Circular 05/2021/TT-BCT detailing a number of contents on electricity safety

CIRCULAR

Detailing a number of contents on electricity safety

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Pursuant to the Electricity Law dated December 3, 2004, and the Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of the Electricity Law dated November 20, 2012;

Pursuant to the Decree No. 14/2014/ ND-CP dated February 26, 2014 by the Government detailing the implementation of the Electricity Law regarding electricity safety;

Pursuant to the Decree No. 51/2020/ND-CP dated April 21, 2020 of the Government on amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Decree No. 14/2014/ND-CP dated February 26, 2014 of the Government detailing the implementation of the Electricity Law regarding electricity safety;

Pursuant to the Decree No. 98/2017/ND-CP dated August 18, 2017 of the Government defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Industry and Trade;

At the request of the Director of the Industrial Safety Techniques and Environment Agency;

The Minister of Industry and Trade promulgates the Circular detailing a number of contents on electricity safety.

Chapter I

GENERAL REGULATIONS

Article 1. Scope of regulation

This Circular details a number of contents on electricity safety including:

1. Safety training and assessment, grading and grant of electricity safety cards.

2. Earthing the metal structures of houses and works within and adjacent to the safety protection corridors of overhead electricity transmission lines of 220 kV and higher to prevent electrification by induction.

3. Measurement and mapping of electric field strength.

4. Electricity safety signboards.

5. Agreements made upon construction of houses and works within the safety protection corridors of overhead high-voltage electricity transmission lines, encroachments upon safety protection corridors of high-voltage power grids, and electricity accident reporting regime.

Article 2. Subjects of application

This Circular is applicable to organizations and individuals involved in electricity activities, electricity use; use and operation of electric equipment and electrical instruments subject to technical safety inspection; organization of technical safety inspection of electric equipment and electrical instruments in the territory of Vietnam and other relevant organizations and individuals.

Article 3. Interpretation of terms

In this Circular, the following terms are construed as follows:

1. Persons operating, experimenting on, inspecting, constructing and installing or repairing electricity transmission lines or electric equipment at enterprises mean workers of units engaging in electricity generation, transmission, distribution, tests, inspection, construction and installation, providing repair services or using electricity for production (with separate transformer station).

2. Electricity operators and repairers in rural, mountainous, border areas and on islands mean workers of electricity units operating under the Electricity Law and other relevant laws in rural areas, mountainous areas and border areas and on islands.

3. Employers mean the entities mentioned in Clause 2, Article 3 of the Labor Code.

4. Technical safety inspection on electric equipment and electrical instruments means procedure-based inspection, testing and assessment of safety level of electric equipment and electrical instruments before being put into use, during use and operation under relevant standards and technical regulations.

5. Authorizing persons mean persons permitting working units to work on sites meeting electricity safety requirements.

Chapter II

TRAINING, ASSESSMENT, GRADING AND GRANT OF ELECTRICITY SAFETY CARDS

Article 4. Subjects of training, assessment, grading and grant of electricity safety cards

1. Persons operating, experimenting on, inspecting, constructing and installing or repairing electricity transmission lines or electric equipment at enterprises, including hanging, removing, checking and inspecting electric power-measuring or -counting systems; regulators.

2. Electricity operators and repairers in rural, mountainous, border areas and on islands of organizations operating under the Electricity Law and other relevant laws in rural areas, mountainous areas and border areas and on islands.

3. Electricity operators and repairers and persons providing electricity services for organizations and enterprises.

Article 5. Theoretical training content

1. General training content

a) Electric system diagrams and electric system safety requirements;

b) Safety protection measures in activities: site survey and recording (if necessary); planning; work schedule registration; working unit organization; working according to work slip or work order; procedures for granting work permit; during-work safety supervision; procedures for work completion and reenergizing;

c) Technical measures to prepare for a safe workplace: switching off electricity supply and preventing electricity connection to workplace; checking to ensure that there is no electricity connection; earthing; setting up barriers, establishing safe workplace zones and placing restriction signs and signboards.

d) Ways to recognize and measures to get rid of danger of incidents and accidents at workplaces, methods for removing victims from electricity sources and providing first-aid for electricity victims;

dd) Utility and effect of, ways of using and preserving, regulations on checking (testing and inspecting) safety equipment, working means and instruments suitable to workers’ jobs.

