National Grid Safety Rules Training Service | in Dammam - Riyadh - Jeddah - Makkah

1. Introduction to National Grid Safety Rules

1.1 Safety Rules Framework and Legal Context

• National Grid Safety Rules (NGSR) purpose including (electrical safety framework, procedural controls, risk management, competence-based, prevention)

• Legal foundation including (Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 duty of care, Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 precautions, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, enforcement)

• Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 including (Regulation 4 systems/equipment/conductors, Regulation 12 means of cutting off supply, Regulation 13 precautions for work on dead equipment, Regulation 14 work on or near live conductors)

• Duty holders including (employer duties, employee duties, contractors, competent persons, cooperation, compliance)

• Safety Rules objectives including (eliminate/reduce risk, clear procedures, competence requirements, authorization systems, documentation)

1.2 Safety Rules Structure and Organization

• Rules sections including (general rules, voltage-specific rules, specialized operations, emergency procedures, definitions)

• Voltage classifications including (Extra High Voltage EHV >132 kV, High Voltage HV 1 kV to 132 kV, Low Voltage LV up to 1000V AC/1500V DC, application)

• Rule categories including (planning and preparation, access and authorization, isolation and earthing, working procedures, restoration)

• Applicability including (all electrical work, network operations, maintenance, construction, testing, contractors)

• Relationship to other standards including (complementary to company procedures, integration with permit systems, coordination with engineering standards)

1.3 Safety Culture and Human Factors

• Safety culture principles including (leadership commitment, personal responsibility, reporting culture, continuous improvement, just culture)

• Human factors including (error likelihood, fatigue, distraction, complacency, violation temptation, attention to detail)

• Error prevention including (procedures, verification, independent checking, questioning attitude, stop work authority)

• Behavioral safety including (observation programs, intervention, positive reinforcement, hazard awareness, peer support)

• Near-miss reporting including (learning opportunities, investigation, corrective action, sharing lessons, proactive safety)

2. Risk Assessment and Work Planning

2.1 Hazard Identification

• Electrical hazards including (shock, arc flash, burns, fire, explosion, stored energy, electromagnetic fields)

• Mechanical hazards including (moving parts, rotating equipment, pressure systems, stored mechanical energy, equipment failure)

• Environmental hazards including (weather conditions, confined spaces, height working, water/flooding, temperature extremes)

• Access hazards including (site location, terrain, traffic, security, lighting, emergency egress)

• Interaction hazards including (other work activities, public proximity, communication breakdown, equipment conflicts)

2.2 Risk Assessment Process

• Risk assessment methodology including (identify hazards, determine who might be harmed, evaluate risks, record findings, review)

• Risk evaluation including (likelihood, severity, risk matrix, tolerability, hierarchy of controls, residual risk)

• Hierarchy of controls including (elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, PPE, preference order)

• Risk control measures including (isolation, earthing, barriers, permits, supervision, competence, procedures, PPE)

• Dynamic risk assessment including (field conditions, changing circumstances, reassessment, adaptation, stop work)

2.3 Work Planning and Preparation

• Work planning stages including (initial scoping, detailed planning, preparation, briefing, execution, completion)

• Planning considerations including (scope of work, duration, resources, dependencies, interfaces, contingencies)

• Pre-work information including (equipment drawings, operating diagrams, historical records, previous incidents, manufacturers' data)

• Resource requirements including (personnel competence and number, equipment and tools, vehicles and access, materials, time allocation)

• Contingency planning including (weather alternatives, equipment failure backup, emergency response, communication methods, abort criteria)

3. Competence and Authorization Systems

3.1 Competence Framework

• Competence definition including (knowledge, skills, experience, attitude, demonstrated ability, assessment)

• Competence assessment including (technical knowledge testing, practical demonstration, work observation, medical fitness, periodic reassessment)

• Training requirements including (induction, role-specific, safety rules, technical skills, refresher training, continuous development)

