NATIONAL ELECTRIC POWER REGULATORY

AUTHORITY
(NEPRA)

GUIDELINES FOR

POWER SAFETY CODE

FOR
TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION
LICENSEES

First Edition
November, 2014

PSC

POWER SAFETY CODE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Sr #

Code

Description

Page

PSC-1

Purpose

PSC-2

General Instructions of Power Safety

PSC- 3

Non-Compliance of Safety Code

PSC- 4

Responsibilities & Duties of Safety Management Team

from Power Safety Point of View

3
4

PSC- 5

Implementation of Safety Manual

PSC- 6

Detailed Instructions of Power Safety

to be considered while preparing the Power Safety Manual.

PSC- 6.1 Purpose, Scope & Philosophy of Safety Policy

PSC- 6.2 Basic Safety Guidelines

PSC- 6.3 General Provisions for Safety

PSC- 6.4 Safety Policy for Electrical Equipments & Materials from
Design & Execution Point Of view
PSC-6.5

Safety Measures from Operation & Maintenance

Point of View

A.

General Safety Requirements

B.

Safety Precautions for work on or near High Voltage

Systems

C:

Procedures for work on particular items of plant,

Apparatus or conductors.

D:

Safety Precautions for High Voltage Live Line work

on High Voltage Over Head lines.

E:

11

12

Safety Precautions for the Testing of High Voltage

Systems.

13

PSC

Sr #

Code

Description

F:

Page

Safety Precautions and procedures applicable to Low

Voltage Systems.

13

PSC- 6.6 Safety for Power Plants

14

PSC- 6.7 Safety Policy for Transportation

14

PSC- 6.8 First Aid Procedures

15

PSC- 6.9 Resuscitation & Rescue Procedures

16

PSC- 6.10 Data Base of Power Safety and Operation & Charts

16

PSC- 7

Glossary of Terms used in Power Safety Manual

II

17

PSC

POWER SAFETY CODE

PSC-1

Purpose
The purpose of this safety code is to ensure that the licensees networks are
planned, developed, operated and maintained in an efficient & safe way
without compromising on safety of any kind related to the systems, personnel
& others.
In this Power Safety Code, guidelines/instructions have been provided in
each section with sufficient details. On the basis of this Safety Code, a
Safety Manual shall be prepared by each licensee depending upon its own
requirements and shall be approved by NEPRA.
{Similarly a safety manual shall be prepared by other users of the
transmission & distribution system & approved by Licensee when carrying
out works or tests at the operational interface with the licensee.}

PSC-2

General Instructions of Power Safety

The licensee shall abide by the safety requirements as set out in Power
Safety Code, Distribution Code, Power Safety Manual, Performance
Standards (Distribution) Rules -2005, Grid Code & other applicable
documents.

The licensee shall promote a healthy & safe culture and provide all
employees, contractors, and the people concerned and the public with
a safe & healthy place to work. The Licensee shall ensure that Safe
working is integrated into every aspect and area of business. Moreover
safety culture shall be based on personal leadership, collaboration and
involvement.

The licensee shall adhere to the highest standards in all work practices
so as to ensure protection of employees & any other affected by what
licensee do. Each Licensee shall ensure in day to day work that

PSC

Facilities /support programmers are provided to safe guard the health,

welfare & well being of their staff.
-

The licensee shall foster openness and dialogue, and be open to the
concerns of employees, contractors and other concerned. It shall also
be ensured that Safety Standards and policies are known, understood
and implemented/applied.

The licensee shall treat all injuries, occupational illnesses & safety
incidents as preventable & set out goals for all of them as zero. Each
licensee shall make necessary arrangements for accurately reporting all
unsafe incidents in a timely manner to all concerned & CEO/Head of
organization also, and shall encourage near miss reporting.

The licensee shall ensure investigation of unsafe incidents/near misses,

to communicate what Licensee learn widely not to make the same
mistake twice.

