WP1323 - Working Near Overhead and Underground Electric Lines

Electricity Entity Requirements:
Working Near Overhead and Underground Electric Lines

7.      EXCAVATION
7.1. Excavating near Poles and Stay Wires
The following requirements are to be compiled with to minimise the risk of compromising the
structural integrity of the Electricity Entity poles and stay foundations when excavation or
trenching work is performed nearby that could result in the failure of one or more poles and
grounding of supported electric lines.
Excavation and trenching work undertaken by a person, worker or PCBU in the vicinity of poles
and stay foundations shall:
       only be commenced after requirements of Section 6 have been complied with for any
        underground electrical assets located within the work site.
       upon completion of excavation and site earthworks not restrict the Electricity Entity vehicle
        access to pole site for purpose of carrying out maintenance activities.
       comply with exclusion zones as detailed in the Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2010 -
        Working Near Overhead and Underground Electric Lines.
       not be attempted:
               within 5 m (horizontal distance) of pole stays where the excavation depth is greater
                than 250 mm before contacting the Electricity Entity to determine requirements.
               within 5 m (horizontal distance) of Electricity Entity poles with earth leads or cables
                running down into the ground before contactingthe Electricity Entity to determine
                requirements.
               within “Do Not Disturb” zone of pole prior to a certified engineering assessment
                having been completed by a Registered Professional Engineer Queensland, and
                then reviewed and approved by the Electricity Entity before proceeding with work.
                Approval by the Electricity Entity shall not relieve the PCBU of its duties to perform
                the work in a safe and proper manner and in accordance with all applicable
                legislation.
               if the soil is exceedingly wet (saturated) or there is more than minimal wind loading
                unless additional pole support is provided in accordance with certified engineering
                assessment and approved by Electricity Entity.
               when a severe weather event is occurring or expected (e.g. severe weather warning
                has been issued by Bureau of Meteorology).
       be backfilled as soon as possible (within same day where pole is required to be
        supported) soil mechanically compacted in layers of 150 mm and all rock and vegetable
        material excluded from the backfill.
       be backfilled and pole stabilised before removal of additional support required by a
        certified engineering assessment are permitted to be removed.
The PCBU shall be responsible for arrangement and costs of required certified engineering
assessments, approvals by other regulatory bodies (eg councils, Main Roads pipeline owners,
telecomm owns) and installation, maintenance and removal of associated pole support.
Pole support equipment (where required in accordance with certified engineering assessment)
shall be:
       only attached and removed by persons approved by the Electricity Entity.




Check this is the latest version before use.               Page 21of30                                        EGX WP1323 Ver 2
9 June 2015                                                                                               EE BS001405R107 Ver 2
                            Joint Reference Document between Energex and Ergon Energy
                    Energex Limited ABN 40 078 849 055  Ergon Energy Corporation Limited ABN 50 087 646 062