2. Training content for electricity transmission line operators

a) Assessment and recognition of risk in electricity transmission line management and operation;

b) Process of operating, and handling the incidents of electricity transmission lines;

c) Safety in: inspecting electricity transmission lines; working on switch off or non-switch off transmission lines; cutting and trimming trees inside and near safety protection corridors of electricity transmission lines; and working at height.

3. Training content for electric equipment and power station operators:

a) Assessment and recognition of risk in power station management and operation;

b) Process of operating, and handling the incidents of, regulations on safety of electric equipment and power stations;

c) Safety in: inspecting electric equipment; putting electric equipment into operation or stopping electric equipment operation; and working with electric equipment;

d) Fire prevention and fighting for electric equipment and power stations.

4. Training content for persons performing electricity construction and installation

a) Safety in digging and pouring electric pole foundations, and digging underground electric cable canals;

b) Safety in electric pole erection;

c) Safety in spreading and stretching electricity transmission lines and anti-lightning wires;

d) Safety in installation of electric equipment.

5. Training content for persons performing electricity testing and inspection

a) Operating process, testing process and safety regulations for equipment of inspection stations and laboratories, and measures to ensure safety in testing and inspection;

b) Electricity safety in testing and inspection of electric equipment, electrical instruments and electrical materials.

6. Training content for electricity transmission line and electric equipment repairers

a) For electricity transmission lines: Safety in repairing switch off or non-switch off transmission lines running independently or through areas under the influence of non-switch off transmission lines;

b) For electric equipment: Safety in working with each type of electric equipment.

7. Training content for persons involved in hanging, removing, checking and inspecting electric power-measuring or -counting systems at installation positions: Safety in hanging, removing, checking and inspecting electric power-measuring or -counting systems at installation positions in case of switch off and non-switch off.

8. Training content for electric system regulators

a) Processes and regulations related to electric system regulation, operation and handling of incidents;

b) Safety in operation, handling of incidents and handover of electricity transmission lines and electric equipment under the control authority between the regulators and on-duty shift of the operation management units.

Article 6. Practical training content

1. Ways of using and preserving, checking, testing and inspecting safety equipment, working means and instruments suitable to workers’ jobs.

2. Methods for removing victims from electricity sources and providing first-aid for electricity victims.

3. Safety assurance-related operations suitable to workers' jobs.

Article 7. Training organization

1. The employers of the workers mentioned in Clause 1 and Clause 3, Article 4 of this Circular shall:

a) Formulate training and assessment documents and stipulate training time in line with electricity safety grading and work positions of workers;

b) Select trainers and assessors in accordance with Clause 3 of this Article;

c) Organize training, assessment, grading and grant of electricity safety cards for qualified workers. Provide re-training for workers with unsatisfactory test results for failed theoretical or practical part.

d) Manage and monitor training, assessment, grading and grant of electricity safety cards at their units.

2. For the workers mentioned in Clause 2, Article 4 of this Circular, the Departments of Industry and Trade shall:

a) Formulate documents and stipulate training and assessment time in line with electricity safety grading and work positions of electricity operators and repairers in rural, mountainous, border areas and on islands;

b) Select trainers and assessors in accordance with Clause 3 of this Article;

c) Organize training, assessment, grading and grant of electricity safety cards for qualified workers. Provide re-training, re-assessment for whichever part that workers have not passed at the request of the employers.

3. Electricity safety trainers and assessors

a) Trainers and assessors of the theoretical training part must have a bachelor’s degree or higher in a major suitable for the training major and at least 05 years of experience relevant to such training major;

b) Trainers and assessors of the practical training part must have a college degree or higher, are knowledgeable with and have at least 05 years of experience relevant to the training major.

