hsep0915 - sf6 management

HSEP0915 – SF6 ManagementPurpose:

To provide a procedure for managing environmental risks associated with the purchase, storage, transport, transfer, use, and disposal of SF6 and satisfy reporting requirements.

Table of Content

1 SCOPE and OBJECTIVES..............................................................................................2PROCESS DETAIL................................................................................................................21 1 Overview.................................................................................................................22 Hydro Liability for SF6.................................................................................................23 Contaminated SF6......................................................................................................24 Purchasing................................................................................................................. 2

4.1 Considerations for Purchasing 24.2 Receipt of SF6 3

5 Storage.......................................................................................................................35.1 Precautions During Storage 35.2 SF6 Inventories 35.3 Labelling of Cylinders 45.4 Storage of equipment containing SF6 45.5 Transport 45.6 Transfer 5

6 Use of SF6..................................................................................................................56.1 Safe Work Practices 56.2 Personal Protective Equipment 66.3 Precautions During Handling 66.4 Spill Management 6

7 Monitoring.................................................................................................................68 Waste Management and Disposal.............................................................................79 ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES........................................................................................710 DEFINITIONS..............................................................................................................711 RELATED DOCUMENTS & RESOURCES.......................................................................812 REVISION HISTORY.....................................................................................................8Appendix A – SF6 spill Emergency Response Process…………………………………………………………8

Hydro Tasmania DocumentOwner(s): OH&S Manager;

Environment ManagerRevision 1

Approver: Manager – Sustainability and Safety Revision Date: 19th Dec 2012

HSEP0915 – SF6 Management Revision 1

CAUTION: Printed document is uncontrolled - Make sure you are using the current revision

Print Date: 19/04/2023

1 SCOPE and OBJECTIVESScope:This procedure applies to Hydro Tasmania staff, contractors, sites, and activities where SF6 is purchased, stored, used, transferred, transported, or handled.

Context:Hydro Tasmania uses Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6) in generation assets at the high voltage interface between the generation and transmission systems for insulation, arc quenching, and current interruption in gas-insulated switchgear and circuit breakers.

Under ambient conditions, SF6 is an unreactive, stable and dense gas, and is not flammable. It is not classed as poisonous, but could be considered to pose a health threat if released in a confined area such that oxygen is displaced. If subjected to electrical stress (a normal condition during its working cycle) or fire, SF6 can decompose into toxic by-products that present a health threat, potentially fatal, for working personnel in the event of exposure.

SF6 is a very potent greenhouse gas with an atmospheric warming potential 23,900 times that of carbon dioxide with an atmospheric lifetime of 3,200 years.

In the event of a viable alternative emerging that provides like for like performance then utilise the alternative for greenfield sites and phase in at the end of life of existing equipment, where appropriate.

PROCESS DETAILProcedure: Description Responsibility

1 1Overview

The key process areas for managing SF6 to minimise the likelihood of harm to people or environment are:

a) Storage; b) Transport;c) Transfer;d) Use; ande) Waste.

Not applicable

2 Hydro Liability for SF6

Hydro Tasmania’s liability in transporting purchased SF6 to its store or disposal of used / waste SF6 from its sites is governed by the contractual arrangement agreed to by Hydro Tasmania and the supplier or the purchaser respectively.

EOM/ Project Manager

3 Contaminated SF6

The management and response to SF6 that has been exposed to arcing requires special management to minimise health and environmental impacts.

See GS-AM-019 Handling Of Contaminated Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6) And Its Arc Products for additional information regarding storage, transport, transfer, and disposal of contaminated SF6.

EOM and Project Manager

4 Purchasing4.1 Considerati

ons for Purchasing

New SF6 switchgear and instrument transformers will include some amount of SF6 gas for transport purposes to mitigate ingress of moisture and dust. The person responsible for acquiring SF6 shall consider relevant Hydro


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Tasmania technical specification standards, if any exist. If the voltage of the equipment is less than 36-60 kV then consideration should be made to alternative forms of insulation of gas insulated equipment (for example vacuum or air insulation technologies).SF6 may be a requisite in electrical equipment that is space constrained. If no such factors dictate the use of SF6 alternatives should be considered wherever possible.

4.2 Receipt of SF6

All SF6 received from suppliers (including SF6 containing equipment) shall be inspected upon receipt by the accountable person for their receipt and storage. This inspection includes items in the technical specification standard, plus the following:

1 Proper identification of equipment;2 Condition of containers and numbering;3 Availability of SF6 safety and handling equipment; and4 What was ordered, was received.

