Inspect electrical substation plant and apparatus in the power industry
Overview
This standard is about inspecting electrical plant and apparatus in substations in an electricity power utilities environment. Inspections could be of any plant or apparatus in a substation. This could apply to both electrical transmission or electrical distribution networks and could typically apply to voltages from low voltage up to and including transmission voltages such as 400,000 volts. Networks could be aligned with systems using traditional or emerging energy technologies.
This standard includes confirming safety documents and instructions, carrying out risk assessments, checking the system is safe to work on, carrying out inspections, carrying out tests before, during and after inspections, dealing with faults and unexpected test results, checking completed inspections, confirming safety requirements before reenergisation and completing documentation.
This standard is for crafts persons or technicians working for network owners or operators or their sub-contractors who are responsible for inspecting electrical plant and apparatus in substations on electrical networks. This could be carried out by people with different levels of network operational authorisation, but in each case, they will be required to have the degree of supervision which is required for their individual level of authority.
Performance Criteria
You must be able to:
identify the work location using system information in line with organisational procedures
carry out all work within the remits of own authority and under the supervision of suitably authorised personnel when required
receive and confirm safety documents and instructions about inspection activities to be carried out in line with organisational procedures
carry out site specific risk assessments of work areas and condition of plant and apparatus to be inspected, identifying hazards and required control measures in line with organisational procedures
check the system is confirmed as safe to work on in line with organisational operational safety rules
communicate the status of substation plant and apparatus inspections to affected parties and designated people when required and in line with organisational procedures
use approved tools, equipment and consumables to inspect substation plant and apparatus in line with organisational procedures
work in line with health and safety, environmental and other relevant regulations, directives and guidance at all times
inspect substation plant and apparatus in line with workplan, safety instructions and organisational procedures
carry out testing procedures before, during and after inspections in line with organisational procedures
identify and deal with faults and unexpected test results in line with organisational procedures
check inspections comply with organisational specifications and have caused no damage to plant and apparatus
complete documentation for substation plant and apparatus inspections in line with organisational procedures
confirm inspected plant and apparatus meet safety requirements before energisation of inspected plant and apparatus or reenergisation of the network
leave work areas in a safe condition in line with organisational procedures
deal with network issues and complications in line with safety and organisational procedures
escalate issues that you cannot resolve to the designated person in line with organisational procedures when required
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
Electrical power principles including three phase alternating current and direct current theories; voltage; dynamic and static engineering systems; application of electrical and electronic circuit theory and interfaces between the system voltage
Electricity network design, construction, capabilities, complexities, operations, boundaries, topologies and control boundaries
Apparatus which makes up the transmission or distribution network and the design, operation, function and limitations of transmission or distribution plant and equipment, substations, transformers, overhead lines, switchgear and auxiliary equipment
Standard terminology, abbreviations and nomenclature in relation to substation plant and apparatus and inspection techniques
The regulatory requirements associated with safety while carrying out work associated in power networks on substation plant and apparatus
How to assess the location and structure and safe procedures for access, egress and proximity to live equipment
The general and inherent dangers of working with electrical systems of different voltages under outage and non-outage conditions and required measures to address them
Organisational procedures and safety instructions for receiving and confirming operational, network related instructions in normal and fault conditions, including remote and emerging technological advances
The principles of pre task and point of work dynamic risk assessment, when they are required and how to carry them out and record findings
Operational restrictions, their purpose and actions to be taken and how to recognise and use physical signage and network diagram indicators
Who to notify about network related operations, when to notify them and organisational procedures for doing so
Electricity network principles of operation of substations in normal and fault conditions and associated protective devices and their indicators in the event of system fault scenarios
Sources of system information and how to interpret them to identify points of isolation and earthing arrangements including system diagrams, work instructions, fault logs, protection data
The sequence of processes, procedures, stages and operational safety rules relating to inspection activity
The environmental impact of disposal, organisational decontamination procedures and what to do if things go wrong, including the use of spill kits
The approved plant, apparatus, tools and consumables required for substation plant and apparatus inspection and how to obtain, inspect, prepare, carry out pre-use checks, use, maintain and store them
Temporary or standby auxiliary supplies, when they are required and how to use them
Inspection procedures and techniques for plant and apparatus including transformers, switchgear, package substation, low voltage frames, panel wiring, batteries and chargers, cable, low voltage apparatus, automation equipment, switchgear housing, busbars, circuit breakers, tap changers, isolators, compressed air equipment, neutral earthing resistors, vacuum equipment, isolators, interrupter heads, TX dehydrationand other bespoke equipment
Indicators of faults and actions to take when unexpected test results or faults are identified
Safety, earthing and bonding materials and where and when they should be applied
The purpose of checks and tests for substation electrical plant and apparatus, when they are required and how to carry them out including visual checks, functional checks, electrical tests, remote monitoring and digital fault finding
Organisational procedures and systems for recording and storing operational information and to meet cybersecurity and data governance requirements, including role-based access, secure storage, audit logging, data retention
The route to authorisation and supervision at different levels and the training, experience and certification required for your role
Inspect electrical substation plant and apparatus in the power industry
Overview
This standard is about inspecting electrical plant and apparatus in substations in an electricity power utilities environment. Inspections could be of any plant or apparatus in a substation. This could apply to both electrical transmission or electrical distribution networks and could typically apply to voltages from low voltage up to and including transmission voltages such as 400,000 volts. Networks could be aligned with systems using traditional or emerging energy technologies.
This standard includes confirming safety documents and instructions, carrying out risk assessments, checking the system is safe to work on, carrying out inspections, carrying out tests before, during and after inspections, dealing with faults and unexpected test results, checking completed inspections, confirming safety requirements before reenergisation and completing documentation.
This standard is for crafts persons or technicians working for network owners or operators or their sub-contractors who are responsible for inspecting electrical plant and apparatus in substations on electrical networks. This could be carried out by people with different levels of network operational authorisation, but in each case, they will be required to have the degree of supervision which is required for their individual level of authority.
Performance Criteria
You must be able to:
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand: