This article was posted 06/14/2006 and is most likely outdated.

Personal Protective Grounding for Electric Power Facilities and Power Lines
 

 
Topic - Grounding and Bonding
Subject - Personal Protective Grounding for Electric Power Facilities and Power Lines

June 14, 2006  

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Personal Protective Grounding for Electric Power Facilities and Power Lines

 

 

We are pleased to offer a free 83-page download from the US Department of Interior dealing with one aspect of the fascinating topic of high-voltage work protocol – specifically personal protective grounding.

 

imageIn generating plants, pumping facilities, substations and on transmission lines, enormous voltages and available fault currents can be present at the wrong time and the wrong place with tragic consequences.

 

Of course before workers contact or even approach these awesome conductors to make repairs, everything is de-energized with complete lock and tag procedures in place. But so catastrophic are the results of error, that a whole second layer of protection is needed. This highly informative document deals with the intentional temporary grounding of all de-energized lines before work begins.

 

The greatest danger is from switching error – power is restored before workers are clear. Other sources of hazardous energy are stored energy from capacitors, static build-up, faulted equipment, electromagnetic coupling, high-voltage testing and instrument transformer backfeed. In all cases, the procedures set forth in this PDF document on Personal Protective Grounding will assure a safe work environment even if lines or equipment are exposed to applied voltage.

 

Click here to download the entire Personal Protective Grounding for Electric Power Facilities and Power Lines provided by the US Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation.

 

 

                                                 

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Comments
  • This reminds me of air assault operations in the Army. Ground the vehicle, gun, tank, etc., using a hook wired to a stake in the ground The stake, an aluminum tent stake, was often driven no more than a few inches into the dry dirt, thin 22 AWG or so commo wire was your lead, and a wood mop handle with a piece of metal on the end completed the grounding tool. Nothing bonded, unless duct taping bare wire to a corroded or painted surface counts as a bond...

    The amount of static electricity generated by a helicopter is amazing. It's a miracle we all weren't killed, especially with fueled vehicles full of ammo involved too.

    I saw more than one ground rod man get launched with a big flash on pick up or drop off. You could barely see anything in the swirling prop washed dust as the helicopter lowered the 8-ton cannon or 5-ton truck full of powder, primers, and shells. Then there would be illumination and you'd look to find the ground stick, see if it was still in one piece, see where the man landed, and try again.

    I must have more lives than a cat. Knowing the Army, they probably still do it this way. I don't think they get many EE grads or licenced Electricians in the combat arms...

    Matt

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