safety observer definitions

7/27/2019 Safety Observer Definitions

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SAFETY OBSERVER TRAINING

DEFINITIONS

Access Permit (AccessAuthority)

A document that forms part of a safe system to work, toprovide electrically safe access to High VoltageElectrical Apparatus. At least one set of Earths andshort circuits must be applied before an Access Permitis issued.

Approved Having appropriate organisation endorsement in writingfor a specific function.

Authorised Person A person with technical knowledge or sufficientexperience to perform the duty concerned. The personhas been approved, or has the delegated authority toact on behalf of the organisation.

Authorised person, for anelectrical part

A person who has enough technical knowledge andexperience to do work that involves contact with, orbeing near to, the electrical part; and has beenapproved by the person in control of the electrical part todo work that involves contact with, or being near to, theelectrical part, or is authorised to act for the person incontrol of the electrical part.

Cable An insulated Conductor, or two or more suchConductors, laid together, whether with or withoutfillings, reinforcements or protective coverings.

Competent Having the skills, knowledge and attributes a personneeds to complete a task.

Conductor A wire, Cable or form of metal designed for carryingelectric current.

Control Authority An organisation that is responsible for the control of theElectrical Apparatus concerned.

Control Measure Policies, standards, procedures or actions to eliminate,avoid or minimise risks.

De-energised Not connected to any source of electrical energy but notnecessarily Isolated. De-energised does not meanisolated or discharged, or both.

Disconnected Means that the parts are not connected to an electricalsource. Disconnection may be achieved by de-energising, isolating, separating or breakingconnections, or through all of these methods. A part that

is Disconnected may still require discharging to removeall electric and other energy.


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Disconnection Point An adequate break created by the total removal or absence of Conductors and deemed no longer a sourceof inadvertent energising. The break shall:Not be able to be re-established by normal Switchingoperations,Maintain Exclusion Zone appropriate to the voltage ormaintain electrical non-flashover distance appropriate tothe voltage as defined by the Electricity Entity, andBe created in accordance with an Approved Procedureto establish a Disconnection Point.

Do Not Operate Board (DNOB) A Safety Sign bearing the words "Do Not Operate"signifying that the Electrical Apparatus, to which it isattached, Shall not be operated except as a SwitchingSheet Item, as required under a Test Permit or with theapproval of a Switching Coordinator.

Earthed Electrically connected to the general mass of earth by aConductor to ensure and maintain the effectivedissipation of electrical energy.

Earthing Switch A permanently installed device which, when closed,ensures that the Electrical Apparatus at that point isEarthed.

Earths Approved earthing devices applied for the earthing andshort-circuiting of Electrical Apparatus.

Electrical Apparatus Any electrical equipment, including Overhead Lines and

underground Cables, the Conductors of which are Liveor can be made Live.

Electrical part An exposed part or an overhead insulated electric line.

Electricity Entity As per Queensland Electricity Safety Act 2002(Powerlink).

Energised Connected to any source of electrical energy.

Exclusion Zone The Exclusion Zone, for a person for ElectricalApparatus, or for the Mobile Plant or a vehicle forElectrical Apparatus, means the distance from theElectrical Apparatus stated for the person, Mobile Plantor vehicle in the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 Part 4Section 61.

Exposed Not effectively insulated or not effectively guarded byeither fixed Barrier or an Earthed metal shield.

High Voltage (HV) A nominal voltage exceeding 1,000 volts alternatingcurrent or exceeding 1,500 volts direct current.

Individual of Work Group A person authorised to carry out work under an Accessor Test Permit.


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Instructed Person A person adequately advised and supervised by anAuthorised Person to enable them to avoid the hazards,which may be present.

Instructed person, for an

electrical part

A person who is acting under the supervision of an

authorised person for the electrical part.

Isolated Disconnected from all possible sources of energy bymeans that prevent unintentional energisation of theElectrical Apparatus and that are assessed as a suitablestep in the process of making safe for access purposes.

Isolation Point An adequate break that prevents any inadvertentenergisation, for example from lightning, Switching orback energisation. (A DNOB Shall be attached at theIsolation Point.)

Load Load is any substance, material or object being moved,carried, lifted or supported or which is in rotary orvehicle motions, in associations with a crane or plant.The definition includes persons and equipment locatedon an elevated work platform.

Live Energised or subject to hazardous induced or capacitivevoltages.

Live Work All work performed on components of ElectricalApparatus, not Isolated, not proved De-Energised andnot Earthed.

