Safety provisions in the Electricity Acts
and Rules
Presented by
Nitish Singh
1
Agenda
• Electrical Safety
• Statutory Safety provisions
• Reasons of accidents
• Case studies
• Provision of penalty on breach of Acts and Rules
• Suggestions
• Conclusion
2
Electrical Safety
• 53(a) of the Electricity Act 2003
– Provisions relating to safety and electricity supply
• (1) The Authority may in consultation with the State
Government, specify suitable measures for –
– (a) protecting the public (including the persons engaged in
the generation, transmission or distribution or trading) from
dangers arising from the generation, transmission or
distribution or trading of electricity, or use of electricity
supplied or installation, maintenance or use of any electric
line or electrical plant.
– (b) eliminating or reducing the risks of personal injury to any
person, or damage to property of any person or interference
with use of such property.
3
Electrical Safety
• 185 of the Electricity Act 2003
– Repeal and saving
– (2) Notwithstanding such repeal, :-
– (c) Indian Electricity Rules, 1956 made under section 37 of the
Indian Electricity Act, 1910 as it stood before such repeal shall
continue to be in force till the regulations under section 53 of this
Act are made.
4
Statutory Safety Provisions
• I.E. Rule – 3, Sub rule – (6):
• In every registered factory, where more than 250 KW
of electrical load is connected, there shall be a person
authorized by the management of the factory for
ensuring the observance of the safety provisions laid
under the Act and the rules made there under, who
shall periodically inspect such installation, get them
tested and keep a record thereof and such records
shall be made available to the Inspector [or any officer
of a specified rank and class appointed to assist the
Inspector], if and when required.
5
Statutory Safety Provisions
• I.E. Rule – 3, Sub rule – (7):
All suppliers of electricity including generating companies,
transmission companies and distribution companies shall
appoint a safety officer for proper observance of safety
measures in their organization in construction, operation
and maintenance of power station, sub-station,
transmission and distribution lines.
6
Statutory Safety Provisions
• Rule 3, Sub-Rule (2)
– No person shall be authorized under sub-rule (1) unless he is
competent to perform the duties assigned to him and possesses
either an appropriate certificate of competency or permit to work.
(Many of the accidents involve helpers.)
7
Statutory Safety Provisions
• Rule 45. Precautions to be adopted by consumers,
owners, occupiers, electrical contractors, electrical
workmen and suppliers:-
– (1) No electrical installation work ……shall be carried out
….. a person holding a certificate of competency and by a
person holding a permit issued or recognized by the State
Government
– (2) No electrical installation work which has been carried out
in contravention of sub-rule(1) shall not be energized or
connected to the works of any supplier.
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Statutory Safety Provisions
• Rule – 9 Records of tests available with
the owner for
inspection.
• Rule – 29 Adequate ratings of the Electrical
Installation as per Indian
Standards.
• Rule – 30 Service line and apparatus of the
supplier on consumer’s
premises.
• Rule – 31 Isolating arrangement by supplier.
• Rule – 33 Earthing system.
• Rule – 34 Accessibility of bare conductors
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Statutory Safety Provisions
• Rule – 35 Danger Notice.
• Rule – 36 Handling of electric supply lines and apparatus.
• Rule – 41 Distinction of different circuits.
• Rule – 42 Prevention of accidental charge.
• Rule – 43 Protection equipment, Fire buckets, First aid box
• Rule – 44 Instructions for restoration of persons suffering
. from electric shock
• Sec 161 of Electricity Act 2003. ( The intimation of accidents (forms and
time of service notice) Rules, 2004.
» Procedures for intimation of accidents.
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Statutory Safety Provisions
• Rule – 45 Execution of electrical installation
works.
• Rule – 46 Periodical inspection and testing of
‘ equipment's.
• Rule – 63 Approval by Inspector
• Rule – 64 to 92
» Relating to distribution of HT system
safety, clearance etc.
…. and many more.