The licensee shall ensure compliance with these commitments.

The licensee shall ensure audit commitment to safety to demonstrate

adherence is everywhere and by everyone.

The licensee shall ensure reorganization of training in awareness of

and application of best safety practices, ensure their availability and
use.

The licensee shall ensure, Activeness in communicating safety policy

to contractors, visitors, customers & communities where Licensees
have operations.

The licensee shall ensure that the safety policy statements setout the
respective responsibilities of Licensee personnel for health and safety
policy, systems procedures and their implementation and for
monitoring and auditing the effectiveness of the policy statements.

The licensee shall ensure that the policy statement are reviewed
annually by review panel and amended to reflect changes in the
organization or statuary requirements.

PSC

The licensee shall ensure compliance with relevant laws & regulations
& take any additional measures considered necessary.

PSC- 3

Non-Compliance of Safety Code

Any act of non-compliance of any of the provisions of this Safety Code by

any of the user or entity shall be subject to penalties as per Authority Fees &
Fines Rules 2002. Provided however, no such penalties shall be imposed for
non-compliance with the provisions of this Code up-to two years

from

the

date of approval thereof by Authority.

PSC- 4

Responsibilities & Duties of Safety Management Team from Power

Safety Point of View

The power safety management team shall be independent in all its functions
under the direct control of chief executive officer of each DISCO/Head of the
licensee. Responsibilities & duties of safety management team from power
safety point of view shall be clearly defined from all respective point of view
as mentioned below.

Responsibilities for preparation of power safety manual

Responsibilities for implementation of power safety manual

Responsibilities for Compliance of safety procedures/manuals

Auditing of safety procedures/manuals

Responsibilities for reporting for non compliance

Responsibilities for suggested measures for preventive Actions

Responsibilities for maintenance of all relevant record & onward

submission to NEPRA.

PSC

PSC- 5

Implementation of Safety Manual

Each Licensee shall ensure implementation of safety manual by means of :a)

Equipment
Through high engineering and maintenance standards, so that the
equipment is fit for purpose.

b)

Procedures
Through locally prepared, documented procedures and/or other
systems

c)

People
Through training, involvement and other programmes to help people
contribute to safety, security, health and environment

PSC- 6

Detailed Instructions of Power Safety to be considered while preparing

the Power Safety Manual

PSC-6.1

Purpose, Scope & Philosophy of Safety Policy

Each licensee shall elaborate the purpose & scope of overall

safety policy, vision of the licensee about safety, fundamentals
of the power safety and the issuance of power safety manual to
all concerns.
Duties & responsibilities of safety team/safety directorate &
others regarding training, record, implementation, auditing and
preventive action shall be clearly defined by each Licensee.
The Licensee shall provide such records to NEPRA as and
when required.

PSC

PSC-6.2

Basic Safety Guidelines

The licensee shall provide the basic safety guidelines primarily

for persons who have not been appointed as competent persons
under power safety code or persons who work beyond their
scope of competence.
The basic safety guidelines shall comprise but not limited to
the following:-

General Principals

Operations

Fire Precautions & work in confined space

Work in Substations & Compounds

The general basic principles of safety shall also be observed

i.e:-

Identification of Hazards

Elimination of Hazards

Controlling of Hazards

Protection against injuries

Minimizing the severeity of injury

Avoiding for future occurrences

Unsafe conditions or unsafe acts shall be clearly defined, as the

good operation is only the safe operation.

