Guideline for Excavating in the Vicinity of Utility Lines

Transcription

1 Guideline for Excavating in the Vicinity of Utility Lines Utility Advisory Council December 4, 2008 Electrical Distribution Safety

2 Excavating Guideline Combine TSSA guideline with ESA guideline General changes Change distribution to utility except for a few specific cases Other grammatical corrections and improvements Add specific TSSA requirements TSSA Act in appendix 1 Safety / emergency procedures for gas (9.1(c), 12.2) Added colour code chart (section 11) Added HydroVac Excavation (section 6) Electrical Distribution Safety

3 Excavating Guideline Definition Changes Live means a) electrically connected to a source of voltage difference or electrically charged so as to have a voltage different from that of the earth, b) connected to a source of fuel under the TSSAct HydroVac means the use of pressurized water or compressed air to loosen soil and a vacuum system to remove it. Remove de-energized Electrical Distribution Safety

4 Excavating Guideline Other Guideline Changes & Additions 2.3 Note: Locates are required for sidewalk removal 4.3 Irrespective of the depth of the utility line, the Excavator must not use mechanical equipment to dig within the boundary limits to expose the utility line. Electrical Distribution Safety

5 Excavating Guideline Comments received Mike Scarland The present Appendix 2 of TSSA version includes an allowance for hydro excavation in lieu of hand digging. I recall a discussion where there were concerns from some of the LDC's with older equipment about this practice. Is this why it was left out of the new draft? I have had input that we need to house this somewhere, and for us it is most appropriate in the Guidelines, so I suggest that if the LDC's are not comfortable we make a point that Appendix 2 applies to pipelines only. See most recent version. Electrical Distribution Safety

6 Excavating Guideline ESA Proposal: 6.2 For detailed procedures for using hydro-vac excavation in the vicinity of pipelines see Appendix For detailed procedures for using hydro-vac excavation in the vicinity of distribution lines see the EUSA Safe Practice Guide Excavating with Hydrovacs in the Vicinity of Underground Electrical Plant. Also add Appendix 5 Electrical Distribution Safety

7 Excavating Guideline Section 2.7 Locate Request Response Except in cases of emergency, or where the response for the locate request has been agreed with the Excavator, the utility shall make every reasonable effort to respond to notification requests and provide locates within 4 working days of receiving the notification, and 5 working days during peak times. Electrical Distribution Safety

8 Excavating Guideline peak times intentionally not defined peak times may be different for different LDCs and putting out specific times could be restrictive (variations in weather, etc.). The expectation is that peak time will be proven by the LDC when ESA needs to know because a complaint has been brought to us. Electrical Distribution Safety

9 Excavating Guideline "Reasonable effort gives the latitude to make informed decisions based on unusual or extreme situations. ESA has to date only investigated late locates when requested via a complaint. Although sometimes provided as part of Declaration of Compliance, reporting of locate response times has not been required. Electrical Distribution Safety

10 Excavating Guideline Questions? Comments? Electrical Distribution Safety

11 Excavating Guideline Motion to approve the revised Excavating Guideline? Electrical Distribution Safety

12 Farm Stray Voltage Utility Advisory Council 2004 Rev04 For Your Safety

13 Oct Farm Stray Voltage The Board posted a Notice of Proposal to Amend a Code in relation to the Board s Farm Stray Voltage Consultation (EB ). Comments on the proposed amendments to the Distribution System Code set out in the Notice must be filed by December 5, Rev04 For For Your Your Safety Safety

14 Oct Farm Stray Voltage The purpose of the proposed Code amendments (the "Amendments") is to: Establish standards and procedures designed to meet the objective set out in the Directive of ensuring that electricity service to farm customers, in relation to tingle or stray voltage, is of a quality that does not unduly impact the operation of the farm Rev04 For For Your Your Safety Safety

15 Farm Stray Voltage The Board proposes that the Amendments to the Distribution System Code as set out in Appendix A come into force three months from the date on which Appendix H is published on the Board s website after having been made by the Board. As noted earlier in this Notice, Appendix H will be released for notice and comment on a later date Rev04 For For Your Your Safety Safety

