Advice To Site Personnel When Working Near Overhead Electricity Lines

  1. Working too close or causing damage to overhead lines is dangerous and can lead to flashover, explosion or fire and often results in casualties.

  2. Risk of casualties will increase if details of the overhead line (e.g. voltage level, distance to ground, etc.) are not ascertained before commencement of works.

  3. Overhead lines are mostly found in uninhabited or rural areas. They are clearly visible but the distance from the ground to the overhead conductors should not be ascertained by relying on visual judgement only. Treat any overhead lines found anywhere as LIVE.

Before Starting Works

Before starting works, the contractor or person responsible for the proposed works should go through the following checklist:

  1. Identify whether any of the proposed works are within the vicinity of any overhead lines (i.e. a horizontal distance of at least 9 m from the nearest conductor for all works except blasting work, for which the horizontal distance is extended to at least 25m).

  2. Obtain plans of the overhead lines in the area to ascertain the alignment if necessary.

  3. If any of the proposed works fall within the vicinity of the overhead lines, ascertain the voltage rating, the overhead lines' distance from the ground, and consult the electricity supplier of the lines to agree on a mutually acceptable work plan.

  4. Ensure that notes of all discussions held with the electricity supplier on the work plan are kept until all the proposed works are completed.

  5. Provide site personnel with information about the overhead electricity lines such as voltage, ground clearance and actual alignment and minimum safe working distance.

During the Course of Works

During the course of the works, all site workers should exercise the following precautions:

  1. Avoid working unnecessarily directly beneath the overhead lines.

  2. Observe any warning notices erected in the vicinity of the overhead lines.

  3. Determine the height of any object, including any tools, equipment, apparatus or vehicles, and maintain a safe working distance between the object and the overhead line as advised by the electricity supplier. Use suitable physical restraining devices if necessary.

  4. Insofar as reasonably possible, ensure that the working methods as agreed with the electricity supplier are strictly followed.

  5. Never handle or attempt to handle any overhead line conductor even though it may appear to be damaged.

  6. Do not erect structures (e.g. scaffolding) unnecessarily in the vicinity of any overhead lines.

  7. Do not disturb any earthing conductors connecting the overhead line poles/towers to the ground. Earthing conductors are normally buried underground and connected to the overhead line from the bottom of the poles/towers.

  8. Never rely on the insulating cover of any overhead line conductors as a means of protection from electric shock. Always treat the insulated conductors as LIVE.

  9. Ground level barriers should be erected at a horizontal distance of at least 6m from the outmost conductor of the overhead electricity lines.

  10. If plant or equipment will pass underneath overhead electricity lines, a passageway with gateways and goal posts should be provided. A signaller should be assigned to guide the movement of plant or equipment and maintain a safe working distance when passing underneath overhead electricity lines.

  11. Report any electrical accident or damage or interference to an overhead electricity line to the relevant parties, including the electricity supplier. Evacuate everyone from the immediate area of the damage/interference but do not attempt to remove any objects, retract mobile cranes or to touch the injured person if he/she is still in contact with the overhead line conductor, because the line may still be LIVE. Cooperate with the electricity supplier as requested by providing access to the works site for carrying out repairs.

Enquiries

Enquiries on the Electricity Supply Lines (Protection) Regulation and this advice can be addressed to the Electricity Legislation Division of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department.

  
Address : 3 Kai Shing Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel.No. : 1823 Citizen's Easy Link
Fax No. : (852) 2895 4929

Contact Details of CLP Power Hong Kong Ltd. (CLP)

Information on CLP's overhead electricity lines in the vicinity of works to be undertaken can be obtained from CLP at the following address:

  
Address : 8 Laguna Verde Avenue, Hung Hom
Office hours : 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday - Friday)
Tel.No. : 2678 6704 (office hours),
2678 7721 (after office hours)
Fax No. : 2678 6757 (office hours),
2678 6368 (after office hours)
Incident reporting : Tel.No.: 2728 8333 (24-hour hotline)

General enquiries and incident reports of CLP's overhead electricity lines can also be made by calling or faxing the above numbers.

Contact Details of The Hongkong Electric Company Limited (HEC)

Information on HEC's overhead electricity lines in the vicinity of works to be undertaken can be obtained from HEC at the following address:

  
Address : The Hongkong Electric Company Limited,
Hong Kong Electric Centre, 44 Kennedy Road, Hong Kong
Office hours : 8:45 a.m. - 5:15 p.m. on weekdays
8:45 a.m. - 12:00 noon on Saturday
General enquires : Tel.No.: 2814 3443 (24-hour hotline)
Fax No.: 2871 0645
Emergency
enquiries
:
Tel.No.: 2814 3443 (24-hour hotline)
Fax No.: 2843 3110 (office hours)
2510 7812 (after office hours)
Incident reporting : Tel.No.: 2555 4999 (Chinese 24-hour hotline)
2555 4000 (English 24-hour hotline)
Fax No.: 2555 6637

General enquiries and incident reports of HEC's overhead electricity lines can also be made by calling or faxing the above numbers.

Note : This is NOT a legal document and is prepared for general information only. The detailed guidelines for works in the vicinity of overhead electricity lines can be found in the Code of Practice on Working near Electricity Supply Lines published by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department.