Safe work planning

Employers and contractors should consult the Alberta OHS Act, Regulation, and Code for more information on safe work planning as this is an overview and does not provide all the requirements.

A site visit is required to assess the hazards. Always consider electrical utilities to be live with the potential of causing serious injury or death. Legislation requires that all work related hazards be identified and that unsupervised work be performed by those workers deemed competent.

According to Alberta OHS Code, Part 1, Definitions and General Application (Edmonton, Alberta: Alberta Queen's Printer, 2009. Print.),

"Competent in relation to a person, means adequately qualified, suitably trained and with sufficient experience to safely perform without supervision or with only a minimal degree of supervision".

For more information:

Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code: Part 2 Hazard Assessment, Elimination, and Control.
7 (1) An employer must assess a work site and identify existing and potential hazards before work begins at the work site or prior to the construction of a new work site.
7 (2) An employer must prepare a report of the results of a hazard assessment and the methods used to control or eliminate the hazards identified.
7 (3) An employer must ensure that the date on which the hazard assessment is prepared or revised is recorded on it.

The documented safe work plan must identify and evaluate occupational health and safety hazards, and identify the controls used to mitigate those hazards. Hazard assessments must be reviewed and updated on a regular basis to ensure that existing controls are effective.

A field level hazard assessment is site specific. The employee in charge at the site will ensure a safe work plan is developed. All employees on site must assist in hazard identification and mitigation. Employees must constantly assess the hazards, and if required, stop the work and revise the safe work plan identifying new hazards and controls for those hazards. Additional workers or visitors to the site should review and sign off on the primary safe work plan.

Employers are required to ensure that employees, tools, materials, equipment, and mobile equipment used in work do not come within 7 m of overhead power lines. In developing a safe work plan, consider electrical factors that include, but are not limited to:

Ground disturbance including utility locating and excavating.
Height and reach of the equipment in proximity to energized overhead electrical equipment.
Equipment placement.
Use of conducting materials.
Need to notify and/or seek assistance from the electric utility owner.

For more information

Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code, Part 17 Overhead Power Lines.
225 (1) An employer must contact the power line operator before work is done or equipment is operated within 7.0 metres of an energized overhead power line.

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The Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code, the Alberta Electrical Utility Code, and the Alberta Pipeline Regulation require that the locations of all buried utilities be marked before a ground disturbance begins. Utilities and homeowners (e.g. security lighting) that are not members of Utility Safety Partners must be contacted directly for locates. All locates must be current and on site throughout the excavation.

All cables must be treated as energized throughout the excavation process.

In the City of Edmonton, EPCOR's locate contractor will only locate primary power lines up to the primary metering point, and secondary power lines located on public property and single family residential lots.
Secondary power lines located on private property in multifamily, commercial or industrial lots, as well as primary power lines located past the primary metering point, will need to be located by the facility owner or through private locates.
If you are working adjacent to transmission facilities (72 kV and 240 kV underground lines) your Utility Safety Partners ticket will indicate that you must first receive clearance from EPCOR prior to excavation. EPCOR will locate these facilities on site or contact you to provide you with clearance after you receive your Utility Safety Partners ticket. You are not cleared to excavate until this clearance is provided
Multiple circuits can be present in the same alignment. EPCOR's locate contractor will mark separate circuits where separation exists or will indicate the presence of multiple power lines on your ticket. EPCOR power lines may be direct buried or be installed inside a conduit. In three phase areas, there are three power cables for every circuit which may be separated by up to 1 m. EPCOR can provide additional information on the number of cables.

Disclaimer

EPCOR Distribution & Transmission Inc. (EPCOR) is responsible for the delivery of electricity to customers in Edmonton and surrounding areas, while being fully committed to the protection of the environment and the health and safety of our employees and customers.

This guide provides information to employers and contractors regarding safe work practices in relation to EPCOR power facilities. Employers and contractors have responsibilities under the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety (Alberta OHS) Act, Code, and Regulation. When there is a conflict between this document and any bylaws, legislation, or regulation the relevant law prevails.

Any reliance placed on this information is strictly at your own risk. EPCOR does not assume any responsibility or liability for any action, loss or damage that arises out of, or is in connection with the information contained in this guide.

Alberta safety legislation assigns responsibilities to the utility owner, the contractor, the employer, and the worker, to ensure that work is carried out in a safe manner. All work related hazards must be identified by the employer to the workers. Only competent workers are allowed to work without direct supervision. All work shall be carried out in accordance with applicable legislation.

View our guidelines for Working in Close Proximity to Electrical Equipment.