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Other Provisions
• 47. Testing of consumer’s installation
• 47A. Installation and Testing of Generating Units
• 48. Precautions against leakage before connection
• 49. Leakage on consumer’s premises
• 50. Supply and use of energy
• 50A. Additional provisions for supply and use of
energy in multi-story building (more than 15 meters in
height)
• 51. Provisions applicable to medium, high or extra-
high voltage installations 12
Other provisions
• ELECTRIC SUPPLY LINES, SYSTEMS AND
APPARATUS FOR LOW AND MEDIUM VOLTAGES
– 60. Test for resistance of insulation
– 61. Connection with earth
– 61A. Earth leakage protective device
– 62. Systems at medium voltage
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Other provisions
• OVERHEAD LINES, UNDER GROUND CABLES AND GENERATING
STATIONS
– 74. Material and strength
– 75. Joints
– 76. Maximum stresses: Factors of safety
– 77. Clearance above ground of the lowest conductor
– 78. Clearance between conductors and trolley wires
– 79. Clearances from buildings of low and medium voltage lines and
service lines
– 80. Clearances from buildings of high and extra-high voltage lines
– 81. Conductors at different voltages on same supports
– 82. Erection of or alternation to buildings, structures, flood banks and
elevation of roads
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Other provisions
• 82A. Transporting and Storing of material near overhead lines
• 83. Clearances: General
• 84. Routes: Proximity to aerodromes
• 85. Maximum interval between supports
• 86. Conditions to apply where telecommunication lines and power lines are
carried on same supports
• 87. Lines crossing or approaching each other
• 88. Guarding
• 89. Service-lines from Overhead lines
• 90. Earthing
• 91. Safety and protective devices
• 92. Protection against lightning
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• 93. Unused overhead lines
Other Rules/Standards
• Beside above I.E. Rule, the following code of practice as per
I.S. & Standards shall be referred for construction.
Operation & maintenance of lines / sub-stations.
• Code of practice for Earthing (IS3043 – 1966)
• Code of practice for installation & maintenance of
transformer (IS1886 – 1961)
• Code of practice for selection, installation and maintenance
of transformers (IS10028 part-III – 1981)
• Specification of insulating oil for transformers and
switchgear (IS335 – 1963)
• Code of practice for maintenance of insulating oil (IS1866 –
1961)
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Other Rules/Standards
• Guide for safety procedure and practices in electrical work
(IS5216 – 1969)
• R.E.C. safety manual 3/1974
• R.E.C. specifications and construction standards 1/1971 &
1981
• R.E.C. manual 6/1976 installation & maintenance manual
for 33/11 KV sub-station.
• R.E.C. manual 7/1975 maintenance manual for 33 KV, 11
KV lines, medium & low voltage lines.
• R.E.C. manual 10/1976 manual for design of 33/11 KV sub-
stations for rural electrification system.
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Reasons of accidents
• Snapping of Conductors.
• Accidental contact with live electric wire / equipment.
• Violation / neglect of safety measures / lack of supervisions.
• Defective appliances / apparatus / tools.
• Inadequate / lack of maintenance.
• Unauthorised work / Sub-standard construction.
• Others reasons (inadequate knowledge / training of the
work force, leakage of current etc.)
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Snapping of conductors
• Snapping of Conductors attributed to
– Ageing of conductors / insulators.
– Improper sag.
– Non-standard spans.
– Inadequate supervision during construction and monitoring
thereafter.
– Inadequate maintenance.
– Non-availability of skilled manpower and tools to carry out
repair works etc.
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Snapping of Conductors
• Remedial measures:
– Proper inspection during construction and before energisation
followed by regular monitoring.
– History of the line is to be built up as a data base to asses the
ageing of conductors / insulators.
– Replacement of aged conductors / insulators wherever warranted.
– Maintaining the standard spans and proper stringing
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Accidental contact with live electric wire / equipment
This happens to mostly with the employees / operating
staff of the utilities. It has been estimated that about 11% of
total reported cases / fatalities are due to accidental contact with
live system
– Operating staff not properly skilled / trained.
– Similarly, the work is not being supervised by qualified personnel
– Inadequate ground clearance / operational clearance of the live parts.
– Ignorance about the discharging line / equipment before starting of
maintenance work / repair works.
– Error in isolation of supply.
