Key Requirements, Legislation

and Cable Damage Trends

Name : Er Joseph Michael

Organization : Energy Market Authority

Purpose of SS 576 : 2012

Purpose

To minimise the number of damages to electricity cables caused by earthworks

undertaken by contractors.

Target users - stakeholders

Benefits - lower number of power failures

- lower number of voltage dips

- lower risk of injury to personnel

- lower risk of damage to property

2

Organization of SS 576 : 2012

0 Introduction

1 Scope

2 Normative references

3 Definitions

4 The dangers associated with damage to underground

cables

5 Roles and responsibilities of stakeholders

6 Cable Detection Work

7 Protection of Cables & Diversion

8 Construction activities in the vicinity of electricity cables

9 Risk Management

3

Key Requirements

Identification of Key Stakeholders

The Key Stakeholders are defined in Section 3 – Definitions of SS 576 : 2012

Transmission Agent Licensee – SP PowerGrid Ltd (SPPG);

Principal;

Contractor;

Registered Earthworks Supervisor;

Licensed Cable Detection Worker (LCDW); and

REO (Registered Excavator Operator) & PREO (Provisional REO).

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General Responsibilities of Key Stakeholders

The general responsibilities are outlined in Section 5.1

The Principal, the Contractor and the LCDW :

Familiarization with the legislation – Electricity Act ( Cap 89A);

Familiarization with the process of consultation with the Transmission Agent Licensee with respect to:

i) cable detection work;

ii) cable diversion; and

iii) protection schemes for cables;

Familiarization with Table 2; and

Response in the event of a cable damage or emergency situation.

The Principal and the Contractor :

Must put in place a Permit-to-Work System for carrying out earthworks at the worksite.

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Specific Responsibilities of Key Stakeholders –

Transmission Agent Licensee

The responsibilities of the Transmission Agent Licensee are elaborated in Section 5.2

Provide cable route plans upon request;

Put in place a system to accept Notice of Commencement of Earthworks (NCEs);

Conduct site meetings with Contractor;

Issue a Letter of Requirements advising the Contractor of measures to be implemented to prevent damage to high voltage cables;

Visit the site periodically;

Investigate all cases of cable damages and acts of non-compliance by Contractors; and

Investigation Case Files shall be submitted to the regulator i.e. EMA.

7

Specific Responsibilities of Key Stakeholders -

Principal

The responsibilities of the Principal are elaborated in Section 5.3

Specify in the contract documents –

1) that their Contractors shall obtain cable route plans from TAL; and

2) engage a LCDW to do cable detection work prior to commencement of earthworks;

Include in the contract documents that their Contractors shall consult the TAL whenever they propose to do earthworks; and

Implement a Permit-to-Work System to monitor and control earthworks within their site.

8

Specific Responsibilities of Key Stakeholders -

Contractor

The responsibilities of the Contractor are elaborated in Section 5.4

Compliance with the Electricity Act, SS 576 : 2012 and requirements of TAL ;

Engagement of the services of the LCDW;

Engagement of the services of the REO & PREO;

Submission of NCE to TAL for High Voltage cables;

Submission of Schedule of Construction Activities to TAL;

Do Risk Assessment in compliance with the WSHA;

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Specific Responsibilities of Key Stakeholders -

Contractor

The responsibilities of the Contractor are elaborated in Section 5.4

Provide free access to TAL to inspect their cables;

Conduct briefing sessions for employees;

Make Trial Hole Information available to TAL;

Make Cable Detection Report available to TAL; and

Ensure security of site and that no unauthorized earthworks is carried out.

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Specific Responsibilities of Key Stakeholders-

Registered Earthworks Supervisor

The responsibilities of the Registered Earthworks Supervisor are elaborated in Section 5.5

Ensure that LCDW marks detected cables on site;

Ensure that the Permit-to-Work and the cable detection plans are prominently displayed or readily available for inspection;

Ensure that Trial Holes are manually dug;

Check that REOs and PREOs have valid registration cards;

Conduct periodic checks during excavation works and consult LCDW or TAL when in doubt;

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Specific Responsibilities of Key Stakeholders-

Registered Earthworks Supervisor

The responsibilities of the Registered Earthworks Supervisor are elaborated in Section 5.5

When a cable damage occurs, Earthworks Supervisor shall stop excavation works

immediately and inform TAL, LCDW and the Contractor;

Ensure that excavation works can only resume after obtaining clearance from TAL;

Consult TAL in the event of overcrossing or undercrossing electricity cables; and

Ensure that preventive measures required by TAL are implemented to protect existing electricity cables.