Examples of un-safe conditions be clarified i.e,

-

Improper Guarding

Defective material or equipment

Hazardous arrangements

PSC

Insufficient lighting

Improper ventilation

Unsafe Clothing

Unsafe Design & Construction

Examples of Un-Acts be clarified i.e:-

Operating without Authority or Warning

Operating or Working at unsafe Speed

Making safety devices In-operative

Use of unsafe equipment or improper use of equipment

Unsafe Loading

Placing or Leaving Objects

Mixing improper Packing

Taking unsafe Position or Posture

Working

on

equipment

without

taking

proper

precautions
-

Distracting, Teasing or Startling

Failure to use safe clothing or protective equipment

From operation point of view, other factors be also considered

i.e :-

Shift Duties

Reporting of duty in unfit condition

Assistance from employees not on duty

Inspection of Grid Station Equipment

Weather information

Interference of animals

Visitors

Working of employees of other organizations

Identification of operating equipment

PSC

PSC-6.3

General Provisions for Safety

The general provisions of safety shall be provided by each

licensee covering the followings:-

The provisions for workers /operators to object to doing

work on safety grounds.

The use & wearing of safety equipment & protective

clothing.

Physical fitness & personal conduct of the worker before

and during on job

Arrangement and procedure of job briefing before the work

is started

Requirements to safe guard the public and property when

work in progress

Requirements for house keeping in a safe working in

conditions

Arrangements and requirements of Fire protection

Requirements, arrangements and use of proper tools and

plants for the proper and safe storage lifting and carrying of
different types of material

Procedure and reporting requirements of patrolling of lines

Procedure for tree trimming

List of common protective devices and equipments use for

the safety purposes.

PSC

PSC-6.4

Safety Policy for Electrical Equipments & Materials from

Design & Execution Point Of view

Each Licensee shall establish the design section, which shall be

responsible for complete detailed engineering design and
execution of electrical equipments and materials from power
safety point of view. All design aspects/design criteria shall be
provided to NEPRA as & when required and complete record
shall be maintained by each Licensee.

Detail regarding improvement in existing electrical protective

equipments shall be clearly provided i.e :-

Protective measures as per IEC or international engineering

standards in 11KV Panels in order to diagnose the fault in
case the live conductor falls on rocks or any dry surface
and in result may cause damage to people or property.

Protection of Transformers

Protection of 11KV lines with protective devices

Protection of cables against fires, as in some instances

cable may become a carrier of fire.

PSC

PSC-6.5

Safety Measures from Operation & Maintenance Point of

View

Safety measures for operation & maintenance shall cover but

not limited to the following:-

A.

General Safety Requirements

Access to and work in operational premises,

underground chambers & confined spaces

Working with vessels that contain oil or flammable

liquids.

Access to & work in fire protected areas.

Climbing of Poles, towers & structures

Access to high voltage apparatus and structures

Arrangements for high voltage switching operations

The use of voltage testing devices

The procedure to follow when excavating near live

cables.

The use of mobile plant and equipment near

overhead lines.

B.

Safety Precautions for work on or near High

Voltage Systems

This section includes the all precautionary measures

and procedures to be followed while working on or
near any high voltage system;

The general safety principles to follow to ensure

safe working

PSC

The arrangements for insuring safe isolation if

apparatus and conductors

The methods to be used to discharge and earth high

voltage equipments

The procedure to follow when approaching live

high voltage conductor and insulators supporting
them.

The procedure to follow for work in substation and

switching substations containing exposed live high
voltage conductors

Permits to Work

Sanctions for Tests

Limitations of Access

For Permit to work (PTW), specimen shall be provided

by each DISCO/NTDC in the safety manual covering
the following but not limited to the following:-

Application of PTW

Issuance of PTW

Receipt of PTW

Clearance of PTW

Cancellation of PTW

For sanction of test & the limited work certificate the

following points most be considered:-

Preparation

Issues and receipt

Transfer

Clearness and cancellation

Requirement:- Each Licensee shall provide the PTWs

with the minimum details as mentioned above.

10

PSC

C:

Procedures for work on particular items of plant,

Apparatus or Conductors

Each licensee shall cover operations which require

procedures to be followed which are additional to the
general ones.
-

General safety precautions to be taken

for use of cleaning solvents, Handling of toxic or
hazardous materials, Glass fiber thermal insulation,
Explosives, radio actives and radiations, High
voltage

testing,

leak

checking,

pressure

vessels/cylinders, underground man-holes.