If a problem is encountered, the supplier shall be contacted and remedial action requested.

On receipt of additional SF6 for storage, the SF6 inventory for that worksite must be updated as well as the state-wide register

HSER0915.1 - SF6 Inventory Register STATE WIDE. To update the state-wide inventory contact:-the Technical Specialist (Technical and Operations) – SF6


5 StorageStorage facilities for SF6 shall in be in compliance with any requirements of AS 2791 – Use and handling of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) in high-voltage switchgear and control gear.


5.1 Precautions During Storage

SF6 has the potential to asphyxiate at high concentrations (see the SF6 Material Data Sheet). SF6 is an inert gas with a density greater than air meaning that the gas can pool in pits.

Store and use with adequate ventilation Firmly secure cylinders upright to keep them from falling or being

knocked over. Screw valve protection cap firmly in place by hand. Store only where temperature will not exceed 125°F (52°C). Store full and empty cylinders separately. Use a first-in, first-out

inventory system to prevent storing full cylinders for long periods.

Ensure cylinders and equipment are appropriately labelled


5.2 SF6 Inventories

SF6 inventories shall be maintained for all sites where SF6 is stored or used.

SF6 held on-site should represent the minimal risk practical, while maintaining appropriate levels for completion of planned work.

Inventories must be updated whenever SF6 is transferred from storage to equipment, purchased or spilt.

A state-wide inventory of SF6 is maintained for all SF6 in stock. Refer to HSER0915.1 - SF6 Inventory Register STATE WIDE. To update the state-wide inventory contact:

EOM/Project Manager

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-the Technical Specialist (Technical and Operations) – SF6

5.3 Labelling of Cylinders

All SF6 cylinders supplied to, be used , or handled in the workplace shall be appropriately labelled to assist in correct usage e.g. as new SF6, used SF6, contaminated SF6. Where no label is available, use HSEF0921.5 - Chemical Label. If a cylinder is not labelled correctly, action must be taken to correctly label the cylinder. If the contents are unknown this shall be clearly stated in the container label and the container stored in isolation until contents are identified. If the contents cannot be identified they shall be disposed of in an acceptable manner in consultation with the environmental regulator.Additional guidance for labelling is given in HSEP0921 – Chemical Management.


5.4 Storage of equipment containing SF6

Before storing equipment containing SF6 consider removing the SF6 and decontaminating the equipment prior to storage. An alternate gas can be used for storage, whilst still protecting the equipment from moisture, such as dry nitrogen or dry argon. Equipment stored containing SF6 will require a monitoring plan and will need to be recorded on the state-wide SF6 inventory register.

Equipment that is stored containing SF6 must be appropriately labelled. Labels can be created from ChemWatch.In all circumstances the pressure in the equipment should be reduced from working pressure to a storage pressure of 1.5 bar.

Ensure that the operators of the storage facilities are made aware of the hazards associated with SF6 (see section 5.1). This is applies also to third party storage facilities storing our equipment.

Where equipment is to be stored containing SF6, a monitoring program must be implemented to monitor for any loss of SF6 to the environment (see section 7).

Responsible Person

5.5 Transport When Transporting gas cylinders containing SF6 – 1) Ensure that cylinders are correctly

labelled and placards are applied to the transport vehicle where loads exceed 500 L with a 250mmx250mm placard (see ADGC7);

2) Complete Safe Transport of Gas

Cylinders - CL-07-05

When transporting equipment containing SF6 -

Transport of new equipment:Follow manufacturers guidelines for transport and installation of new equipment containing SF6.

Transport of used equipment to be maintained for future use:Assets that are being transported/moved and stored should be drained of SF6 and refilled with dry Nitrogen whilst waiting to be recommissioned. Alternately the pressure of SF6 in the equipment can be reduced to 1.5 bar for transport and storage. If SF6 is left in the equipment ensure that the SF6 register is updated upon storage

Responsible Person

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as outlined under section 5.4 and implement monitoring as per section 7.

Transport and disposal of redundant equipment: Redundant equipment must be decommissioned with SF6 removed for re-cycling or disposal and the equipment decontaminated prior to transport and disposal.

SF6 inventories (HSER0915.1 - SF6 Inventory Register STATE WIDE.xlsx) must be updated whenever necessary if transporting SF6

to or between sites.5.6 Transfer Significant environmental risks exist due to the possibility of leaks or

spills during the transfer of SF6.

