Académique Documents
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July 2004
This Guidance Notes is issued free of charge and can be obtained from
offices of the Occupational Safety and Health Branch, Labour Department.
It can also be downloaded from website of the Labour Department at
http://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/os/C/B145.pdf. Addresses and telephone
numbers of the offices can be found on the website of the Department at
http://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/tele/osh.htm or by telephone 2559 2297.
This Guidance Notes may be freely reproduced except for advertising,
endorsement or commercial purposes. Please acknowledge the source
as "Guidance Notes on Safety at Work for Maintenance of Low Voltage
Electrical Switchgears", published by the Labour Department.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
14
15
16
8. Emergency Preparedness
17
18
Useful information
21
1. Introduction
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
2
Safety at Work for Maintenance of Low Voltage Electrical Switchgears
Remark:
"extra low voltage" !"
means any voltage not exceeding 50 volts alternating current or
120 volts direct current whether between conductors or to earth.
"high voltage" !
means any voltage normally exceeding low voltage.
"low voltage" !
means any voltage normally exceeding extra low voltage but not
exceeding 1000 volts alternating current or 1500 volts direct
current between conductors or 600 volts alternating current or 900
volts direct current between conductors and earth.
3
Safety at Work for Maintenance of Low Voltage Electrical Switchgears
Securing the safety and health at work for the electrical switchgear
maintenance work requires the full commitment and co-operation
of everyone concerned, from the proprietors to the workers.
Duties of proprietor
2.2
2.3
4
Safety at Work for Maintenance of Low Voltage Electrical Switchgears
(h) to ensure that only workers who are qualified and, by reason
of their knowledge, training and practical experience,
competent, e.g. registered electrical workers, are selected to
carry out electrical work. In assessing the qualification and
competence of a worker, reference should be made to the
legislative requirement under the Electricity Ordinance (Cap.
406); and
(i) to establish emergency response plans and conduct drills
regularly.
2.4
Duties of Workers
2.5
Workers are required to take reasonable care for the safety and
health of themselves and of others who may be affected by their
acts or omissions at work. They are also required to co-operate
with their proprietors or the management personnel so far as is
necessary to enable them to comply with the legal duties imposed
on them.
2.6
The duties of a worker include, but not limited to, the following:
(a) to understand and act in accordance with the safety rules, safe
working procedures and emergency response plan;
(b) to make full use of the safety equipment and personal
protective equipment provided, and to report any equipment
defect to the management/ supervisor immediately;
(c) to provide feedback to the management/supervisor on the
effectiveness of safety measures, safe working procedures and
emergency response plans; and
(d) to report to the management/ supervisor all hazards observed,
defects identified or accidents incurred at work.
5
Safety at Work for Maintenance of Low Voltage Electrical Switchgears
3.2
6
Safety at Work for Maintenance of Low Voltage Electrical Switchgears
(b) Electric shock can cause serious injury or even death to the
worker due to cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest or body burn.
3.3
3.4
Risk assessment
3.5
3.7
7
Safety at Work for Maintenance of Low Voltage Electrical Switchgears
3.6
8
Safety at Work for Maintenance of Low Voltage Electrical Switchgears
3.8
3.9
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
It has to ensure that the workers are always physically fit for the
work. One may become tired and hard to concentrate when working
overnight or after a prolonged period of work. Breaks should be
allowed for the workers to take sufficient rests.
9
Safety at Work for Maintenance of Low Voltage Electrical Switchgears
4.1
4.7
4.8
Only workers who have received proper training and have the
relevant knowledge, experience and understand the safety rules and
procedures should be assigned to carry out the maintenance work.
It has to ensure that all workers always comply with the safety rules
or procedures strictly at work.
4.9
10
Safety at Work for Maintenance of Low Voltage Electrical Switchgears
4.16 The temporary power supply provided for lighting and the work
should be proper and safe. If diesel generator is used to provide
temporary electricity supply for the workplace, the generator
should be placed in a well-ventilated place where the engine
exhaust gas could be properly dispersed. The power extension
cables should be properly placed to avoid damage or tripping
hazard. The power socket circuit should be completed with a
residual current device of 30 mA tripping current.
4.17 Suitable and adequate fire extinguishers should be made available.
It should be noted that water type fire extinguisher is not suitable
for an electric fire. Carbon dioxide or dry power type fire
extinguisher should be used instead.
11
Safety at Work for Maintenance of Low Voltage Electrical Switchgears
4.21 Control fuses should be removed too to isolate also the control
circuit of the electrical switchgear/switchboard.
4.22 For some electrical installations, there are emergency generators
or uninterrupted power supply system (UPS) used as backup power
supply source. One has also to safely isolate and lock off those
generators and UPS to render the electrical switchgear dead before
working on it.
4.23 Where serious inconvenience would arise from isolating circuits,
adequate precautions should be taken to avoid danger from work
involving the handling of energised parts or working within
touchable distance, direct or indirect, of energised parts at low
voltage. The following precautions are to be taken:
12
Safety at Work for Maintenance of Low Voltage Electrical Switchgears
13
Safety at Work for Maintenance of Low Voltage Electrical Switchgears
14
Safety at Work for Maintenance of Low Voltage Electrical Switchgears
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
6.2
6.3
6.4
15
Safety at Work for Maintenance of Low Voltage Electrical Switchgears
6.1
16
Safety at Work for Maintenance of Low Voltage Electrical Switchgears
(e) except the one who carries out the switching work, all persons
should keep clear of the switchgear/switchboard before it is
re-energised. It is desirable to have only minimal number of
workers staying in the switchroom during switching of the
switchgear/switchboard; and
(f) n o p e r s o n e x c e p t t h e w o r k - i n - c h a rg e s h o u l d o r d e r f o r
switching on the switchgear/switchboard and only the
designated competent person should carry out the switching
operation.
7.2
8. Emergency Preparedness
Emergency response procedures should be established for the
workers and other staff to follow in case of emergency. The
procedures should include guidance for the workers that explains
when and how they should react and include the evacuation from
the workplace in extreme situations.
8.2
8.3
8.4
8.5
8.6
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Safety at Work for Maintenance of Low Voltage Electrical Switchgears
8.1
18
Safety at Work for Maintenance of Low Voltage Electrical Switchgears
9.1
9.2
9.3
9.4
19
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Safety at Work for Maintenance of Low Voltage Electrical Switchgears
Useful Information
If you wish to enquire about this guidance notes or require advice on
occupational safety and health, please contact the Occupational Safety
and Health Branch of the Labour Department through:
Telephone
Fax
E-mail