Table of Contents

1 An overview of safety hazards 1

1.1 Overview 2
1.2 Industrial hazards 3
1.3 Electrical hazards 5
1.4 Electrical accidents and safety measures 8
1.5 Summary 8

2 Basic theory of electrical safety 11

2.1 Introduction 11
2.2 Shock hazard 12
2.3 Role of protective earthing 18
2.4 Indirect contact hazard-Equipment classes 22
2.5 Sensing of earth faults 24
2.6 Equipotential bonding for safety against indirect contact 25
2.7 Use of protective equipment 28
2.8 Electric shock hazard-Lightning 29
2.9 Arc flash danger in electrical equipment 30
2.10 Summary 33

3 Grounding design of electrical substations 35

3.1 Introduction 36
3.2 System grounding practices for different voltages 36
3.3 Design approach - basics 37
3.4 Ground fault current 39
3.5 Voltage of HV substation grounding system during faults 40
3.6 Grounding of MV/LV electrical installations 42
3.7 Design of grounding grid for an HV outdoor substation 48
3.8 Soil resistivity variations using 2-layer model 55
3.9 Transferred potential 55
3.10 Points in the substation for special attention 57
3.11 GIS equipment 59
3.12 Substations feeding to DC transmission systems 61
3.13 Summary of steps for ensuring effective substation grounding 62
3.14 Summary 68
4 Safety aspects in electrical equipment design 69
4.1 Objectives of safe design 69
4.2 Preventing electric shock 70
4.3 Importance of insulation in electrical safety 71
4.4 Importance of enclosures in ensuring safety 74
4.5 Prevention of adverse thermal effects 78
4.6 Isolation arrangements 86
4.7 Role of codes and standards in equipment/installation safety 86
4.8 Summary 87

5 Safety in battery installations 89

5.1 Introduction 89
5.2 Applicable codes and regulations 90
5.3 Hazards in battery installations 90
5.4 General Safety Precautions 91
5.5 Safety aspects of battery premises 92
5.6 Ventilation 93
5.7 Transportation, handling and storage 94
5.8 Installation accessories-salient points 95
5.9 Precautions during inspection of batteries 95
5.10 Safety aspects during dismantling and disposal 96
5.11 First aid 96
5.12 Hygiene and housekeeping 97
5.13 Personal protective equipment 97
5.14 Summary 97

6 Organizational aspects of safety 99

6.1 Introduction 99
6.2 Organizational responsibility for safety 100
6.3 Safety functions and coordination 101
6.4 Accident reporting and records 102
6.5 Summary 104
 APPENDICES

A1 UK regulations on safety 105

A1.1 Introduction 105
A1.2 Factory Act 106
A1.3 Health and Safety at Work Act 106
A1.4 Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 108
A1.5 Electricity Supply Regulations 1988 111
A1.6 IEE Wiring Regulation (16th Edition) 113
A1.7 ATEX Directives for installations in hazardous locations 115
A1.8 Summary 117

A2 Inspection of electrical systems for safety (based on

IEE Wiring Regulations) 119
A2.1 Objectives of inspection 119
A2.2 IEE Wiring Regulations 120
A2.3 Initial verification 121
A2.4 Testing 122
A2.5 Alterations and additions 123
A2.6 Periodic inspection and testing 123
A2.7 Follow up measures 124
A2.8 Summary 124

B Australian regulations on safety 125

B.1 Introduction 125
B.2 A historical perspective of safety legislation 125
B.3 Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 127
B.4 Health and Safety at Work 127
B.5 Electrical safety legislation 130
B.6 Australian wiring rules 136
B.7 Summary 141
C Australian/New Zealand Practices on Electrical safety
143
C.1 General Safety Standards and Regulations 143
C.2 Salient features of AS/NZS 2381.1:2005 144
C.3 Salient features of AS NZS 3000-2000 146
C.4 Salient features of AS/NZS 3017:2001 & AS/NZS 3760:2003 148
C.5 Salient features of AS/NZS 3820: 1998 148
C.6 Salient features of AS/NZS4417 -2000 149
C.7 ENA documents 149
C.8 Code of Practice by Queensland Government 155
C.9 Summary 159

Qz Course Exercises 161