-

Procedures for safe working of remotely and

automatically
established

control
by

equipment

each

shall

DISCO/NTDC

be
after

consultation with NPCC or RCC which ever case is

applicable & shall be provided in power safety
manual.
-

With-drawable apparatus

Bus-bars, bus-bar spouts and bus-bar connections of

multiple panel /switchboards

High voltage apparatus and plant operated by or

containing compressed air with other gases or
operated by hydraulic power

Transformers

High voltage static capacitors

High voltage cables

The type & classification of cables along with
voltage rating shall be clearly defined by each
DISCO/NTDC

High voltage over head lines

11

PSC

Single or multiple circuit, high voltage over head

lines, with all conductors dead

Double circuit, high voltage over head line, with

one circuit live

High voltage regulator

Industrial panels/grid end panels as per prevailing

voltage levels

D:

DC station batteries

Disconnect switches/isolators

Instrument transformer (CTs, PTs, and CVTs)

Insulting oils, oil tanks, SF6 gas and gas cylinders,

Safety Precautions for High Voltage Live Line work

on High Voltage Over Head lines
It shall include:-

The authorization requirements for staff carrying

out the operations

The live line tools and equipments to be used and

the arrangements for keeping them in good
condition must be clearly defined such that:-

Complete package of T & P (hand tools and

machine tools), extension ladder fiber, adjustable
strain pole, conducive shoes, conductive sit (Socks,
gloves, trousers, shirt etc.), torsion, nut, torsion
ratchet wrench, strain link stick, hot-end suspension
yoke, cotter key pusher, strain pole carrier, moisture
eater, abrasive cleaning pad, hot-stick tester, hit-test
insulator tester, generator 5 KW, live-line rope etc.

The general safety precaution to follow

12

PSC

E:

Safety Precautions for the Testing of High Voltage

Systems

This shall consist of the followings:-

F:

General precautions to take

Work under a sanction for test

The testing of high voltage apparatus

Safety Precautions and procedures applicable to

Low Voltage Systems

General requirements for work on dead low voltage

apparatus and lines

Additions precautions for work on dead low voltage

cables

Additional precautions for work on dead low

voltage over head lines

Precaution for work on live low voltage apparatus

Precaution for work on live low voltage over head

lines

Precaution for work on live low voltage cables

Testing of low voltage apparatus

Calibration of electrical testing equipments

13

PSC

PSC-6.6

Safety for Power Plants

Each licensee shall cover the specific safety requirement for

the power plant working environment and shall include but not
limited to the followings;
-

Boiler operation

Boiler maintenance

Turbo generator operation & maintenance

Import plant auxiliaries

Water plant treatment

Workshop of the power plant

SOPs in case of spillage in the plant & in case of fire

accident.

PSC-6.7

Work permit electrical maintenance section

Works permit for maintenance section

Works permit for instrument/control section

Safety Policy for Transportation

Each licensee shall cover the all procedures related to

-

General Instructions

SOPs for checking/maintenance

Driving

Parking

Operation of trucks, trailers & forklift trucks

SOPs, to be followed in case of accident.

Speed limits inside the premises of NTDC/DISCO

works/sites & on general public roads/areas.

Training of drivers

Motivational methodologies for drivers

14

PSC

PSC-6.8

First Aid Procedures

First aid procedures shall cover the procedures, guidelines,

implementation strategies and complete data base & suggested
measures for preventive action and shall include but not limited
to the followings:-

General instructions

Hemorrhage (bleeding) and including the measures for

internal hemorrhage, nose bleeding

Physical/electric shock
And also the informative charts describing the effects with
respect to current level, human body resistance and the
other factors that affect the human body

Sun stroke, head stroke

Fainting

Fractures (broken bones)

Transportation/shifting of the victims

Wounds

Splinters or foreign substances in the body

Animal/snake bites

Burns (thermal, electrical & chemical)

Eye injuries

Sprains/strains,

Bruises

Frost bite

Heimlich maneuver

15

PSC

PSC-6.9

Resuscitation & Rescue Procedures

Resuscitation & rescue procedures shall include but not limited

to the followings:-

General instructions

Methods of pole top rescue

Artificial respiration

Requirement:-These shall be defined by each Licensee with

detailed procedures and understandable diagrams/pictures and
methodology for training of person to perform such activity.