The accountable person responsible for the transport or transfer of SF6 shall ensure appropriate precautions are taken prior to and during these operations. Relevant items described in AS 2791 – Use and handling of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) in high-voltage switchgear and control gear and shall be considered.

Pre-requisites: Received training in the safe handling of SF6. Received training in the use of SF6 trailer and top up cylinder. Read and understand Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for SF6. Equipment to be worked on must be out of service, isolated and

permits issued. Have a SF6 spill kit available

Before transfer: Ensure exit way is marked and clear of obstructions. Ensure all of work crew are aware of gas pressure to be achieved. Ensure all equipment is in good condition.

During transfer: Closely observe gas fittings and driving pressure. If draining ensure gas vents down wind and drain hose has

correct filters attached. If indoors ensure room is well ventilated.

After transfer: Follow safety training when cleaning up any residue. Ensure good clean up of self. Properly dispose of any contaminated material. Update SF6 inventory.

SF6 inventories (HSER0915.1 - SF6 Inventory Register STATE WIDE.xlsx) must be updated whenever necessary if transporting SF6

to or between sites.


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6 Use of SF6Due to the greenhouse intensity of SF6 leaks and spills of SF6 to the atmosphere must be minimised. Risks to workplace safety must be assessed and control measures risks implement. There are three main sources of SF6 emissions from the electricity supply industry:

Escaped gas and deliberate venting during handling, decanting, recycling etc;

Gradual leakage of SF6 from storage cylinders, transformers and switchgear through loose nuts, split seams, perished seals, rusted covers etc; and

Equipment failure.


6.1 Safe Work Practices

Safe working practices shall be used to manage SF6. Key steps to be considered by the individual carrying out the task are:

Preparation: Identification of hazards/risks and control measures prior to commencing use of the SF6.

Handling: Implementation of required control measures. Clean up: Management of waste.

GS-AM-019 Handling Of Contaminated Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6) And Its Arc Products provides guidance for the requirements and precautions that shall be taken for the handling of Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6) which has been subjected to decomposition by electric arcing and the resulting solid by-products.

Requirements for electrical safety work performed on equipment containing uncontaminated SF6 gas, handling of uncontaminated SF6 and the treatment and disposal of end of life SF6 equipment, are covered in AS 2791 – Use and handling of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) in high-voltage switchgear and control gear.


6.2 Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment (PPE) shall be worn when identified by the risk assessment and/or policy. Personal protective equipment should not be used as a substitute for engineering, work practice, and/or administrative controls. Personal protective equipment may be used in conjunction with these controls.

Refer to Procedure HP-053 Personal Protective Equipment, GS-AM-019 Handling Of Contaminated Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6) And Its Arc Products and AS 2791 – Use and handling of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) in high-voltage switchgear and control gear for assistance in the appropriate selection of PPE.

Training shall be provided on the protective limitations of personal protective equipment, and on its proper use and maintenance.


6.3 Precautions During Handling

Protect cylinders from damage. Use a suitable hand truck to move cylinders; do not drag, roll,

slide, or drop. Never attempt to lift a cylinder by its cap; the cap is intended

solely to protect the valve. Never insert an object (e.g., wrench, screwdriver, pry bar) into

cap openings; doing so may damage the valve and cause a leak. Use an adjustable strap wrench to remove over-tight or rusted

caps. Open valve slowly. If valve is hard to open, discontinue use and


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contact your supplier.6.4 Spill Management

All spills of SF6 must be recorded as Incidents in accordance with EP9 Incident Management and quantities of spilled SF6 recorded in the State-wide SF6 Register (HSER0915.1 - SF6 Inventory Register STATE WIDE).

Specific guidance on spill management, including reporting requirements, is provided in the site Emergency Information Manual and Procedures HSEP1401 - Incident Management and HSEP1201 - Emergency Preparedness.

Refer to Attachment A for the SF6 Emergency Response Plan.


7 MonitoringMonitoring of SF6 loss from assets is a legal compliance requirement under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Legislation (see HSEP0918 - Energy and Emissions Reporting and HSEP0918 - Appendix 7 SF6) and to assist in the detection of any leakages into the atmosphere a Trending report on monitoring is available at (Trending Report SF6 2012) this report shows any changes in the SF6 equipment.Monitoring results are recorded in the State-wide SF6 Register: HSER0915.1 - SF6 Inventory Register STATE WIDE


8 Waste Management and DisposalWaste SF6, as well as equipment containing contaminated SF6, has the potential to cause health and safety and/or environmental problems if not managed appropriately.