• Competence levels including (trainee supervised, competent independent work, authorized specific duties, senior authorized, assessor)

• Competence records including (training certificates, assessments, authorizations, medical records, experience log, currency maintenance)

3.2 Authorization Levels and Roles

• Senior Authorized Person (SAP) including (highest authorization, issues safety documents, controls switching, complex work, extensive experience)

• Authorized Person (AP) including (issues permits, supervises work, controls simple switching, localized work, demonstrated competence)

• Competent Person (CP) including (performs work independently, no authorization to control others' safety, skilled craftsperson)

• Skilled Person (SP) including (under supervision, developing competence, defined scope, progressing to CP)

• Accompanying Person including (no electrical competence, must be accompanied, visitor or trainee, controlled access only)

3.3 Authorization Documentation

• Authorization certificates including (scope of authorization, voltage levels, equipment types, geographic area, validity period, limitations)

• Periodic reauthorization including (reassessment intervals typically 3-5 years, medical renewal, currency demonstration, knowledge verification)

• Authorization withdrawal including (competence concerns, medical issues, rule violations, suspension or revocation, reinstatement process)

• Authorization records including (centralized database, verification systems, audit trail, currency tracking, reporting)

4. Safety Documentation and Control Systems

4.1 Safety Documents

• Safety Document purpose including (formal control document, authorizes access, defines safe zone, earthing arrangements, controls restoration)

• Safety Document types including (transmission safety document TSD, distribution safety document DSD, isolation certificates, specialized documents)

• Safety Document information including (document number, equipment isolated, earthing applied, boundaries, limitations, issue/receipt signatures, validity)

• Issue process including (SAP issues, verification of isolation/earthing, boundaries established, recipient signs acceptance, copy retention)

• Cancellation process including (work complete, personnel clear, recipient cancels, SAP verifies safe, restoration authorized)

4.2 Permit to Work Systems

• Permit to Work (PTW) purpose including (formal written authorization, defines work scope, specifies precautions, controls hazards, coordination)

• Permit types including (electrical permit, mechanical permit, confined space permit, hot work permit, specialized activities)

• Permit content including (work description, location, hazards, precautions, PPE, isolation points, earthing, emergency arrangements, signatures)

• Permit life cycle including (request, assessment, preparation, issue, work execution, suspension, closure, cancellation)

• Permit coordination including (multiple permits interaction, interface management, isolation coordination, simultaneous operations)

4.3 Switching Schedules and Operating Instructions

• Switching Schedule including (step-by-step switching sequence, equipment identification, position verification, signature points, approval)

• Operating Instructions including (routine operations, defined sequence, lower complexity than switching schedule, operational procedures)

• Schedule preparation including (competent person develops, checking and approval, single line diagrams, unambiguous instructions)

• Schedule execution including (authorized person, step-by-step compliance, verification each step, signing off, no deviations)

• Schedule retention including (permanent record, audit trail, incident investigation, performance review, regulatory evidence)

5. Isolation and Proving Procedures

5.1 Isolation Principles and Requirements

• Isolation definition including (separation from all sources of electrical energy, secure position, prevention of inadvertent re-energization)

• Points of isolation including (all sources identified, circuit breakers, disconnectors, fuses, links, overhead lines, cables, generators)

• Secure isolation including (isolation visible/indicator reliable, locked off/caution notices, prevention of remote operation, physical security)

• Isolation sequence including (load disconnection appropriate device, isolation all sources, secure isolation devices, verification, earthing)

5.2 Proving Dead Procedures

• Proving dead purpose including (verification absence of voltage, before earthing, before work, safety critical, confirmation)

• Approved voltage detectors including (suitable for voltage, maintained and tested, calibrated, pre-use and post-use checks)

• Proving procedure including (test detector on known live source, test all phases and conductors, test detector on live source again, three-step)

• Testing requirements including (appropriate PPE, safe access, all conductors phase-to-earth and phase-to-phase, documentation)