4. Methods and time of training and assessment

a) First-time training: shall take place upon recruiting new workers and last for at least 24 hours;

b) Periodic training: shall take place on an annual basis and last for at least 08 hours;

c) Retraining: shall take place when the workers change job position or change electricity safety grade or there are changes in equipment and technology; when the workers' test results are unsatisfactory or when the workers have been absent from work for 6 months or more. Retraining shall last for at least 12 hours.

5. Under specific conditions, the employers can organize separate training on electricity safety according to the content specified in this Circular or combine training on the contents of occupational safety and health, fire prevention or fighting or coordinate with other training units as prescribed by law.

6. Expenses for organization of training and grant of electricity safety cards shall be borne by the employers.

Article 8. Electricity safety grades

Electricity safety grades are divided into 5 grades from 1/5 to 5/5 and require both theoretical and practical assessment results to reach at least 80%.

1. Requirements for grade 1/5:

a) Obtain first-time theoretical and practical training results of at least 80%;

b) Have knowledge about general provisions to maintain safety upon performing the assigned work;

c) Use and manage safety equipment, working means and instruments allocated according to regulations.

2. Requirements for grade 2/5:

a) Grasp knowledge about general provisions and safety protection measures upon performing the assigned work;

b) Use and manage safety equipment, working means and instruments allocated according to regulations;

c) Grasp methods for removing victims from electricity sources;

d) Grasp knowledge on first-aid for electrical shock victims.

3. Requirements for grade 3/5:

a) Meet requirements for grade 2/5;

b) Be capable of detecting violations and unsafe acts;

c) Have skills in inspecting and supervising workers working on electricity transmission lines or with electric equipment.

4. Requirements for grade 4/5:

a) Meet requirements for grade 3/5;

b) Understand responsibilities and scope of work of each working unit when working with them;

c) Have skills in developing safety protection measures to carry out the work and organizing the supervision and monitoring of workers;

d) Be capable of analyzing and investigating electricity incidents and accidents.

5. Requirements for grade 5/5:

a) Meet requirements for grade 4/5;

b) Have skills in cooperating with other working units, presiding over work, organizing safety measures and inspecting and monitoring work.

Article 9. Tasks permitted for each electricity safety grade

1. A person assigned grade 1/5 may perform the following tasks:

a) Perform tasks without contact with electric equipment or live transmission lines;

b) Assist working units working on electricity transmission lines and electric equipment.

2. A person assigned grade 2/5 may perform the following tasks:

a) Grade 1/5 tasks;

b) Work at locations where the power is completely cut off.

3. A person assigned grade 3/5 may perform the following tasks:

a) Grade 2/5 tasks;

b) Work at locations where electricity is cut off in stages;

c) Work directly with live low-voltage electric equipment and electricity transmission lines;

d) Operate on high-voltage power grids;

dd) Inspect operating power stations and electricity transmission lines;

e) Issue work orders, give directions directly, permit working units to work, and supervise working units working on low-voltage electric equipment and electricity transmission lines.

4. A person assigned grade 4/5 may perform the following tasks:

a) Grade 3/5 tasks;

b) Work directly with live high-voltage electric equipment and electricity transmission lines;

c) Issue work slips and work orders, give directions directly, permit working units to work, and supervise working units working on high-voltage electric equipment and electricity transmission lines.

5. Persons assigned grade 5/5 may perform all assigned tasks.

Article 10. Electricity safety cards

1. A electricity safety card will be granted in the following cases:

a) After a worker receives first-time training and passes the assessment;

b) When a worker changes his/her job;

c) When a worker loses or damages his/her card;

d) When a worker's electricity safety grade changes.

2. Electricity safety cards shall be granted to persons mentioned in Clause 2, Article 4 herein within 07 working days since they receive the first-time training, the periodic training or the retraining or pass an assessment or since the Departments of Industry and Trade receive an application from their employers if their cards are lost or damaged. The employers of persons mentioned in Clause 2 Article 4 herein shall send an application consisting of the following components for training and grant of electricity safety card to the Departments of Industry and Trade directly or by post:

a) Written request of the employer: Indicate full name, job and current electricity safety grade of the worker;

b) 02 (2x3cm) photos and old electricity safety card (if any) of the worker.

