Scope
This part of the Directive enhances and supplements Part VIII (Electrical Safety) [https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-86-304/page-11.html#h-893851] of the COHSR and should be read in that context. In addition, Employers shall be compliant with the Canadian Electric Code, which will be amended from time to time.
This part includes information on the effect of electrical current on the human body.
7.1 Design, Construction, Installation, Operation, Use, Repair, Maintenance and Alteration
7.1.1 When practicable, plans and specifications for new electrical facilities and/or major alterations to existing facilities, including plans for the installation or relocation of equipment and the location and seating of work areas, shall:
- be submitted to the appropriate regulatory authority for review and comment before the work begins; and
- provide for sufficient electrical supply outlets for all devices that will be routinely used.
7.1.2 Extension cords shall not be used as permanent wiring.
7.2 General Precautions
7.2.1 When employees work on or near electrical equipment that is live or that is capable of becoming live, the person in charge shall ensure that the electrical equipment is guarded and that warning signs are attached.
7.3 Consent to Work on High-voltage Electrical Equipment
7.3.1 Except if the operation of the equipment is necessary to prevent a loss of life, serious injury or extensive damage to property or equipment, no employee shall be permitted to work on any high-voltage electrical equipment without the written consent of the person in charge.
7.3.2 No employee, other than a qualified person, shall enter alone or be permitted to enter any part of an electrical vault or station in which live high-voltage electrical equipment is installed.
7.4 Protective Clothing and Equipment
7.4.1 No employee shall work on or near live high-voltage electrical equipment unless the employee is wearing outer clothing with full-length sleeves fastened at the wrists and fabricated from non-flammable material.
7.5 Safety Watcher
7.5.1 A safety watcher must be a qualified person.
7.6 Poles and Elevated Structures
7.6.1 No employee shall climb or work from a pole or structure that is located near another structure or object or has affixed to it any object that is not part of the electrical equipment and that interferes with safe climbing or work.
7.7 Capacitors
7.7.1 When a capacitor that has an ampacity and voltage that is dangerous to employees is disconnected from its source of electrical energy, no person shall short-circuit or apply a safety ground to the capacitor within five minutes of when it was disconnected unless the capacitor is already equipped with an adequate short-circuiting and grounding device.
7.7.2 Measures shall be taken to ensure that no person contacts the terminals of a capacitor referred to in subsection 7.7.1 unless the terminals are short circuited and safety grounded and a safety watcher is present.
7.7.3 The short circuit and safety ground on the capacitor referred to in subsection 7.7.2 shall remain in place until any work on the capacitor that involves contact by an employee is completed and all persons are clear of the work area.
7.8 Battery Rooms
7.8.1 Every room or area in which storage batteries that discharge flammable gases are electrically charged shall be adequately ventilated to prevent the accumulation of flammable gases, shall be as free as possible from all sources or causes of ignition, and shall be operated and maintained in accordance with good industrial safety practice.
7.8.2 Each battery charging room or area shall be marked at the entrance with a sign containing the words “Danger – No Smoking or Open Flames” and “Défense de fumer et d'utiliser une flamme nue” or other similar words in letters not less than 50 mm in height on a contrasting background. An approved warning symbol conveying the same meaning as the words specified for the sign may be used instead.
7.9 Switches and Control Devices
7.9.1 High-voltage electrical switches or other control devices shall be installed, operated or used only for the purpose for which that equipment was specifically designed and approved.
7.10 Conductive Equipment
7.10.1 Electrically conductive equipment (such as metal rulers, measuring tapes, metallic fish wire, wire-reinforced fabric tape, wire-bound hydraulic hoses, and portable metal or metal-reinforced ladders) shall not be used within three metres of live power sources or electrical equipment where such conductive equipment may become live.
7.11 Lightning Protection
7.11.1 Lightning protection devices shall comply with the appropriate standard.
7.12 Guarantees of Isolation for Electrical Equipment
7.12.1 When employees working on isolated electrical equipment are divided into two or more crews, each supervised by a person in charge of work on the facility, each person in charge shall obtain a guarantee of isolation before the crews are permitted to begin work.
7.12.2 When other departments or employers control electrical energy supplied to electrical equipment from more than one source, they may agree that a guarantee of isolation for that electrical equipment for each energy source, be given in writing by all parties or by one party on behalf of the others.
7.12.3 The party designated pursuant to subsection 7.12.2 as responsible for giving the guarantee of isolation may designate in writing one or more of its employees to act as guarantor.
7.12.4 Every agreement referred to in subsection 7.12.2 shall state
- the identity of the equipment to which the agreement applies;
- the period during which the agreement will remain in effect;
- the date of the agreement;
- the name of the guarantor or guarantors, as the case may be; and
- shall be signed by the parties.
7.13 Live Test
7.13.1 When a guarantee of isolation for the performance of a live test of isolated electrical equipment is given to a person in charge of the test, that person shall, while the test is performed, be deemed the person in charge of the tests and of any other work performed on the equipment while the guarantee is in effect.
7.14 Termination of Guarantee of Isolation
7.14.1 Each record of termination of guarantee of isolation shall show:
- the day and hour, using a 24‑hour clock, when the guarantee of isolation terminated;
- the name of the guarantor or any person who has assumed the guarantor's responsibilities;
- the person to whom the guarantee of isolation was given; and
- the date and hour using a 24‑hour clock, when the guarantor was notified that the guarantee was no longer required.