• Failed proving including (voltage present, do not proceed, investigate, re-isolate, reassess, competent investigation)

5.3 Limitations and Special Circumstances

• Voltage indication limitations including (induced voltage, capacitive coupling, backfeed, parallel circuits, testing methodology critical)

• Proving difficulties including (inaccessible conductors, shielded cables, high voltage equipment, alternative verification methods)

• Authorized assumption including (when proving impractical, senior authorized person, documented justification, additional precautions, earthing mandatory)

• Backfeed hazards including (parallel paths, transformers, generation, proving both sides, additional isolation points)

6. Earthing for Protection of Workers

6.1 Earthing Principles and Requirements

• Earthing purpose including (discharge capacitance, limit voltage rise, protect against inadvertent energization, provide fault path, create equipotential zone)

• When earthing required including (after proving dead, before work commences, all accessible conductors, both sides of work location visible)

• Earthing location including (as close as practicable to work, visible from work position, both sides if through work, additional earths if needed)

• Earthing sequence including (earth connection to earth first, apply to conductor, remove from conductor first, disconnect from earth last)

6.2 Earthing Equipment and Application

• Earthing equipment including (portable earth leads, clamps, earth connections, rated for fault current, regular inspection and testing)

• Earth lead sizing including (adequate for maximum fault current, duration of fault, typically 50-95 mm², standards compliance)

• Earth connections including (permanent earth bar, substation earth mat, earth electrode, verified connection, low resistance)

• Application devices including (insulated sticks rated for voltage, shotgun sticks, remote application, safe working distance, barriers)

• Multiple earths including (work area both sides, parallel circuits, induced voltages, equipotential zone, coordination)

6.3 Earthing Verification and Removal

• Earthing verification including (visual confirmation, secure connections, correct location, documented on safety document, regular checks)

• Earthing retention including (duration of work, removal only by authorized person, verification all workers clear, restoration sequence)

• Removal authorization including (work complete, safety document cancelled, restoration switching schedule, authorized person only)

• Removal procedure including (verify personnel clear, disconnect from conductors first, disconnect from earth last, storage, inspection)

7. Safe Systems of Work

7.1 Dead Working

• Dead working principles including (preferred method, eliminate electrical hazards, isolation and earthing, proving dead, permit to work)

• Dead working sequence including (isolation, proving, earthing, permit issue, work execution, permit cancellation, restoration)

• Dead working verification including (isolation complete, proving successful, earths applied, boundaries established, documentation correct)

• Dead working control including (authorized person supervision, permit holder responsibilities, worker compliance, change control)

7.2 Live Working

• Live working justification including (unreasonable for dead working, diagnose faults, measurements, nature of work, documented approval)

• Live working prohibition including (never first choice, justification required, authorized at appropriate level, additional controls mandatory)

• Live working precautions including (PPE arc-rated and insulated, insulated tools, barriers, supervision, rescue provisions, emergency arrangements)

• Live working procedures including (detailed method statements, approval, briefing, monitoring, stop work authority, documentation)

• Live working techniques including (insulated tools only, one hand working, barriers, matting, screening, proximity awareness)

7.3 Accompanied Access and Restricted Areas

• Accompanied access including (non-electrical persons, designated routes, authorized accompaniment, no contact with equipment, awareness briefing)

• Restricted areas including (high voltage equipment, danger signs, barriers physical/distance, authorized entry only, access control)

• Safety distances including (approach limits, arc flash boundaries, shock protection boundaries, equipment-specific, signage)

• Barriers and fencing including (physical demarcation, warning signs, locked access, temporary barriers for work, removal authorization)

8. Switching Operations

8.1 Switching Fundamentals

• Switching definition including (changing circuit configuration, isolation, energization, load transfer, reconfiguration, operational necessity)

• Switching authority including (authorized person minimum, senior authorized for complex, approval requirements, scheduling, documentation)

• Switching types including (operational switching routine, isolation switching for safety, emergency switching, testing switching)

