of work being performed; (c) the work being done for the owner of the power system; (d) the work is of a type that must be done regularly; and

(e) the employee follows written safe work procedures acceptable to the safety officer .

(2) A qualified electrical employee may work closer than the limits specified in Table
14.32 provided the employee is authorized by the owner of the power system and uses procedures acceptable to the safety officer .

Emergency Work
14.20.5.5 (1) Sections 14.20.5.1 to 14.20.5.4 do not apply to emergency actions close to energized high voltage electrical equipment or conductors carried out by employees who have undergone a course of instruction approved by the chief inspecting engineer .

(2) During emergency actions, all reasonable precautions must be taken to control the hazards including, where practicable:

(a) restricting entry into the area within which equipment or materials are to be moved to employees necessarily engaged in the work;

(b) designating a safety watcher;

(c) when equipment is in motion, preventing a person other than the equipment operator from touching any part of the equipment or the material being moved by it; and

14 - 173

(d) requiring the equipment operator to operate the controls from the seat provided on the equipment, or from a meta11ic mat bonded to the frame of the machine and located on the ground beside the-machine.

Authorization by the Owner
14.20.5.6

Qualified employees and employees under their direct supervision may work within the minimum distances to energized high voltage electrical equipment and conductors, as specified in Table 14.32, when authorized by the owner of the power system and using work procedures acceptable to the safety officer.

Preliminary Inspection
14.20.6.1

(1) Before commencing tree pruning or falling close to energized high voltage overhead conductors, the worksite must be inspected by a qualified person, authorized by the owner of the power system, to identify any hazardous areas, including situations where any part of a tree to be pruned or felled is within the applicable minimum distance from an energized conductor as specified in Table 19.31, or may fall within that distance.

(2) Immediately before commencing work, an inspection must be performed by a qualified person to verify the results of the initial inspection done under subsection (1) are still valid.

Work in a Hazardous Area
14.20.6.2 Tree pruning or falling must not commence in a hazardous area until:

(a) an assurance issued by the owner of the power system that any reclose feature is disabled, and

(b) employees are informed of the voltages of the conductors.

Qualifications
14.20.6.3 Tree pruning or falling within the minimum distances in Table 14.31 from overhead energized high voltage conductors must be carried out by an employee authorized by the owner of the power system to do such work.

Site Crew Requirements
14.20.6.4

Tree pruning or falling..is not permitted within the minimum distances in Table 14.31 from overhead high voltage energized conductors, unless:

(a) a certified utility arborist or a qualified electrical employee is present at the site and directing the work, and

(b) at least one additional qualified person, trained in appropriate emergency rescue procedure, is present.

14.20.6.5

(1) A certified utility arborist and any conductive tool must not be closer to an energized high voltage conductor than the applicable limit in column B of Table 14.33.

(2) An apprentice utility arborist and any conductive tool must not be closer to an energized

conductor than the" applicable limit of approach in column C of Table
14.33, or to any vegetation that is closer than column C limit or that could swing closer while being cut.

(3) An apprentice utility arborist may work up to the limit of approach permitted for a certified utility arborist in subsection (1) and (5) when in the presence and under the direct supervision of a certified arborist or a qualified electrical employee with tree pruning and falling training.

(4) Vegetation closer to an energized high voltage conductor than the applicable limit in column B of Table
14.33 must be cut using approved insulated tools.

(5) An insulated tool acceptable to the safety officer may be used by a certified utility arborist: (a) up to the limit of approach in column A of table 14.33, and

14 - 174

(b) from an insulated aerial device to remove vegetation closer than the limit of approach in column A of Table 19-3 up to but not touching an energized high voltage conductor of 75 kV or less.

(6) Vegetation touching an energized high voltage conductor or within applicable limit in column A of Table 14.33 for a conductor at a potential of 75 kV or more, must be removed only with the line isolated and grounded or by a qualified electrical employee using approved live line methods.

(7) Vegetation encroaching past the limits of approach in column B of Table 14.33 that cannot be removed using an insulated device must be restrained from encroaching past the limit of approach in column A before removal.

(8) A tree must be topped before being felled, or other precautions must be taken to prevent the tree or any part of it from falling closer than the limit of approach in column A of Table 14.33.

Tree Falling and Pruning Equipment
14.20.6.6

(1) An insulated tool must be used, stored, tested and maintained as required by paragraph 14.20.3.1(2) (c).

(2) An insulated hand tool and insulated aerial device must be maintained in a clean condition and be dielectrically tested to a standard acceptable to the safety officer .

14 - 175

General Requirements
14.20.7.1

(1) A control system must be designed, installed, operated and maintained in accordance with a standard acceptable to the safety officer .

(2) Only qualified and authorized persons may design, install, operate and maintain a control system. (3) When designing a control system, the types of potential system failure and the effects of failures

on the control system and the controlled equipment must be analysed.

(4) Where practicable and required to minimize risk to employees, a control system must be designed so that:

(a) the controlled equipment cannot be inadvertent activated;

(b) an effective basic diagnostic capability is incorporated;

(c) hardwired emergency stop devices are provided at operator stations; and

(d) operator controls other than emergency stop devices can be activated at only one station at a time.

(5) A control system must be used to prevent automatic startup after a power interruption or low voltage occurrence, if automatic startup circumstances are likely to create a hazard to employees.

(6) A control system must, where practicable, be designed so that the controlled equipment does not create a hazard to employees if the system fails or shuts down.

(7) Equipment operated by a new or altered control system must not be used until the control system has been thoroughly checked and tested to verify that it will function in the intended manner .

(8) The railway must ensure there is up-to-date documentation which is readily available to affected employees describing the design, installation, operation and maintenance of a control system.

(9) Control system hardware must be protected from circumstances that could adversely affect the performance of the system including mechanical damage, vibration, extreme temperatures or humidity levels, high electromagnetic field levels, and power disturbances.

(10) Written safe work procedures must be developed for the use of equipment operated by a control system, including lockout procedures as required by division 25 of this Part.

Programmable Control Systems
14.20.7.2

(1) The documentation provided for a programmable control system must include a copy of the control program that will allow the equipment to be reprogrammed if necessary to ensure safe operation of the system.

(2) Only qualified and authorized persons may have access to the installed control system software.

Automatic Control Systems
14.20.7.3

Where practicable and required to prevent a hazard to employees, a control system must be designed so that during an automatic sequence:

(a) the operator may make an emergency stop of the control equipment;

(b ) the operator may, if safe, be allowed to manual control of the equipment; and

(c) the sequence will abort when a protective timer completes its assigned time without an expected event occurring.

Remote Control Systems
14.20.7.4

(1) The maximum distance from which the operator may control equipment operated by a remote control system must be specified by the manufacturer. (2) Written safe work procedures must be established:

(a) that specify the safe distance from which the operator is allowed to remotely control the equipment, and

(b) to ensure that employees remain at a safe distance from remotely controlled moving parts, and any remotely controlled mobile machine.

14 - 176

Wireless Remote Control
14.20.7.5

(1) A wireless remote control system must incorporate:

(a) error checking to prevent the controlled equipment from responding to corrupt data;

(b ) identification coding methods to prevent a transmitter other than the designated transmitter from operating the equipment; and

(c) the control of rail mounted equipment must comply with Part 9 of the Railway Safety Code. (2) Loss of signal continuity must not result in the equipment or machine, being remotely controlled, creating a hazard to any person.

14 - 177