This part includes information on the effect of electrical current on the human body.
Scope
This part of the directive enhances and/or supplements Part VIII (Electrical Safety) [http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/L-2/SOR-86-304/31605.html#rid-31657] of the COHSR and should be read in that context.
Exceptions
This part does not apply to hearing aids, watches or other electrically powered devices that have an amperage and voltage that are not dangerous to employees.
Definitions
"ampacity" (ampacité) means current-carrying capacity expressed in amperes.
"safety ground or safety grounding"(prise de terre de sécurité ou mise à la terre de sécurité) means a system of conductors, electrodes and clamps, connections or devices that electrically connect an isolated electrical facility to ground for the purpose of protecting employees working on the facility from dangerous electrical shock.
8.1 Design, Construction, Installation, Operation, Use, Repair, Maintenance and Alteration
8.1.1 Where practicable, plans and specifications for new electrical facilities and/or major alterations to existing facilities, including plans relating to the installation or relocation of equipment and the location and siting of work areas, shall be submitted to the appropriate municipal or provincial agency for review and comment prior to the commencement of such work.
8.2 General Precautions
8.2.1 Where employees are working on or near electrical equipment that is live, or is capable of becoming live, the person in charge shall ensure that the electrical equipment is guarded and warning signs attached.
8.3 Consent to Work on High-voltage Electrical Equipment
8.3.1 Except where the operation of the equipment is necessary to prevent 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.
8.3.2 Unless authorized by the person in charge, 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.
8.4 Protective Clothing and Equipment
8.4.1 Employees working on electrical equipment shall use such protective and insulated clothing and equipment as is necessary.
8.4.2 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 that is fabricated from non-flammable material.
8.5 Safety Watcher
8.5.1 A safety watcher must be a qualified person.
8.6 Poles and Elevated Structures
8.6.1 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 thing that is not part of the electrical equipment, which interferes with safe climbing or work.
8.7 Capacitors
8.7.1 Where 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 the time it was disconnected, unless the capacitor is already equipped with an adequate short-circuiting and grounding device.
8.7.2 Measures shall be taken to ensure that no person contacts the terminals of a capacitor referred to in paragraph 8.7.1 unless the terminals are short-circuited and safety-grounded and a safety watcher is present.
8.7.3 The short circuit and safety ground on the capacitor referred to in paragraph 8.7.2 shall remain in position until any work on the capacitor that involves contact by an employee is completed, and all persons are clear of the work area.
8.8 Battery Rooms
8.8.1 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.
8.8.2 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.
8.9 Switches and Control Devices
8.9.1 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.
8.10 Conductive Equipment
8.10.1 Electrically conductive equipment (such as metal rules, measuring tapes, metallic fish wire, wire-reinforced fabric tape, wire-bound hydraulic hoses, portable metal or metal-reinforced ladders) shall not be used so near to live electrical equipment that such conductive equipment may become live.
8.11 Lightning Protection
8.11.1 Lightning protection devices shall comply with the appropriate standard.
8.12 Guarantees of Isolation for Electrical Equipment
8.12.1 Where the employees working on isolated electrical equipment are divided into two or more crews, each of which is supervised by a person in charge of work on the facility, each person in charge shall obtain a guarantee of isolation before the crew is permitted to begin work.
8.12.2 Where 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, in respect of each source of energy, be given in writing by all parties or by one party on behalf of the others.
8.12.3 The party having been designated pursuant to paragraph 8.12.2 as responsible for giving the guarantee of isolation may designate in writing one or more of its employees to act as the guarantor.
8.12.4 Every agreement referred to in paragraph 8.12.2 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; and
- the name of the guarantor or guarantors, as the case may be, and shall be signed by the parties.
8.13 Live Test
8.13.1 Where 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 being performed, be deemed to be the person in charge of the tests and of any other work that is being performed on the equipment while the guarantee is in effect.
8.14 Termination of Guarantee of Isolation
8.14.1 Each record of termination of guarantee of isolation shall show:
- the day and hour, according to the 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 in accordance with the 24‑hour clock that the guarantor was notified that the guarantee was no longer required.