• Switching equipment including (circuit breakers, disconnectors/isolators, earth switches, links, sequence importance, load capability)

8.2 Switching Procedures and Schedules

• Switching schedule requirements including (complex operations, multiple steps, equipment identification, approval, independent checking)

• Schedule content including (step-by-step instructions, equipment identification, switching device/operation, position indication, sign-off points)

• Pre-switching checks including (correct schedule, authorized person, schedule approved, equipment condition, communications established, PPE)

• Switching execution including (step-by-step compliance, verification each step, signing at designated points, no deviations, communication)

• Position verification including (local indication, remote indication, mechanical position indicators, confirmation methods, documentation)

8.3 Operating Rules and Safety

• Load switching including (appropriate device circuit breaker, load interrupting capability, not isolator under load unless designed, sequence)

• No-load switching including (isolators/disconnectors, visible break, capacitive/inductive switching considerations, safety)

• Interlocks including (mechanical, electrical, key interlocks, sequence enforcement, defeating prohibited, verification functional)

• Remote switching including (SCADA systems, local/remote selector, verification, communication, local isolation prohibition during remote)

• Emergency switching including (life safety priority, de-energization, defined authority, subsequent procedures, investigation)

9. Working at Height and Access Safety

9.1 Working at Height Regulations and Requirements

• Working at Height Regulations including (risk assessment, avoid work at height, equipment for work at height, prevent falls, fall arrest)

• Height work hierarchy including (eliminate work at height, use work equipment prevent falls, mitigate distance/consequences of fall)

• Fall protection systems including (guardrails, platforms, scaffolds, fall arrest, work positioning, collective protection preferred)

• Competence for height work including (training, medical fitness, rescue training, equipment inspection, supervision)

9.2 Access Equipment and Fall Protection

• Access equipment types including (scaffolds, mobile elevated work platforms MEWPs, ladders, rope access, towers, platforms)

• Scaffold requirements including (competent erection, inspection, load capacity, guardrails, access, tagging, periodic inspection)

• MEWPs including (operator training, pre-use checks, outriggers, harness anchor, ground conditions, weather limits, rescue plan)

• Ladder safety including (angle 1:4, extend 1 meter above, secured, three-point contact, short duration only, limitations)

• Fall arrest equipment including (full-body harness, lanyards, anchor points, shock absorbers, inspection, training, rescue)

9.3 Overhead Line Work and Tower Access

• Tower access procedures including (authorization, inspection, climbing equipment, fall protection, tools/materials raising, weather limits)

• Live line working including (hot stick methods, insulated tools, barriers, minimum approach distances, specialized training, supervision)

• Conductor proximity including (maintain clearances, phase identification, earthing equipment, induced voltages, flashover risk)

• Rescue arrangements including (plans specific to location, trained rescue personnel, equipment available, practice drills, emergency contact)

10. Substation Safety and Operations

10.1 Substation Access and Site Safety

• Substation types including (transmission, primary, distribution, outdoor, indoor, GIS gas-insulated switchgear, voltages)

• Access control including (authorized entry only, key access, fencing, locked gates, signage, visitor escorting, security)

• Site hazards including (electrical shock, arc flash, mechanical equipment, confined spaces, height, traffic, environmental)

• Site rules including (PPE requirements, mobile phone restrictions, vehicle movement, housekeeping, prohibited items, emergency procedures)

10.2 Switchgear and Equipment Safety

• Switchgear types including (air-insulated AIS, gas-insulated GIS, circuit breakers, disconnectors, earthing switches, control panels)

• Switchgear operation including (local/remote control, interlocks, indication, stored energy, operating mechanisms, safety)

• Busbar protection including (differential protection, barriers, compartmentalization, segregation, access control)

• Equipment inspection including (visual checks, oil levels, SF₆ pressure, temperature, abnormal sounds/smells, reporting defects)

10.3 Cable Installations and Cable Cellars

• Cable types including (single-core, three-core, shielded, pressurized, oil-filled, voltage ratings, identification)