Low Voltage a nominal voltage exceeding 50 volts alternating currentor 120 volts direct current, but not exceeding 1,000 voltsalternating current or 1,500 volts direct current.

Mobile Plant (Operating Plant) Cranes, elevating work platforms, tip trucks or similarplant, any equipment fitted with a jib or boom and anydevice capable of raising or lowering a load.

Near A situation where there is a reasonable possibility of aperson, either directly or through any conducting

medium, coming within the relevant Exclusion Zones.

Nearby Electrical Apparatus which is outside the scope of theAccess or Test Permit, but identified by the SwitchingOperator as a potential electrical hazard at the WorkArea e.g. adjacent HV overhead strung bus.


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Not Electrically Connected (De-commissioned)

Electrical Apparatus Disconnected from all sources ofSupply by the total removal or absence of Conductors,appropriate to the voltage and insulating medium and,not able to be Energised by Switching and identified inaccordance with an Approved Procedure.

Operating plant Any plant being operated for its intended purpose,unless the operation of the plant can not materiallyaffect the distance between the plant and any electricalpart in relation to which there is an exclusion zone underthis part. Refer to the examples given 2.1.2.

Operating Earth (AccessAuthority Earth)

Approved earthing and short-circuiting equipmentapplied to Electrical Apparatus (with DNOB attached),

as a requirement for the issue of an Access or TestPermit, to ensure the Electrical Apparatus is Earthed.

Other Precautions Safety Signs, Barriers and other Approved measuresapplied at the Work Area to contribute to the electricalsafety of the work group prior to or after the issue of anAccess or Test Permit.

Overhead Line Any aerial Conductor or Conductors with associatedsupports, insulators and other apparatus, erected, or inthe course of erection, for the purpose of theconveyance of electrical energy.

Permanent Earthing Point A permanent earth connection such as a Substationearthing grid, steel tower, High Voltage earth or LowVoltage neutral on a bonded earth network.

Permit to Work Tag (PTW) A safety Sign attached to a point of isolation (such asdampers, valves and switchgear) bearing the words DoNot Operate signifying that this is a point of isolation.

Procedure The documentation of a systematic series of actions (or activities) directed to achieve a desired result.

Recipient (Authorised Person inCharge)

An Authorised Person to whom an Access or TestPermit has been issued and is the person responsiblefor compliance with the requirements of the Access orTest Permit.

Safety Observer (when workingNear Exposed ElectricalApparatus

A person Competent for the task and specificallyassigned the duty of observing and warning againstunsafe approach to Electrical Apparatus or other unsafeconditions.

Safety Precautions Isolation Points, Disconnection Points and Operator

Earths provided to guard against and reduce the effectsof inadvertent re-energisation while working under an


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Access or Test Permit and identified on the SwitchingSheet and Access or Test Permit by a unique alphabeticcharacter.

Shall Is to be interpreted as mandatory.

Should Is to be interpreted as advisory or discretionary.

Substation A switchyard, terminal station or place, at which HighVoltage Supply is switched, converted or transformed.

Supply Provide electrical energy.

Surrender of an Access Permitor Test Permit

Documented by the Recipient that all persons signed onthe Access or Test Permit have ceased work and havesigned off the Access or Test Permit as recognition thattheir access to the Electrical Apparatus has beenrelinquished.

Suspension of an AccessPermit

That all persons signed on an Access Permit haveceased work and have signed off the Access Permit asrecognition that their work is suspended and Shall notrecommence until access is granted by the ControlAuthority and they have re-signed on the Access Permit.

Switching (Electrical OperatingWork)

Work involving the operating of Switching devices, links,fuses or other connections intended for ready removalor replacement, proving electrical Conductors De-energised, Earthing and short-circuiting, locking andtagging of Electrical Apparatus and erection of Barriers

and Signs.

Test Permit A documented form of authorisation that allows accessto HV Electrical Apparatus for testing and minor worksassociated with testing and the removal of OperatorEarths.

Untrained person, for anelectrical part

A person who is not authorised or an instructed for theelectrical part.

Vehicle A truck, car or utility, or any other general purposeconveyance used for the carriage of goods and persons.Vehicle does not include a:(a) an aircraft; or(b) a vehicle that is operating plant.

Work Work of any type, whether or not electrical work, other than live work or welding performed in accordance witha safe system of work.

Work Area The area where work may be carried out under an

Access or Test Permit.Working Earth Approved earthing and short-circuiting equipment,


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applied to Electrical Apparatus, additional to OperatorEarths following the issue of an Access or Test Permit.

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