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Specific Responsibilities of Key Stakeholders - LCDW

The responsibilities of the Licensed Cable Detection Worker (LCDW) are elaborated in Section 5.6

Submit request for cable route plans and NCD to TAL (Refer Annex E);

After cable detection work is complete, advise Contractor to submit NCE to TAL;

LCDW shall do the cable detection work personally and mark cable routes on site.

LCDW shall specify the number of Trial Holes and where they are to be dug, collate trial hole information and produce a written cable detection report.

LCDW shall conduct a briefing for site personnel e.g. PM or CM, Site Supervisors and Excavator Operators on the route and position of cables and preventive measures implemented or to be implemented.

When a cable damage occurs, the LCDW shall conduct a site investigation and submit a report on Form ROD (Annexe E) to TAL.

13

Specific Responsibilities of Key Stakeholders

The responsibilities of the Registered Excavator Operator (REO) / Provisional Registered Excavator Operator (PREO) are elaborated in Section 5.7

REO or PREO shall only carry out earthworks with an excavator provided cable detection work has been carried out by LCDW, trial holes have been dug and a Permit-to-Work has been issued;

REO or PREO shall establish the position and route of the cable after making reference to the cable detection drawings and markings on the ground; and

If HV cables are present underground, REO or PREO shall check with the Earthworks Supervisor if an NCE has been submitted to the TAL.

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Works in the Vicinity of Underground Cables

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Table 1 – Works below ground level in the vicinity of underground cables

Types of work below ground level

Distance * (m)

Trench or other excavation works in stable ground conditions up to 1.5 m in depth 3

Trench or other excavation works in stable ground conditions over 1.5 m in and up to 5 m in

depth

5

Trench or other excavation works in stable ground conditions over 5 m 10

Vertical penetration including sheet piling, ground investigation and any kind of drilling or

core sampling or ramming

3

Welding or other hot works near exposed underground cables 10

* Measurement is taken from both extreme edges of the underground cable or bunch of cables to determine whether

works will be considered to be in its vicinity.

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Cable Detection Work & the Cable Detection

Methods Available

Electromagnetic Location; and

Radio Frequency Passive Detection.

Outcome of cable detection work and trial hole digging is the Written Report by

LCDW.

The objective of the Written Report is to standardise the contents of the report

submitted by the LCDWs to their clients.

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Diversion or Protection of Cables

When there is a direct conflict between proposed civil structure and an existing

cable, there are 3 options available to the Principal or Contractor:

Option 1 – Consider the redesign of the civil structure and relocate it from its

originally proposed position;

Option 2 – If the civil structure cannot be relocated, then the cable has to be

diverted;

Option 3 – If there is sufficient clearance between the civil structure and the

cable, then an appropriate protection scheme must be implemented.

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Risk Management

Section 9 – This section covers compliance with Workplace Safety and Health

Act (WSHA)

Work sites come within the definition of “Workplace” in the WSHA;

It is therefore mandatory for the Contractor to do a Risk Assessment and put in

place appropriate control measures to mitigate the risk;

A Risk Assessment report shall be made available to the TAL on request; and

The contractor shall communicate the control measures implemented to all

personnel at various working levels in the project team.

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Emergency Response Plan

Section 9.2 – Emergency Response Plan

It is good practice for the Contractor to have in place an Emergency Response Plan and

review it at appropriate intervals;

During the course of earthworks, all site personnel must be vigilant and look out for tell-tale

signs of cable damage;

When a cable is damaged, the Earthworks Supervisor shall activate the Emergency

Response Plan to stop all earthworks activities immediately;

The Earthworks Supervisor shall inform relevant parties such as the LCDW and the TAL;

The LCDW shall conduct a site investigation and submit a report to TAL on Form ROD

( Annexe E ) within 48 hours of the event;

The Contractor shall submit an Incident Report to MOM in compliance with WSHA.

