Works Practices

This guidance note has been produced by the VESI Work Practice Committee to provide practical guidelines for electricity supply industry personnel to identify and manage the risk associated with open pole holes when working for VESI Distribution Businesses.

Guidance Note for Manoeuvring Loads with EWP's Manoeuvring Loads with EWP's Presentation

This guideline has been produced by the VESI Work Practice Committee following discussions with Worksafe regarding the suitability of an EWP to lift and support crossarms and other materials on the basket rim.

 Guidance Notes for Drop Zone Management within the VESI

When working at height there is always a possibility of equipment, tools or other materials falling into the worksite below. This risk is managed by establishing a “Drop Zone” which is an established practice in the VESI and is underpinned by training and a knowledge of working aloft within the Electricity Supply Industry.

This guideline details the minimum requirements for the management of drop zones within VESI.

Use of LV Insulated Cover Up When Working Live

Whilst no injuries have been sustained following a spate of work practice related incidents involving the clashing of LV conductors, the Work Practice Committee have released the following memo reinforcing the need to apply appropriate levels of LV insulation cover up when working live.

Working On Overhead Substation LV Bus Conductors Live

This memo was raised after a recent query in relation to working on distribution Low Voltage) (LV) overhead substation bus conductors live. The memo outlines the principles of associated LV fusing and standard work practices requirements whilst performing works within the substation bus.

Approved Tasks for the Application of Safe Approach Distance – Special

This guideline has been created to enable the application of SAD Special for safe access, operation or performance of approved tasks by an electrical trade person who holds an authority to receive EAPs, SFT or Operate HV.

VESI members have identified basic principle breaches occurring in both High Voltage (HV) and Low Voltage (LV) switching activities on Distribution Networks. These breaches whilst not directly resulting in any near misses or incidents to either the Operator or the Work Party undermine established safety rules designed to protect all parties accessing the Network safely. The VESI Work Practices Committee has provided the following information to be discussed with all personnel authorised or permitted to perform HV or LV switching activities within the VESI.

This VESI FWHB, is a compilation of work practices for the use of VESI field based personnel. The FWHB incorporates a revision of the 2006 VESI Fieldworker Handbook. The Handbook is not intended to contradict the National Competencies or materials commonly used by RTO’s.

Ownership and copyright © of the FWHB lies with the VESI Distribution and Transmission businesses.

Because a new review will commence in June 2012, no further printing of the 2008 FWHB will be undertaken.

The 2008 FWHB can be downloaded as a large single file or as individual sections

Complete 2008 FWHB Section 1. Introduction Section 2. Electrical Theory Section 3. Worksite Traffic Management Section 4. Overhead Lines Section 5. Servicing and Metering Section 6. Switching, Isolating and Earthing Section 7. Substations, Capacitors and ACR's Section 8. Safe Approach Distances Section 9. Underground Distribution (URD) Section 10. Tools and Equipment Section 11. Fleet Safety Section 12. Manual Handling Section 13. Hazardous Goods Section 14. First Aid Section 15. Terminal and Zone Substations Appendix 1. Knots and Hitches Appendix 2. Crane Signals Appendix 3. Rigging Appendix 4. Tension Joints Appendix 5. Definitions

The rules published at this webpage pertaining to High Voltage Live Work are the minimum standards to be applied when conducting HV live work throughout Victoria. Organisations may enhance or supplement rules provided this does not result in reduced safety standards. The underlying aim of the Rules is to provide a consistent set of rules and guidelines, agreeable to all stakeholders. Training / Assessments

Training providers shall be Registered Training Organisations (RTO’s) whose scope of registration accredits them to deliver the training. Relevant RTO’s can be found at training.gov.au

Additional assessment material is available in the  download section below.

The following documents may be used as guidance for companies to help record assessments of crews undertaking High Voltage Live Work in Victoria.

HV Live Work Rules

HV Glove and Barrier Technique Assessment

HV Stick Technique Assessment

HV Live Work Crane Operator Checklist

Load Support Equipment

HV Live Work Mid Span Isolator Maintenance guideline.

VESI HV Live work Memorandums:

The VESI ICTP Committee provides a forum for Victorian Electricity Distributors to manage and communicate the VESI Installation Supply & Connection Test Procedures and associated matters through:

• Development and maintenance of the procedures
• Formation and administration of Working Groups
• Providing availability and accessibility to the current procedures

Objectives:

To ensure the safe connection of electrical installations to the Victorian Electricity Supply Network by:

• Providing correct polarity of electrical connections to the customer’s main switchboard
• Providing a supply neutral of less than 1 Ω impedance to the customer’s main switchboard
• Providing correct phase sequence to the customer’s main switchboard
• Maintaining safe systems of work during the connection process

Connection Principles:

1. All conductive components and associated work area assumed to be de-energised shall be proven de-energised by test, prior to the commencement of work.
2. Installation Under Test notice/s shall be placed at any point of which live apparatus is exposed to, or accessible by, other parties not involved in the connection process e.g. electricians, general public.
3. All neutral conductors/connections shall be readily identifiable by colour, or termination position and tagged where required.
4. A Neutral Integrity Test Point (NITP) shall be established on the electrical installation to validate Check Testing and Neutral & Supply Testing Procedures.
5. Polarity Testing shall be conducted on the Supply/Service conductors where the supply neutral conductor has been connected or disconnected and reconnected.
6. Supply Testing shall be conducted on the Supply/Service conductors where the service neutral conductor has been connected or disconnected and reconnected.
7. A final Neutral and Supply Test shall be conducted to an established NITP.
8. Phase sequence shall be established on new installations to be correct to the metering equipment and on existing installations in a manner to ensure the correct operation of 3 phase equipment
9. Installation or changes to Metering equipment to be checked for correct functionality.
10. Check Testing shall be conducted:
    • To ensure correct polarity of neutral connections to the main switchboard.
    • With switching circuits energised to ensure correct polarity of neutral connections on any occasion where the connection work has involved the installation of new metering equipment or alterations or additions to  existing metering equipment.

2024 Manual Update

Consultation between the Distributors and the VESI Connection Tests & Procedures Committee has led t approved changes to the VESI ITCP Manual. The January 2024 manual replaces the June 2017 version as the current manual. A letter to Stakeholders including a summary of changes is available below in at the January 2024 Changes download tab.

January 2024  Changes ISCT&P Manual 2024