• Cable route hazards including (confined space cable cellars/ducts, flooding, oxygen deficiency, SF₆ accumulation, access difficulties)

• Cable work safety including (identification verification, proving dead both ends, earthing, cable route knowledge, avoid damage)

• Cable cellar entry including (confined space procedures, atmospheric testing, ventilation, communication, attendant, rescue, authorization)

11. Emergency Procedures and Incident Response

11.1 Electrical Emergency Procedures

• Emergency types including (electric shock, arc flash injury, fire, equipment failure, public safety incident, environmental release)

• Immediate actions including (raise alarm, make safe if possible, rescue if safe, emergency services, first aid, incident management)

• De-energization authority including (emergency situations, life safety priority, defined personnel, subsequent notification, investigation)

• Scene safety including (approach hazards, further danger, secure area, prevent public access, await emergency services if unsafe)

11.2 Rescue and First Aid

• Electrical shock rescue including (assess scene safety, de-energize if possible, non-conductive separation, CPR/AED, emergency services)

• Arc flash injury including (suppress fire, cool burns, remove non-adhered clothing, medical attention mandatory, specialist treatment)

• First aid training including (CPR certified, AED use, electrical injuries, burns, trauma, emergency protocols, refresher training)

• Rescue equipment including (rescue hooks non-conductive, fire extinguishers, first aid kits, AED, blankets, communications, accessibility)

• Emergency contact including (emergency services 999/911, site emergency contacts, escalation procedures, medical facilities, incident reporting)

11.3 Incident Investigation and Reporting

• Incident reporting requirements including (immediate notification supervisor, formal reporting, regulatory reporting RIDDOR, internal systems, timeliness)

• Investigation process including (scene preservation, evidence collection, witness statements, root cause analysis, contributing factors)

• Root cause analysis including (5 Whys, fishbone diagram, timeline reconstruction, procedural review, human factors, systemic issues)

• Corrective actions including (immediate, short-term, long-term, procedural changes, training, equipment, implementation verification)

• Lessons learned including (sharing across organization, safety alerts, procedure updates, training incorporation, cultural learning)

12. Cable Fault Location and Repair

12.1 Cable Fault Identification

• Fault types including (short-circuit, earth fault, open circuit, insulation deterioration, mechanical damage, sheath damage)

• Fault location methods including (time domain reflectometry TDR, Murray loop, impulse methods, cable route tracing, excavation)

• Safety during fault location including (equipment earthed, proving dead, authorized testing, controlled energization, voltage hazards)

• Testing equipment including (TDR, hi-pot tester, Murray bridge, insulation tester, calibrated, competent operator)

12.2 Cable Jointing and Termination

• Cable jointing types including (straight joints, transition joints, pressure systems, heat-shrink, cold-applied, manufacturer specifications)

• Jointing procedures including (cable preparation, conductor connection, insulation, shielding, sheath, testing, quality assurance)

• Termination installation including (stress control, outdoor/indoor terminations, phase identification, creepage distance, electrical testing)

• Safety precautions including (cable identification verification, proving dead, earthing both sides, sheath voltage testing, explosion risk)

12.3 Cable System Commissioning

• Pre-commissioning tests including (insulation resistance, hi-pot/voltage withstand, partial discharge, sheath integrity, conductor continuity)

• Test standards including (manufacturer specifications, IEC standards, acceptance criteria, temperature correction, documentation)

• Energization procedure including (earths removed, switching schedule, phased energization, monitoring, load application gradual)

• Post-energization checks including (current measurement, phase rotation, voltage levels, temperature, abnormal conditions, documentation)

13. Protection Systems and Safety Interfaces

13.1 Protection System Fundamentals

• Protection purposes including (fault detection, isolation, equipment protection, personnel safety, system stability, selective coordination)

• Protection types including (overcurrent, earth fault, differential, distance, under/over voltage, under/over frequency, specialized)