– Non-availability of safety tools & devices (as per IE Rule 36)
– Absence of clear instructions and supervision i.e. standard codified
maintenance manuals should be prepared which will guide the maintenance
personnel to follow the standard instruction including line clearance / return
procedure. 21
Violation/neglect of safety measures/lack of supervision
• Formulation of safety policy
• Training to the workforce
• Enforcement of safety practices
• Adequate supervision
• Fast acting protection relays / releases may be
considered for distribution lines.
22
Unauthorized work/ defective appliance/apparatus/tools
• Around 6 to 7% of the reported cases of accidents / fatalities is
due to the reason of un-authorized work / defective appliances /
apparatus etc.
• Unauthorized work should be checked in accordance with the
various available legal / mandatory provisions.
• Scrupulous follow up of various quality control orders of Govt.
may help in reducing the large number of accidents caused by
sub-standard appliances / equipment.
• The owners of the installation should provide approved type of
safety tools and protective equipment to operating staff /
workmen and ensure use of safety devices.
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Present Scenario
180
160
140
120 2009-10
100 2010-11
2011-12
80
2012-13
60 2013-14
40
20
0
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Analysis of Voltage class
1% 7%
32%
EHV
33 KV
11 KV HT
MV
60%
25
Case Studies
• Electrical accident of Mini bus
– Due to contact of luggage carrier along with a bicycle with
one of the conductor of a 11 KV feeder under SOUTHCO
– Low height of the conductor : 3.51m < 6.1m
– 1 fatal, 15 no-fatal.
• Electrical accident of villager
– Physical contact with live conductor
– Low height of the LT line due to damage of pin binding.1
fatal
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Provision of penalty on breach of Acts and
Rules
• 142. non-compliance of directions by Appropriate Commission.
In case any complaint is filed before the Appropriate Commission by any
person or if that Commission is satisfied that any person has contravened
any provisions of this Act or rules or regulations made thereunder, or any
direction issued by the Commission, the appropriate Commission may after
giving such person an opportunity of being heard in the matter, by order in
writing, direct that, without prejudice to any other penalty to which he may
be liable under this Act, such person shall pay, by way of penalty, which
shall not exceed one lakh rupees for each contravention and in case of a
continuing failure with an additional penalty which may extend to six
thousand rupees for every day during which the failure continues after
contravention of the first such direction.
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Provision of penalty on breach of Acts
and Rules
• 146. Punishment for non-compliance of orders or directions.
Whoever, fails to comply with any order or direction given under
this Act, within such time as may be specified in the said order
or direction or contravenes or attempts or abets the
contravention of any of the provisions of this Act or any rules or
regulations made thereunder, shall be punishable with
imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or
with fine, which may extend to one lakh rupees, or with both in
respect of each offence and in the case of a continuing failure,
with an additional fine which may extend to five thousand
rupees for every day during which the failure continues after
conviction of the first such offence.
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Suggestions
– The divisional office, sub-divisional office and section office shall display
telephone nos. of the key persons and area Electrical Inspector / Deputy
Electrical Inspectors / Asst. Electrical Inspectors for general public so that
information on accidents can be reported by the any public.
– Training and skill development of the workforce shall be a mandatory activity of
the utilities.
– Prepare and follow a maintenance manual for lines and sub-stations. The
manual must include the procedure of taking line clearance (LC) & LC returns.
– District administration need to ensure electrical safety clearance certificates on
every temporary connection given to Melas, Yatras, Exhibitions etc. (The
accident like Madhuban (Baripada) fire hazards & fatalities may not be
repeated)
– All the utilities shall be advised to prepare a safety manual for their activities and
specify the functions and responsibilities of each category of involved
personnel / Officers. The safety office of the utilities has the responsibilities to
oversee to the adherence of the duties / functions.
– Avoid misuses of danger board / danger notice. Use in the appropriate places to
create the potentially of electricity danger.
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Need of the hour
• The accident figures of the past few years indicates a
rising trend.
• Need to reduce (eliminate) accidents and fatalities
• Detailed study on the subject to identify the causes and
adopt remedial measures
• Un-stinted support from DISTCOS for complying to
statutory safety requirements.
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Neither safety nor accidents happen …....they are both
caused by us
Thank You !
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