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Training & Registration of Earthworks Supervisor

Section 5.5 – Responsibilities of the Registered Earthworks Supervisor

To enable the Registered Earthworks Supervisor to discharge his duties effectively, he

needs to undergo training.

The Syllabus for the proposed Earthworks Supervisor course is being prepared;

TC is working with Training Service Providers to roll out the first run of the Earthworks

Supervisor Course in the 2nd half of 2013;

SPPG has indicated its willingness to manage the register of Earthworks Supervisors.

Legislation

21

22

ACTS

REGULATIONS

• CODES OF PRACTICE

• STANDARDS

The Legislative Hierarchy

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Sections of the Electricity Act Relating to Cable

Damages

Section 2 - Definition of Earthworks

Section 79 - Applies to doing earthworks near LV cables

Section 80 - Applies to doing earthworks near HV cables

Section 85(1) - Offence Clause applying to damage of LV cables

Section 85(2) - Offence Clause applying to damage of HV cables

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Section 2 of the Electricity Act - Definition of Earthworks

“earthworks” means —

(a) any act of excavating earth, rock or other material (by whatever means) in

connection with —

(i) any work for or relating to the construction, reconstruction, extension,

renovation, alteration, demolition or repair of any building, road, railway, bridge,

viaduct, flyover, sewer or sewage works;

(ii) any work for or relating to the laying, inspecting, repairing or renewing of

any main, pipe, cable, fitting or other apparatuses;

(iii) any soil investigation work; or

(iv) such other works as are usually undertaken by a person carrying on

business as a contractor in the construction industry or as a

professional civil or structural engineer;

(b) any act of boring, dredging, jacking, levelling, piling or tunnelling on or

under any premises or street by any mechanical means; or

(c) the driving or sinking of any earth rod, casing or tube into the ground;

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Section 79 - Cable detection work to be carried out before

earthworks

Applies to LV cables;

Normal Situation

1 2

1

3

3

2

4

Cable

Detection

Work

Digging of

Trial

Holes

Consultation

with SPPG

Earthworks Notification

-NCD

LCDW

Contractor

TAL

(SPPG)

SPPG’s

Contractor

1 2

3 4 5

1

2 3

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Section 79 - Cable detection work to be carried out

before earthworks

Applies to LV cables;

Emergency Situation – In the interest of public and private safety

Cable Detection

Work

Earthworks Notification

LCDW

Contractor

Notify TAL

(SPPG) in writing

within 7 days

2 1

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Section 80 - Carrying out earthworks within vicinity of high

voltage electricity cable

Applies to HV cables ( voltage = to or > 6.6kV )

Cable

Detection

Work

Trial

Holes

Earthworks NCD

Notification

NCE

Notification

Consultation

with TAL

Issue of Letter

of

Requirements

LCDW

Contractor

TAL

(SPPG)

1 2

5 7 4

6

3

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Sections 85(1) & 85(2) of the Electricity Act

Section 85 Damage to Property of Electricity Licensee

Section 85(1) applies to damage of LV cables with wilful intent.

Section 85(2) applies to damage of HV cables. No need to prove intent.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), any person who, in the course of carrying out

any earthworks, damages or suffers to be damaged any high voltage electricity

cable in the transmission network belonging to or under the management or control

of an electricity licensee shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on

conviction to a fine not exceeding $1 million or to imprisonment for a term not

exceeding 5 years or to both.

PENALTIES

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Electricity Act (Chapter 89A)

Section No. Maximum

Fine

Maximum

Imprisonment Remarks

79 $10,000 1 year

Doing earthworks near LV cables without

first engaging LCDW to do cable detection

work.

80 $100,000 5 years

When doing earthworks near HV cables,

earthworks contractor failed to:

i) purchase cable plan;

ii) carry out cable detection;

iii) submit NCE to SPPG; and

iv) comply with SPPG’s Letter of

Requirements.

85(1) $10,000 3 years Damaging a low voltage cable.

85(2) $1,000,000 5 years Damaging a high voltage cable.