Oil and Gas Occupational Safety and Health Regulations (SOR/87-612)

PART IXElectrical Safety

Interpretation

9.1 In this Part,control device means a device that will safely disconnect electrical equipment from its source of energy. (dispositif de commande)

Safety Procedures

• 9.2 (1) All testing or work performed on electrical equipment shall be performed by a qualified person or an employee under the direct supervision of a qualified person.

• (2) Where there is a likelihood that the qualified person or the employee referred to in subsection (1) may receive a hazardous electrical shock during the performance of testing or work,

  • (a) the qualified person or the employee shall use such insulated protection equipment and tools as will protect him from injury during the performance of the work; and

  • (b) the employee shall be instructed and trained in the use of the insulated protection equipment and tools.

• 9.3 (1) Where electrical equipment is live or may become live, no employee shall work on the equipment unless

  • (a) the employer has instructed the employee in procedures that are safe for work on live conductors;

  • (b) a safety ground is connected to the equipment; or

  • (c) the equipment is isolated in accordance with section 9.10.

• (2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), where an employee is working on or near electrical equipment that is live or may become live, the electrical equipment shall be guarded.

• (3) Subject to subsection (4), where it is not practicable for electrical equipment referred to in subsection (2) to be guarded, the employer shall take measures to protect the employee from injury by insulating the equipment from the employee or the employee from ground.

• (4) Where live electrical equipment is not guarded or insulated in accordance with subsection (2) or (3) or where the employee referred to in subsection (3) is not insulated from ground, no employee shall work so near to any live part of the electrical equipment that is within a voltage range set out in Column I of an item of the schedule to this Part that the distance between the body of the employee or any thing with which the employee is in contact and the live part of the equipment is less than

  • (a) the distance set out in Column II of that item, where the employee is not a qualified person; or

  • (b) the distance set out in Column III of that item, where the employee is a qualified person.

• (5) No employee shall work near a live part of any electrical equipment referred to in subsection (4) where there is a hazard that an unintentional movement by the employee would bring any part of his body or any thing with which he is in contact closer to that live part than the distance referred to in that subsection.

9.4 No employee shall work on or near high voltage electrical equipment unless he is authorized to do so by his employer.

9.5 A legible sign with the words “DANGER — HIGH VOLTAGE” and “DANGER — HAUTE TENSION” in letters that are not less than 50 mm in height on a contrasting background or a symbol conveying the same meaning shall be posted in a conspicuous place at every approach to live high voltage electrical equipment.

Safety Watcher

• 9.6 (1) Where an employee is working on or near live electrical equipment and, because of the nature of the work or the condition or location of the work place, it is necessary for the safety of the employee that the work be observed by a person not engaged in the work, the employer shall appoint a safety watcher

  • (a) to warn all employees in the work place of the hazard; and

  • (b) to ensure that all safety precautions and procedures are complied with.

• (2) A safety watcher shall be

  • (a) informed of his duties as a safety watcher and of the hazard involved in the work;

  • (b) trained and instructed in the procedures to follow in the event of an emergency;

  • (c) authorized to stop immediately any part of the work that he considers dangerous; and

  • (d) free of any other duties that might interfere with his duties as a safety watcher.

• (3) For the purposes of subsection (1), an employer may appoint himself as a safety watcher.

Coordination of Work

9.7 Where an employee is working on or in connection with electrical equipment, the employee and every other person who is so working, including every safety watcher, shall be fully informed by the employer with respect to the safe coordination of their work.

Poles and Elevated Structures

• 9.8 (1) Before an employee climbs a pole or elevated structure that is embedded in the ground and is used to support electrical equipment, the employer shall give instructions and training to the employee respecting inspections and tests of the pole or structure to be carried out before the pole or structure is climbed.

• (2) Where, as a result of an inspection or test of a pole or elevated structure referred to in subsection (1), it appears to an employee that the pole or structure will be safe for climbing only when temporary supports have been installed, pike-poles alone shall not be used for the supports.

9.9 Every pole or elevated structure referred to in subsection 9.8(1) shall meet the standards set out in

• (a) CSA Standard CAN3-015-M83, Wood Utility Poles and Reinforcing Studs, the English version of which is dated January 1983 and the French version of which is dated December 1983; or

• (b) CSA Standard A14-M1979, Concrete Poles, the English version of which is dated September 1979 and the French version of which is dated November 1987.

Isolation of Electrical Equipment

• 9.10 (1) Before an employee isolates electrical equipment or changes or terminates the isolation of electrical equipment, the employer shall issue written instructions with respect to the procedures to be followed for the safe performance of that work.

• (2) The instructions referred to in subsection (1) shall

  • (a) state the isolation procedures to be followed;

  • (b) identify the electrical equipment to which the instructions apply;

  • (c) describe any tests to be performed;

  • (d) specify particulars of the tags or signs to be used; and

  • (e) specify the protection equipment to be used.

• (3) A tag or sign referred to in paragraph (2)(d) shall

  • (a) contain the words “DO NOT OPERATE — DÉFENSE D’ACTIONNER” or display a symbol conveying the same meaning;

  • (b) show the date and hour at which the electrical equipment was isolated;

  • (c) show the name of the employee performing the work or live test;

  • (d) where used in connection with a live test, be distinctively marked as a testing tag or sign;

  • (e) be removed only by the employee performing the work or live test; and

  • (f) be used for no purpose other than to notify persons that the operation or movement of the electrical equipment is prohibited during the performance of the work or live test.

• (4) A copy of the instructions referred to in subsection (1) shall be shown and explained to the employee.

• (5) The instructions referred to in subsection (1) shall be kept readily available for examination by employees at the work place in which the electrical equipment is located.

Control Devices, Switches, Cords and Cables

• 9.11 (1) Every control device shall be so designed and located as to permit quick and safe operation at all times.

• (2) The path of access to every electrical switch, control device or meter shall be free from obstruction.

• (3) Where an electrical switch or other control device controlling the supply of electrical energy to electrical equipment is operated only by a person authorized to do so by the employer, the switch or other control device shall be fitted with a locking device that only such an authorized person can activate.

• (4) Control switches for all electrically operated machinery shall be clearly marked to indicate the switch positions that correspond to the electrical circuits being controlled.

• 9.12 (1) All electrical equipment within a Class 1 Division 1 area or Class 1 Division 2 area as defined in the Canadian Electrical Code shall be constructed in a manner suitable for the environmental conditions in the area in which the equipment is used.

• (2) Each extension cord of electrical equipment referred to in subsection (1) shall be equipped with a terminal that provides an interruption of the circuit before a connecting device is withdrawn.

Defective Electrical Equipment

9.13 Defective electrical equipment that is likely to be hazardous to the safety or health of an employee shall be disconnected from its power source by a means other than the control switch and notices shall be placed on the equipment and at the control switch to indicate that the equipment is defective.

Electrical Fuses

• 9.14 (1) Electrical fuses shall be of the correct ampere rating and fault capacity rating for the circuit in which they are installed.

• (2) No employee shall replace missing or burnt-out fuses unless authorized to so do by a qualified person.

Power Supply Cables

• 9.15 (1) Power supply cables for portable electrical equipment shall be placed clear of areas used for vehicles unless the cables are protected by guards.

• (2) A three-wire power supply cable on electrical equipment or on an electrical appliance shall not be altered or changed for the purpose of using the equipment or appliance on a two-wire power supply.

Grounded Electrical Equipment

9.16 Grounded electrical equipment and appliances shall be used only when connected to a matching electrical outlet receptacle.