These materials shall be managed as described in HSEP0914 - Resource Use and Waste Management. Also refer to GS-AM-019 Handling Of Contaminated Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6) And Its Arc Products and AS 2791 – Use and handling of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) in high-voltage switchgear and control gear.

Recycling of SF6 should be prescribed wherever possible.

Equipment that is to be decommissioned must include consideration of draining and testing SF6 gas and subsequent decontamination of the equipment, which must be performed by a suitably qualified service provider.

Waste SF6 must be sent to a certified agency for disposal/recycling and a disposal certificate must be obtained and kept on record(recycling can be provided by ABB and Alstom and Schneider can dispose of waste SF6 in approved fashion).

A Disposal Certificate must be provided by an accredited disposal company for any SF6 and SF6 containing equipment that is disposed of in an approved manner. Should the equipment be sold or given to a fellow authority such as Transend Networks then a record of this transaction is required from that company. This record needs to include:-the identity of the authority taking over the equipment


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-the quantity of SF6 gas that was in the redundant circuit breaker -the date on which this transaction occurred

In addition the state-wide SF6 register must be updated.

9 ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIESSpecific responsibilities As outlined in the right hand column of section 4 to 11 of this procedure.

10 DEFINITIONSAccountable Person: any person who has control of a workplace or has a responsibility or an obligation for the health and safety of any person(s) in a workplace or for environmental impacts of the activities undertaken.

JHA - Job Hazard Analysis: The process used to record hazards, job steps and appropriate control measures to manage risks. This includes safety, environmental, financial and production hazards.

MSDS: Material Safety Data Sheet. Documents that provide the information necessary for the safe handling of chemicals including Dangerous Goods and Hazardous Substances.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Any equipment, device or clothing worn by a person to protect against all variety of hazards which may be found in worksites such as water, noise, chemicals, falls, lack of oxygen, presence of harmful gases/chemicals, etc.

Responsible Officer: The person appointed as the responsible officer under the Section 10 of Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995.

Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6): A gas used in in gas-insulated switchgear and circuit breakers.

Transfer and Transport: Transfer is the deliberate moving of SF6 from one containing vessel to another, while transport is the movement of SF6 from one site to another (including non Hydro sites).Worksite: Any working area under Hydro Tasmania control.

11 RELATED DOCUMENTS & RESOURCESOperational GP-AM-511 - Circuit Breaker SF6 Gas Sampling and Testing Procedure GS-AM-018 Filling SF6 Switchgear from a Cylinder of SF6 Gas GS-AM-019 Handling of Contaminated SF6 and its Arc Products GS-AM-020 SF6 Gas Insulated Switchgear Measurement, Control and Removal of Moisture. TJh2B SF6 gas Sample Collection Instruction Sheet. Shipping Advice for the Transportation of SF6 Gas Sampling Units 2010-2011.doc DMS-121404Legal AS 2791 – Use and handling of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) in high-voltage switchgear and controlgear IEC 60480 2004-10 Guidelines for the checking and treatment of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) taken from

electrical equipment and specification for its re-use Exposure Standards for Atmospheric Contaminants in the Occupational Environment [NOHSC:3008

(1995)] Hazardous Substances Information System (www.nohsc.gov.au/applications/hsis) Workplace Health and Safety Act 2012 Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail HSE HSEP0921 - Chemical Management HSEP1201 - Emergency Preparedness HSEP0914 - Resource Use and Waste Management HSEP0918 - Energy and Emissions Reporting HSEP0918 - Appendix 7 SF6 HSEP0601 - HSE Awareness Training and Competency HSEP0301 - Hazard Identification and Risk Management

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http://mycollaboration/sites/sas/HSESystems/Documents/Reference%20Documents/ADG7October2011.pdf




HSEP1401 - Incident Management HSER0915.1 - SF6 Inventory Register STATE WIDE

12 REVISION HISTORY Revisionnumber

Revision date Detailed revision description Reviewed by Approved by

0 10th May 2012 Converted to HSE from ESMS template B. LunstedtSustainability and Safety Manager

1 19th December 2012

Updated with additional transport requirements

B. Lunstedt Sustainability and Safety Manager

Appendix A SF6 spill emergency response process

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