16 Due Diligence Inspections Interesting Responses Utility Advisory Council 2004 Rev04 For Your Safety

17 DDI Inspections 197 Inspector Reports Received (~73%) April 1 to March 31 is the DDI year 2004 Rev04 For For Your Your Safety Safety

18 DDI 2008 Good News: Reduction in riser pole guard installations not as per standard Non-metallic guards Cable guard heights above grade Increased understanding of Field Staff 2004 Rev04 For For Your Your Safety Safety

19 Interesting Practices Mechanical Protection of Supply Cables All riser cables of supply systems shall be protected by a covering that gives suitable mechanical protection for the full length of the run from at least 0.3 m below the surface of the earth. Supply riser cables having a grounded metal sheath or concentric neutral require no further protective covering above the 2.5 m level for non-joint-use poles Rev04 For For Your Your Safety Safety

20 Interesting Practices 2004 Rev04 For For Your Your Safety Safety

21 Interesting Practices Supply Equipment Supply equipment accessible to the public shall be tamperproof and shall present no undue hazards. All access doors shall be provided with a locking device Rev04 For For Your Your Safety Safety

22 Interesting Practices 2004 Rev04 For For Your Your Safety Safety

23 Interesting Practices 2004 Rev04 For For Your Your Safety Safety

24 Interesting Practices 2004 Rev04 For For Your Your Safety Safety

25 Serious Electrical Incidents Overhead Voltage Conversion Underground Voltage Conversion UAC December

26 Overhead Voltage Conversion LDC s work scope included a voltage conversion rebuild from 8,320/4,800V to 27,600/16,000V LDC hired a contractor to construct the project A few locations existed with primary dual voltage pole mounted transformers

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31 Root Cause Analysis Contractor forgot to change position of the dual voltage switch from 4,800V to 16,000V No inspection done prior to energization of the circuit as per CVP LDC s are required to ensure their workers and contractors follow a procedure and remind the importance of inspecting prior to energization

32 Underground Voltage Conversion Underground residential rebuild converting to 27,600/16,000V Removal of submersible transformers Installation of new pad mounted transformers Installing new secondary bus from pad mounted transformer to existing submersible vault to supply existing secondary services

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34 Sequence of Events Shutdown to remove submersible transformer and install 3-300MCM AL cables from vault to pad mounted tx. Installed junction blocks and reconnected service conductors Re-energized services and noticed smoke coming from the cable box on boulevard and fire was also the cable demarcation point below effected customer meter base Immediately de-energized to investigate

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39 Root Cause Analysis The reversed neutral wire became the hot leg Service conductors were not color coded upon transferring of the service conductors from the submersible transformer connection to the secondary junction blocks Relied on cable identification marking on cables to identify neutral Energized without inspecting to ensure correction connection-cvp not being followed

40 Safety Concerns due to overvoltage or reversed connections past the demarcation point Life safety devices such as Electrically connected smoke/carbon monoxide detectors GFCI s Panel breakers Damaged wiring causing fires in homes and buildings

41 Blitz Period: July 2008 Background: Why focus on electrical hazards? Ministry of Labour Occupational Health and Safety Branch Blitz on Electrical Safety in Construction Statistical data from both the Ministry of Labour (MOL) and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) show that while total lost time injuries (LTI s) have been decreasing serious events involving electrical hazards are on the increase. Construction-related activities have been identified among the primary causes for the increase in electrical incidents. The events involving electrical contacts often involve workers who are not electricians, but are working in close proximity to electrical hazards. Table 1 provides the actual number of electrical incidents, all construction, industrial and mining sectors, involving an injury to a worker, that were reported to the MOL in the ten-year period from fiscal year 1998 to Table 1 Year Fatality Critical Injury Non-critical injury Total (Source of data: Ministry of Labour MIS) 48% of electrical fatalities for the ten-year period were caused by contacts with overhead power lines; 39% of critical incidents related to electrical incidents were caused by burns from an arc flash; 50% of the total electrical incidents causing injury took place while working on energized conductors, panels or equipment; 26 % of occupational electrocutions took place in the electrical trades (electricians, maintenance or apprentices); Power line contacts involving dump trucks were the third most prevalent cause of fatalities between 2003 and 2007; and For 2007, 19% of the fatalities in the construction sector were related to electrical hazards. Table 2 shows electrocutions by occupation in industrial establishments only. More electrocutions causing death occur with certified electrician journeymen than with any other occupation; with six deaths in the last ten years. The electrical journeymen apprentice rates second with three fatalities in the same period. The data is based on events reported to MOL. 1