3. Electricity safety card form is provided in Appendix I issued with this Circular.

4. Use of electricity safety cards

a) Time limit for use: from date of grant to date of withdrawal.

b) During working process, the workers must bring their electricity safety cards and present their cards at the request of the authorizing persons, the employers and the competent persons.

5. An electricity safety card will be withdrawn in the following cases:

a) The worker changes his/her job or no longer work for his/her current employer;

b) The card is old or crumpled or the photo or letters on the card is/are faded;

c) The worker commits a violation against electricity safety process or regulations;

d) The worker is issued with a new card.

6. Card withdrawal authority: The electricity safety cards shall be withdrawn by the granting unit.

Chapter III

EARTHING THE METAL STRUCTURES WITHIN AND ADJACENT TO THE SAFETY PROTECTION CORRIDORS OF OVERHEAD ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION LINES OF 220 KV AND HIGHER TO PREVENT ELECTRIFICATION BY INDUCTION; MEASUREMENT AND MAPPING OF ELECTRIC FIELD STRENGTH

Article 11. Scope of earthing

1. At 220 kV:

25 m from the edge of the outer or lowest transmission line within and adjacent to the safety protection corridors.

2. At 500 kV:

60 m from the edge of the outer or lowest transmission line adjacent to the safety protection corridors.

Article 12. Objects with required earthing

1. For houses or works with insulated metal roofs: Their roofs shall be earthed. Metal structures under the roofs do not require earthing.

2. For houses or works with non-metal roofs All insulated metal structures such as walls, enclosing walls, girders, beams, rafters and door frames shall be earthed.

3. Insulated metal structures outside of houses and works such as metal frames, corrugated iron sheets, antennas and clothing wires shall be earthed.

Article 13. Earthing techniques

1. An earthing rod must be made of round steel tubing with a diameter of at least 16mm or square steel tubing with an equivalent cross section or steel angle bar of at least (40x40x4) mm; at least 0,8 m of the rod must be buried underground vertically with one end no more than 0,15 m above the ground; the rod's location must not cause obstruction to the house or work user. Do not put insulation paint on the rod. Plate corrosion-prone areas of the earthing rod with copper or zinc.

2. Earthing wires may be made of round steel tubing with a diameter of at least 6 mm or steel flat bar of at least (24x4) mm and must be protected from corrosion or made of flexible multi-strand copper wires with a cross section of at least 16 mm².

3. Earthing wires shall be connected with the part above the ground of earthing rods and metal structures to be earthed by bolts or welding.

4. Houses and works with existing safe earthing are not required to place additional earthing rods and their earthing wires are required to connected with such earthing structures by bolts or welding.

Article 14. Responsibility for earthing and earthing system management

1. Responsibility for earthing

a) For houses and works built before high-voltage power grid, the investors of high-voltage power grid works shall incur all costs and install earthing systems;

b) For houses and works built after high-voltage power grid, the lawful users and owners of those houses and works shall install earthing systems or request the high-voltage power grid managing and operating unit to install earthing systems and incur all costs.

2. Earthing system management

The lawful users and owners of houses and works with earthed metal structures must manage their earthing systems. Upon detecting damaged earthing system or abnormal phenomena, immediately notify the high-voltage power grid managing and operating unit for cooperation in settlement.

Article 15. Measurement and mapping of electric field strength

1. The investors or operation management unit of power stations shall measure and draw charts of, the electric field strength in the entire ground spaces of the power stations and post them up at the central control rooms of the stations.

2. The electric field strength charts should be re-drawn when the power stations witness one of the following changes in the component carrying electricity of 220 kV or higher:

a) Change of equipment arrangement scope;

b) Change of distance between charged objects;

c) Reduction of distance from charged objects to the ground.

3. The electric field strength value shall be measured and checked upon putting a work to use and updated upon change.

4. The electric field strength charts must have different colors to distinguish the value of electric field strength at the working position. In details: