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Ausgrid Safety Alert SA17_18 Unintended discharge of electricity during live low voltage works

What is happening?

Essential Energy wishes to reinforce the safety messages contained within this Safety Alert issued by Ausgrid (SA17-18) dated 3 December 2018. For ease of reference, we have listed the equivalent references to Essential Energy’s documents, together with some additional restrictions that apply to the Essential Energy network:

  • Ensure all Authorised Workers comply with Essential Energy’s CEOP8030 - Electrical Safety Rules (ESRs) when undertaking live low voltage work on the Essential Energy network, noting that Clause 6.3 specifically deals with work on or near live low voltage exposed conductors.
  • Only qualified, trained, competent and authorised workers may work on or near live low voltage apparatus (Clause 4.3).
  • Operating work and commissioning must only be carried out by authorised Essential Energy workers.
  • Appropriate clothing and PPE must be worn (Clause 4.4) and in the case of energised low voltage underground work, an Arc Rated Face shield worn (Clause 4.4.2(i)).
  • Connect neutrals before actives and disconnect actives before neutrals (Clause 6.5).
  • Essential Energy does NOT allow a low voltage transposition crossarm to be changed live (Clause 6.3).
  • Essential Energy does NOT allow work on live low voltage CONSAC or PILC cables (Clause 8.5.3).
  • Essential Energy does NOT allow its employees to carry out live low voltage cable jointing or work within a pit or excavation where their feet are below ground level. ASPs need to consider their own Safety Management Systems before considering similar work, i.e. that all risks are addressed and controlled including the requirements for performing a rescue.
  • Essential Energy does NOT allow the connection of a generator to live low voltage connections except by the prior approval of the Electrical Safety Office (ESO).

ASPs may only work live low voltage on Contestable Works projects (i.e. Network Assets) as defined in the ASP Scheme Rules, the ESRs and the ASPs Safety Management System. Work within a customer’s installation is governed by Work Health and Safety (WH&S) legislation, codes and guides – in particular Division 4 of the WH&S Regulation 2017.

What do you need to do?

  1. Review the '20181218 - Ausgrid Safety Alert SA17_18 Unintended discharge of electricity during live low voltage works.pdf' located on Essential Energy’s Document Library
  2. Communicate this information to relevant members of your organisation

Further Information

If you need further information, please email aspinfo@essentialenergy.com.au