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6 Reasonable Steps for Working near Overhead Electricity Lines
The reasonable steps to a safe system of work for works near O/H lines involve planning and consultation. During planning of the proposed works, the working party is required to ascertain the actual alignment and ground clearance of any O/H lines found within and close to the works site. In consultation with electricity supplier, the working party shall obtain all necessary safety advice including the minimum safe working distance.
6.1 Planning
6.2 Consultation
6.1.1 Works near O/H lines should be well planned before their commencement. For a large project (e.g. housing development) where a major diversion of O/H lines is necessary, the working party should propose their diversion requirements to the electricity supplier at the design stage or during the feasibility study. It should be noted that a long lead time is required by the electricity supplier to plan and complete an O/H line diversion of 132kV or above.
6.1.2 Since O/H lines are clearly visible, the acquisition of O/H line alignment drawings from the electricity supplier is not mandatory. However, the information contained in these drawings is useful to setting out safety precautions against damage to O/H lines. When the request for information is made to the electricity supplier, the scope and, where appropriate, the nature of the proposed works should be fully described.
6.1.3 Based on the described works in the vicinity of O/H lines, the electricity supplier shall, without charge, provide O/H line alignment drawings and any related information within 14 working days or such period as is mutually agreed between the concerned parties.
6.1.4 The date of commencement of the time period stipulated above (in 6.1.3) is the date upon which the electricity supplier received and date-stamped the notice. Notices shall be immediately date-stamped when they are received by the electricity supplier and retained for a minimum of five years. The working party may request, in the notice, an acknowledgement of its receipt, stating the date upon which it was received.
6.1.5 The O/H line alignment drawings provided by the electricity supplier shall be of suitable scale sufficient for the working party to identify the following O/H line information:
(a) the alignment in respect of the O/H lines, poles or towers corresponding to appropriate reference points or mapping grid; and
(b) their respective voltage levels.
6.1.6 As the alignment shown in the drawings may be different from actual site installations due to changes in landscape, construction of roads, etc, the working party shall conduct site inspection and surveying to ascertain the actual alignment, distance from the ground and voltage of any O/H lines found within or close to the works site. Should there be any queries about the alignment or other matters relevant to the O/H lines, the working party shall contact the electricity supplier, which shall provide a response within three working days.
6.1.7 It is the working party’s responsibility to decide whether the works site is in the vicinity of the O/H lines (as defined in Section 1.3.2.6). If there are works to be carried out in the vicinity of O/H lines, the working party shall take all reasonable steps and reasonable measures to prevent damage to the O/H lines.
6.1.8 All site personnel, especially those who operate lifting and earth moving equipment, should receive adequate training on working in the vicinity of O/H lines. Organizations such as the Construction Industry Training Authority can give advice on available training.
6.2.1 For the proposed plan of works in the vicinity of O/H lines, even of a short duration, the working party shall discuss with the relevant electricity supplier before commencement of the works. During the consultation, the working party shall obtain all necessary safety advice from the electricity supplier including the minimum safe working distance.
6.2.2 Where the working party gives written notice to the electricity supplier to request a site discussion on the proposed works, the electricity supplier shall without charge attend the site meeting within 14 working days or such period as is mutually agreed between the concerned parties.
6.2.3 The date of commencement of the time period stipulated above (in 6.2.2) is the date upon which the electricity supplier received and date-stamped the notice, as outlined in Section 6.1.4 of this Code.
6.2.4 Both the working party and the electricity supplier should keep a record of all site meetings held, which shall include:
(a) names of all attendees;
(b) location, date and time for which the meeting was conducted; and
(c) a brief description, with the aid of diagrams if necessary, of the advice provided by the electricity supplier in relation to the proposed works plan.
6.2.5 The working party should retain for inspection upon request by the Director any site meeting records described in Section 6.2.4 of this Code until the related works have been safely completed. Similar to the notice for requesting the provision of O/H line information, the electricity supplier shall retain the meeting records for a minimum of five years.
6.2.6 The working party responsible for the works shall ensure that information about the O/H lines (e.g. alignment, distance from ground, voltage of the O/H line) and the safety advice obtained from the electricity supplier (e.g. minimum safe working distance) are made available to the site personnel including supervisors, signallers, plant operators and workers.