General Rules

Question 1

104

Answer 1

104. Live Line Tools
     a. All work requiring the use of live line tools shall be performed in accordance with applicable Accident Prevention Rules.
     b. All live line tools shall be approved by the Corporate Safety Department before being put into use. No alterations shall be made without approval.
     c. Live line tools shall be visually inspected for defects before use each day. Tools to be used shall be wiped clean and if defects are indicated such tools shall not be used.

Question 2

105

Answer 2

105. Clearances
     a. Before any employee starts work on de-energized equipment, apparatus, or lines for which clearances are required, the employee shall either obtain a clearance or report to, and work under, a qualified employee who holds a clearance.
     b. Clearances are required to work on de-energized generating station or substation apparatus or equipment which is normally energized above 600 volts.
     c. Clearances are required to work on de-energized lines or line sections above 600 volts. When clearances are required, they shall be taken in accordance with the 700 Section of the Accident Prevention Manual.EXCEPTION: On distribution tap lines with a single source of supply, the person in charge of the distribution crew or Troubleman must issue a formal clearance to himself or another qualified person of the crew prior to working on an electric line or some piece of operating equipment which is inherently too hazardous to work on while in service. The following shall be provided to the Switching Center and Distribution Operations Center prior to de-energizing any distribution tap line:
106. Name, radio call number or cell telephone number 2. Circuit name and voltage
107. Identify work to be performed and location
108. Identify method to de-energize tap line
109. Estimated timeframe if de-energizing tap line

Question 3

106

Answer 3

106. Lockout and/or Tagout (Hazardous Energy Control)
     Each organization shall develop and utilize procedures for hazardous energy control to prevent inadvertent movement of machinery or equipment or release of stored energy which could cause injury to employees. This rule is not applicable for transmission or distribution lines or for substation electrical equipment. (See Rule 105 and Section 700 for clearance requirements for T&D)
     This procedure applies to employees engaged in the cleaning, repairing, servicing, setting-up, and adjusting of prime movers, machinery and equipment. The procedure shall clearly outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy and the means to enforce compliance and shall, at a minimum, include the following components:
     a. A statement of the intended use of the procedure.
     b. The procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy.
     c. The procedural steps for the placement, removal and transfer of lockout devices and tagout devices and responsibilities.
     d. The requirements for testing a machine or equipment, to determine and verify the effectiveness of lockout devices, tagout devices and other hazardous energy control devices.
     e. The hazardous energy control procedures shall be documented in writing.
     f. The hazardous energy control procedure shall include separate procedural steps for the safe lockout/tagout of each machine or piece of equipment affected by the hazardous energy control procedure.g. Machinery or equipment capable of movement shall be deactivated, de-energized or disengaged to prevent inadvertent movement during cleaning, servicing, and adjusting operations, and the moveable parts shall be mechanically blocked, locked out and/or tagged out.
     h. Prime movers, equipment, or power driven machines equipped with lockable controls shall be locked out and/or tagged out during, repairing and setting-up operations.
     i. Signs, tags, locks, seals or other similar attachment devices shall be secured to the controls or power source of the prime movers, machinery, and equipment.
     j. When utilizing a seal or other similar attachment device on a lockable control, the device(s) shall be of a non-reusable type, attachable by hand, self locking and non-releasable with a minimum unlocking or breaking strength of no less than 50 pounds. When a seal or other attachment device is used on an energy isolating device, which is capable of accepting a lock, the seal or attachment device shall be attached at the same location the lock would have been attached, and provide the same equivalent of safety to employees.
     k. Inspections:
107. Inspection of the energy control procedure shall be conducted at least annually to evaluate its effectiveness and determine the necessity for updating the written procedure.
108. The inspection shall be performed by an authorized person other than the one(s) utilizing the energy control procedure and shall be documented in writing.
109. The inspection documentation shall identify the machine or equipment, the date of the inspection, the name(s) of the employee(s) included in the inspection, and the person conducting the inspection.
     l. Training:
110. Authorized employees shall be trained on hazardous energy control procedures and on the hazards related to performing activities required for cleaning, repairing, servicing, setting-up and adjusting prime movers, machinery and equipment.
111. Each affected employee shall be instructed in the purpose and use of the energy control procedure.
112. All other employees whose work operations may be in an area where energy control procedures may be utilized shall be instructed about the prohibition relating to attempts to restart or reenergize machines or equipment which are locked out or tagged out.
     m. Whenever non-Edison personnel are used to perform work on company machinery or equipment, they must follow the on-site Edison lockout/tagout procedure.
     NOTE: For the purpose of Rule 106, “lockout/tagout” means the use of devices, positive means and procedures which will result in the effective isolation or securing of prime movers, machinery and equipment from mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, electrical, thermal or other hazardous energy sources.

Question 4

107

Answer 4

No person shall work on any station equipment without first obtaining proper authorization from the operator in charge or the watch engineer. The person desiring to work shall specifically state what work he/she intends to do, what equipment is to be worked on, and the work area.

Question 5

108

Answer 5

108. Rubber Gloves
     a. Approved rubber gloves shall be worn at all times when working on exposed energized conductors rated from 120 volts to 17kV (a/c nominal) unless performing work with live line or other approved insulated tools.
109. When this work is performed from an aerial lift/digger derrick, a qualified person trained in first aid/CPR, radio procedures, aerial lift controls and rescue procedures shall be present on the ground. The qualified person shall have access to the lower horizontal and vertical positioning controls for the aerial lift/ digger derrick in case of an emergency.
     NOTE: Rubber gloves are not approved for use in-lieu of applying personal grounds on de-energized and ungrounded high voltage overhead conductors while working at ground level.
110. When working with rubber gloves on overhead primary conductors or equipment energized in excess of 7,500 volts, insulate/isolate practices shall be used in accordance with approved business unit procedures.