42 Ministry of Labour Occupational Health and Safety Branch Blitz on Electrical Safety in Construction Electrical Blitz Results Occupational Fatalities in Industrial Facilities, 1998 to Table 2 2 Occupation Total Deaths Crane Operator 1 Electrician 6 Electrician Apprentice 3 Labourer 1 Maintenance 2 Mechanic 1 Millwright 2 Roofer 1 Supervisor 2 Total 19 (Source of data: Ministry of Labour MIS) The Ministry of Labour s Construction Health and Safety Program (CHSP) completed the first blitz of 2008/09 during the month July 2008, focusing on electrical hazards at construction projects; This blitz focused on work being done on electrical equipment, work being done in proximity to energized electrical equipment and compliance with the Trades Qualification Apprenticeship Act (TQAA) requirements for workers working on electrical equipment; 98 construction inspectors across all MOL regions participated in the electrical blitz and carried out a total of 539 field visits and 2026 orders being issued at projects in Ontario; Projects within all sectors of construction were visited, 253 projects in the Industrial commercial and Institutional (ICI) sector were visited, followed by 205 residential both high and low rise projects; Fifty-five road building, sewer, and water main projects were also visited. It should be noted that this sector accounts for the largest percentage of the overhead powerline contacts; and Of the orders issued, 241 were stop work orders. There were also 13 part 1 summons and 41 part 1 tickets issued at the projects. 1 Table 2 totals are different from Table 1 because these are related to industrial establishments only while Table 1 includes all workplace inspected by MOL. 2 There was no specific intervention directly linked to ladders and overhead power lines prior to this blitz. 2

43 Ministry of Labour Occupational Health and Safety Branch Blitz on Electrical Safety in Construction CHS Field Activity Electrical Blitz Construction program general activity /08 Field visits (FV) ,198 All orders 2,026 83, /99 (TQAA) Stop Work Orders 241 7,907 Order per FV /99 (TQAA) Orders per FV Stops per FV (Source of data: Ministry of Labour crystal reports provided by PA&E through MIS data) The number of orders issued per field visit during the electrical blitz was approximately 70% higher than the average for the construction program in 2007/08. Orders under 572/99 (TQAA) were similarly higher; This indicates inspectors were finding contraventions of legislation during the blitz more frequently than the non-blitz workplace visits; and The ratio of stop work orders to all orders increased slightly, indicating that inspectors were also finding serious violations of the legislation at a higher rate than for routine inspections. Order Analysis Orders that pertain to specific electrical hazards accounted for 14%, (279 orders) of all orders issued during the blitz. Fifty orders were issued for working in close proximity to overhead powerlines. Thirtyone orders were issued for locking out live electrical equipment being worked on. These two hazards, (working in close proximity to overhead power lines and working on live electrical systems) are the main cause of electrocutions in construction, and the blitz provided an indication that non-compliance is increasing the statistical probability that workers will be exposed to electrocution involving these hazards. Of the 539 projects visited, 28 projects had orders issued for either having to select a health and safety representative or to cause a joint health and safety committee to be formed Section 8 and section 9 of the OHSA respectively. This is an important indication of an active IRS, as CHSP has deliberately increased focus by CHSP inspectors on promoting the IRS system. The low number of IRS type orders may be a reflection that the health and safety representatives or the committees are already in place on the majority of the projects. Similarly, ten orders were issued to employers for not having health and safety policies. 3