• Protection relays including (electromechanical, static, numerical/digital, settings, testing, maintenance, reliability)

• Circuit breaker tripping including (protection relay operation, direct trip, time-graded, instantaneous, backup protection)

13.2 Safety Interlocks and Blocking

• Interlock systems including (mechanical, electrical, key interlocks, access interlocks, sequence enforcement, safety critical)

• Key interlock schemes including (trapped key, key exchange, unique keys, sequence control, access control, authorized override limited)

• Access interlocks including (switchgear doors, earthing switches, high voltage chambers, position verification, failure modes safe)

• Blocking and permissive schemes including (prevent unauthorized operation, remote/local selection, maintenance mode, communication-based)

13.3 Protection Testing and Maintenance

• Protection testing including (primary injection, secondary injection, relay calibration, settings verification, tripping circuits)

• Test safety including (isolation of protection circuits, risk assessment, simulation not actual faults, labeling, restoration verification)

• Settings management including (protection coordination studies, documented settings, change control, commissioning verification, periodic review)

• Functional testing including (end-to-end testing, trip testing, alarm testing, indication, communication, annual/periodic requirements)

14. Environmental and Public Safety

14.1 Environmental Hazards and Protection

• SF₆ gas safety including (asphyxiant, heavier than air, confined space hazard, leak detection, handling procedures, disposal)

• Oil spill prevention including (transformer oil, switch oil, containment, bunding, spill kits, environmental regulations, reporting)

• PCB awareness including (legacy equipment, health hazards, identification, specialized disposal, regulations, awareness)

• Noise control including (transformer hum, circuit breaker operation, construction activities, community impact, mitigation)

14.2 Public Safety and Interference

• Public proximity including (overhead lines, substations, cables, safety distances, warning signs, barriers, emergency contact)

• Danger notices including (statutory warning signs, high voltage symbols, restricted access, emergency contact, placement requirements)

• Third-party activities including (construction near overhead lines, excavation near cables, cranes/equipment clearances, notifications, supervision)

• Public contact incidents including (immediate response, emergency services, de-energization, scene safety, investigation, prevention)

14.3 Electromagnetic Fields (EMF)

• EMF exposure including (electric fields, magnetic fields, power frequency 50/60 Hz, exposure limits ICNIRP, assessment)

• EMF management including (exposure assessment, high field areas, time limitation, distance, occupational versus public limits)

• Measurement and monitoring including (field meters, calculation methods, worst-case assessment, compliance verification, documentation)

• Control measures including (distance from sources, time limitation, engineering controls, shielding limited effectiveness at power frequency)

15. Audit, Compliance, and Continuous Improvement

15.1 Safety Rule Compliance Monitoring

• Compliance audits including (scheduled audits, work observations, documentation review, interviews, random sampling, scoring)

• Audit scope including (rule compliance, competence verification, documentation quality, equipment condition, corrective actions)

• Audit frequency including (routine periodic, incident-triggered, new procedures, high-risk activities, management review)

• Non-compliance management including (identification, severity grading, corrective action, investigation if serious, tracking, closure)

15.2 Performance Indicators and Reporting

• Safety performance indicators including (lost-time injuries, near-misses, audit scores, training compliance, competence currency)

• Leading indicators including (safety observations, hazard reports, near-miss reporting rate, training hours, audit participation)

• Lagging indicators including (injury rates, incident severity, equipment failures, rule violations, investigation findings)

• Reporting including (monthly reports, trend analysis, management review, regulatory reporting, benchmarking, transparency)

15.3 Continuous Improvement Process

• Improvement identification including (incident investigation, audits, worker feedback, near-miss analysis, industry developments, technology)

• Procedure revision including (change control, consultation, approval, communication, training, implementation, effectiveness review)

• Lessons learned program including (internal incidents, industry incidents, safety alerts, knowledge sharing, database, access)

• Safety culture development including (leadership visible commitment, worker engagement, reporting culture, recognition, accountability, learning organization)