PSC-6.10

Data Base of Power Safety and Operation and Maintenance

Charts

Each licensee shall cover the complete information regarding

operation and maintenance charts and these shall be readily
accessible to all concerned. There shall be no confusion from
tagging/marking point of view for electrical equipments &
materials.
In addition to this other charts i.e.
-

Charts related to clearances form electrical equipment &

material functioning point of view

Safety signs/signals charts at required locations/places

Exit signs

Charts for safety instructions for visitors/contractors/others

Charts for useful knots

Charts for strengths & weight of material

Charts for safe loads on different types of ropes

Charts for safe working of cranes

16

PSC

Operation and maintenance charts

Fire extinguishers

Road signs

Warning signs

Danger signs

Charts for allowable factor of safety, clearances & other

applicable data.

Permit to works (PTWs)

Charts for motivation of staff /persons

Maintenance & inspection schedules

Charts for conversion tables and

others required as per standard engineering practices

These charts shall be under-standble to workers/labours in

Urdu also, in addition to English.

PSC- 7

Glossary of Terms used in Power Safety Manual

Each licensee shall cover the complete glossary of all

important terms & words being used in power safety manual.
No technical item shall be overlooked.

17

PSC

PSC 3.1 The Safety Code Review Panel Safety Manual

All the Licensees shall jointly establish & maintain the Panel within
two months of the notification of the code, which shall be a standing
body to undertake the functions as detailed below.
The panel shall function in accordance with the rules and procedures
to conduct business duly approved by NEPRA. Subsequent to the
establishment of the panel, it shall formulate its rules and procedures
to conduct business and submit to NEPRA within three months of the
establishment of the Panel.
The panel shall consist of the following and shall meet at least two
times in a year:a.

A Chairman with one member appointed by each Transmission

&

Distribution Licensee (Chairmanship will be on rotation basis)

b.

A person appointed by the Authority.

c.

The following members:i).

1 person representing Consumers Protection Group

(CPG)

18

PSC

ii).

1 person from the Industry or Engineering Institution or

PEC

iii).

One representative from PSQCA

iv).

One representative/POI of each province

v).

A representative of each provincial consumer

protection council

The Panel:a.

Keep the Safety Code & its working under review.

b.

Review all suggestions for amendments to the Safety Code

which any
the Panel

consumer through the representative of CPG in

may wish

to

submit

to

a Licensee

for

Consideration by the Panel.

c.

Publish recommendations as to amendments to the Safety Code

that a Licensee or the Panel believes to be desirable and the
reasons for the recommendations.

d.

Submit the agreed recommendations to NEPRA for approval.

e.

Issue guidance on the Safety Code and its implementation,

performance and interpretation , as and when requested by any
user.

g.

Consider what changes are necessary to the Distribution Code

arising out of any un-foreseen circumstances as referred by the
Licensee.

h.

The Transmission/Distribution Licensee shall inform the

proposed amendments to the Code to its users through wide
circulation in the press and if possible comment in writing with
those who are liable to be affected by any proposed
amendments to the Panel for Discussion prior to such
consultation.

PSC 3.3

Code Administration

19

PSC

Transmission/Distribution Licensee shall be responsible for the

enforcement and administration of the Safety Code.

PSC 3.4

Force Majeure Conditions

Certain Provisions of the Safety Code may be suspended in

whole or in part pursuant to any directive given by the
Authority under Force Majeure conditions. Licensee shall
inform NEPRA within 07days of its initiation about a Force
Majeure Condition.

20