44 Ministry of Labour Occupational Health and Safety Branch Blitz on Electrical Safety in Construction An emerging cause of fatalities in construction is the moving of equipment and materials, 23 orders were issued with regard to these hazards. The orders were issued for sections 37, 38, 39, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 and 106 of the Construction regulation. CHSP will be conducting a provincial blitz of equipment hazards during March The leading cause of fatalities and injuries in construction is falls. Orders for fall protection under sections 26 to 26.9, which covers both guardrails, coverings for openings in work surfaces and the use of personal fall protection equipment accounted for 8.54%, (173 orders) of all orders issued. The high number of fall protection related orders may be an indicator that employers and workers still are not getting the message, or have not been adequately trained to recognize and eliminate fall hazards. Scaffolds are the preferred method for providing access to elevated work locations. In 2007 of the 195 critical injuries reported to the ministry 22 involved scaffolds that did not comply with the legislation. During the blitz inspectors issued 78 orders for failure to comply with sections 125 to 142, which cover the safety of scaffolds. There were three orders (0.15% of the total number of orders during the blitz) issued under Section 16, the minimum age requirement on construction projects. Conclusion The Fourteen percent of all orders issued for contraventions that deal with electrical hazards represented the largest percentage of orders issued for a specific hazard of the construction regulation. This indicates that there remains room for improvement in the industry, and that inspectors were successful in targeting our selected group for enforcement during the blitz. Orders that were issued during the blitz were 70% above the rate of orders that were issued by the Construction Program as a whole (3.76 per Field Visit versus 2.19 per field visit) based on 2007/08 program activity. This is also an indication of the need for enforcement based on a lack of compliance beyond industry norms in the targeted sector. The blitz as a targeting intervention was successful and reached the group being focused on in a positive way that will result in increased compliance. It is recommended that this sector be closely tracked statistically to determine if the blitz results in a long lasting increase in compliance, and decrease in injuries. Prepared by: Michael Chappell Date: October 7, 2008 Approved by: Dr. Maurice Bitran 4

45 Stakeholder Engagement Fall 2008 Ministry of Labour 1

46 Purpose To provide an update on Safe At Work Ontario results to date To discuss what has worked well and what needs improvement Ministry of Labour 2

47 Safe At Work Ontario Launched June 11, 2008 Safe At Work Ontario built on the ministry s strategy, and represents an evolution from an enforcement-based program towards a compliance-focused program. The primary goal is to reduce fatalities, critical and lost time injuries. The new vision will lead to continued reduction in LTIs and NLTIs contributing to system targets (WSIB Road to Zero), reduced burden on the health care system, cost avoidance for employers and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, and a level playing field for safe companies. We want to enhance our partnerships leading to a more comprehensive framework that will result in less injuries. Ministry of Labour 3

48 Safe At Work Ontario Under this new direction, the ministry identifies and engages workplaces based on a variety of factors such as: their health and safety record, history of non-compliance, the presence of health and safety hazards inherent to the activities of the business. We are into workplaces that have not had an injury. Our new vision focuses on enforcement, dealing with sector hazards and improving the health and safety culture of our workplaces. Ministry of Labour 4

49 Safe At Work Ontario Inspection Focus Inspector s focus is on assessing strength and functionality of the IRS. If the IRS is working it is an indication of a strong health and safety culture. Competence Knowledge of OHSA Training Dealing with issues JHSC with certified members, frequent meetings, minutes Commitment Leadership to make workplace safe Policies and Procedures in place and implemented Zero Tolerance Capacity Resources to address issues in workplace Have a Health and Safety program Referrals to HSAs and WSIB Results of first inspection determine the degree of intervention by MOL. Ministry of Labour 5

50 Safe At Work Ontario - Program Design Sector Strategy Components Health and Safety Record (LTIs, NLTIs) Sector Specific (Hazard Focus) Partnerships Firm Identification - Use of WSIB data to identify worst firms in sector based on LTIs, NLTIs, cost - Firms identified for proactive inspection from MOL - High hazards in sector - blitzes, zero tolerance - MOL enforcement history - Complaints received by MOL - High potential for injuries - Integrated delivery - Prevention Focus - Educational focus by SWAs - SWA referral of firms to MOL - WSIB WorkWell audits - Working with workplace parties Inspection Focus Internal Responsibility System (IRS) Increased Compliance Results Decrease in LTIs Solid functioning IRS Decrease in critical injuries/fatalities Health and Safety Leadership in the workplace Safer Workplaces Ministry of Labour 6

