Electrical protective measures for working on or near an overhead contact line system and/or its associated return circuit

BS EN 50488:2020 pdf free.Railway applications – Fixed installations一 Electrical protective measures for working on or near an overhead contact line system and/or its associated return circuit.
The planned work activity, the relevant risks and associated protective measures identified in the assessment shall be checked to ensure they are still valid before starting the work activity.
4.1.3 Creating an electrically safe work environment
Before starting any work activity, protective measures to prevent electrical danger shall be implemented. The requirements in case of dead working are set out in 5.2 and the requirements for working near hazardous-live-parts are set out in 5.3. If new electrical hazards are identified during the creation of the electrically safe work environment, additional protective measures shall be implemented to prevent electrical danger.
The responsibility for creating an electrically safe work environment may be assigned to EW or WA as determined during the planning of the work activities.
4.1.4 Maintaining the electrically safe work environment during work activities
During any work activity the effectiveness of the protective measures shall be checked in accordance with the plan of the work activities.
If new electrical hazards are identified during the work activities, additional protective measures shall be implemented to prevent electrical danger and recorded in the plan.
The responsibility for maintaining an electrically safe work environment may be assigned to EW or to WA as determined during the planning of the work activities.
4.1.5 Restoring the planned operating condition
At the end of the work activities and before restoring the planned operating condition, a check shall be done to ensure that:
• personnel and associated tools, equipment and materials are located in a position of safety:
• the electrical installation is available to be re-energized.
Once the above conditions are fulfilled, protective measures shall be removed in accordance with the plan of the woik activities and the electrical installation can be re-energized.
4.2 Personnel
All personnel involved in a work activity on or near overhead contact line system and/or its return circuit shall be instructed in. and shall comply with, the safety requirements, rules and instructions applicable to their work.
National legislation can set out the minimum criteria for competence of persons.
Where there are no national requirements for competence of persons, the following criteria shall be used in assessing the competence of persons:
• knowledge of electricity:
• experience of electrical work;
Responsibilities, competence criteria for designated, skilled and instructed persons regarding electrical safety shall be defined and documented unless stated by legislation.
No person shall undertake any work activity where technical knowledge or experience is needed to prevent electrical danger, unless that person has such technical knowledge or experience, or is under such supervision as is necessary for the work undertaken.
4.3 Organization
4.3.1 General
This subclause describes the requirements for the following personnel:
• Designated person in control of an electrical installation (El);
• Designated person in control of an electrical installation during work activities (EW);
• Designated person in control of a work activity (WA).
Responsibilities for the personnel mentioned directly above shall be identified and documented for the scope, the part of the overhead contact line system and/or its return circuit and the timescale.
A single person may undertake the duties of the El, EW and WA.
Where the work activity is subdivided according to the plan of the activities, it is permitted to designate a person to be responsible for the safety of each subdivision, all under the responsibility of one coordinating person.
There shall be procedures in place to enable any person involved in the work activity who objects to carrying out any instruction or work activity for reasons of electrical safety, to report those objections immediately to the WA. The designated person shall initiate investigation on the matter, and if necessary consult a higher authority for a decision.
Responsibilities for management of the return circuit can be shared by different technical disciplines (e.g. where running rails are part of the return circuit or where impedance bonding for signalling is a part of the return circuit).
4.3.2 Designated person In control of an electrical installation (El)
Each electrical installation shall be placed under the responsibility of a person, the El.
Where two or more electrical installations under different Els come together (e.g. connected or adjacent), there shall be formal arrangements for consultation and cooperation between these persons to ensure electrical safety.
4.3.3 Designated person in control of an electrical installation during work activity (EW)
The EW shall control their part of the installation giving authorization to start the work activity to the WA according to the plan of the work activity.
Where two or more electrical installations come together (e.g. connected or adjacent), formal arrangements to ensure electrical safety shall be in place which specifies the arrangements for consultation and cooperation between the EWs.
4.3.4 Designated person in control of work activity (WA)
Each work activity shall be the responsibility of the WA.
Where the work activity is subdivided according to the plan of the activities, it is permitted to designate a person to be responsible for the safety of each subdivision, all under the responsibility of one coordinating person.
Before any work activity is started and during that work activity, the WA shall:
• instruct all persons engaged in the work activities of all electrical hazards identified during risk assessment and all additional hazards, if any, identified when creating an electrically safe work environment;
• instruct all persons engaged in the work activities of all protective measures which are relevant to them;
• check that the instruction is understood in a traceable way;
• repeat these instructions during the course of the work where necessary (e.g. in case of long duration
work activity or complex activities…);
• ensure that all relevant requirements, rules and instructions are complied with.
4.4 CommunIcation
Communication includes every way in which information is passed or exchanged between persons e.g. by spoken word (including telephone, personal radio, and person to person), in writing (including, e.g. fax or e-mail), and visually (including visual display units, warning panels, lights etc.).
During the primary steps, described in 4.1, information exchanged when working on or near the overhead contact line and return circuit, shall comply with the following general rules:
• the exchange is between the correct persons in accordance with the plan for an electrically safe work environment;
• there is a record of the exchange which is traceable;
• the information is accurate and unambiguous;
• errors are not introduced during exchange.
All necessary information such as network arrangements, the status of switchgear (open, close, earthed), and the position of safety devices, to permit the work activity to be carried out safely on or near the overhead contact line system and/or its associated return circuit shall be transmitted by a written notification (including electronic forms). To avoid errors when information is verbally transmitted the recipient shall repeat the information back to the sender, who shall ensure it has been correctly received and understood. It shall not be allowed to start work or re-energize the contact line system after completion of the work, by signals or by a prearranged agreement on an interval of time.
In case of personnel speaking different languages, and to ensure understanding and comprehensibility, the agreed language that relevant parties understand shall be determined in advance.
4.5 Work location
The work location is the place, fixed or mobile, where the workers are permitted to be present while they are undertaking their task, for example:
the ground;
a platform on the roof of a trolley which is on the track;
a fixed platform on a mast for work on a switch or disconnector;
a mobile platform of an elevator;
a roof of a building or canopy in a station;
a stairway or fixed or mobile ladder besides the overhead contact line;
a three-dimensions movable working platform (“cherry picker”).BS EN 50488 pdf download.Electrical protective measures for working on or near an overhead contact line system and/or its associated return circuit