51 Safe At Work Ontario Sector Strategies Sector Strategies focusing on: Hazards: Development of strategies to reduce injuries related to specific hazards Proactive inspections in firms, regardless of injuries, based on the hazardous nature of the operation Use of field intelligence and compliance history Provides flexibility to address specific issues Health and Safety Record: WSIB firms ranked according to the number and frequency of LTIs and NLTIs, and claim costs Ministry of Labour 7

52 Stakeholder Engagement - What We Heard Part of the Safe At Work Ontario Strategy is continuous improvement obtained through annual stakeholder involvement Consulted with Stakeholders in spring 2008 Comments Specific to Safe At Work Ontario Need to have transparency in identification of firms Support focus on hazards, IRS, health and safety culture Need to extend criteria beyond LTIs and NLTs Need to have strategy for high performing teams Need to have flexibility to address sector specific issues Should address under-reporting Need to clarify History of Non-compliance Need to see material in advance of consultation meetings Ministry of Labour 8

53 Stakeholder Engagement - What We Did Posted material on web site including sector plans Conducted blitzes on sector specific hazardous Industrial New and Young Workers (June) Falls (Sept) Electrical (Nov) Forklift (Feb) Construction Electrical (July) Demolition (Aug) Equipment and Material Handling (March) Trained inspectors on IRS and have policies and procedures for inspectors to follow that include the IRS Working on strategy to define health and safety culture Developed, for the first time, a sector strategy for health care. Ministry of Labour 9

54 Stakeholder Engagement - What We Did Firms selected for proactive inspections based on a number of criteria Injury rates and associated costs Compliance history of companies For example - organization that has been issued orders and/or tickets for the same serious contravention for the 3 previous consecutive years (for target year 2007/08, the consecutive years would be 2004, 2005 and 2006). Hazards inherent to the work Blitzes New Business Size of Business Specific event or incidents (e.g. critical or fatal injury) Presence of new, young or otherwise vulnerable workers Developed of posted sector strategies allowed for flexibility to address sector specific issues Material presented to stakeholders in advance of meetings Ministry of Labour 10

55 Results /09 Blitzes Industrial New and Young Workers - June Young workers Any new hire 25 years or older in job for less than six months 1047 premises visited 3371 orders issued 75 Stop Work Orders Fall Blitz Sept Focus on those sectors which working from ladders are a major concern Electrical Blitz Nov Focus on sectors where maintenance activity is prevalent to ensure electricity is turned off Forklift Blitz Feb Focus on sectors where forklifts is common Focus on maintenance of equipment and training Ministry of Labour 11

56 Results /09 Blitzes Construction Electrical Blitz July Focused on working on/near energized conductors, equipment or panels with adequate distance of approach from overhead power lines Focus on having adequate programs in place and lock out procedures set up and implemented, authorized workers carrying out duties 539 Field visits 2,026 Orders issued 241 Stop Work Orders Demolition Blitz August Focus on demolition and renovation work done in all sectors Focus on use of equipment,handling of material, exposure to electrical and chemical hazards such as asbestos 333 Field visits 809 Orders issued 62 Stop Work orders Equipment and Material Handling Blitz March Focus on hazards associated with equipment used in construction and material handling Focus on use of equipment, handling of material, exposure to fall, electrical, struck-by vehicular traffic, equipment and material hazards Ministry of Labour 12

57 09/10 Direction Continue with sector based enforcement strategies with a focus on hazards and blitzes to address hazards Continue identification of firm based on: WSIB injury record Compliance history with MOL Orders, tickets, prosecutions Critical injury or fatality Nature of work hazard based Integrated delivery each firm touched by part of system Small business strategy Each sector will contain a small business focus that recognizes the need to ensure worker training and employer health and safety policies. Cross sectoral hazard focus MSD firms with high MSD frequency rates will be visited by MOL ergonomists firms within rate groups that have a history of high MSD frequency rates will be visited and ergonomics will be integrated into some provincial blitzes Ministry of Labour 13

58 Your Comments Safe At Work Ontario What is working well? What needs improvement? What new blitzes would be of value? What opportunities are there for partnerships? How can we improve our communications? Ministry of Labour 14