by Greg | Sep 23, 2011 | Safety
When splicing OPGW some form of shock hazard may be present at every job site. The specific hazard may be different based on the location. You could be at a Power Plant, Substation , Switchyard or on a transmission line. That is why it is extremely important to recognize the possible shock hazard situation for each of the different places you may find yourself in. As should be no surprise here, there is only one requirement for a electric shock hazard and that is electrical energy. Sources of electrical energy at a work site could be in the form of electro-static charge, elctro-matic induction, accidental energization, lighting or induced voltages and current from a parallel line. The phrase ‘personal protective grounding’ used here should be understood to mean; you taking action to secure your safety regardless of what someone else has told you. The number one rule that my fellow workers and I live by is this; If It’s NOT Grounded. It’s NOT Dead! If you follow this one rule you will be around a very long time. OPGW can easily be at a different potential than the soil at the work site. Your job site is only as safe as YOU make it. A few electric shock hazards associated with splicing OPGW are; Electro-static charges Electro-magnetic induction Balanced phase currents result in little induced voltage Unbalanced fault currents produce high induced voltage Significant ground fault current flows in the static wires Energized power line is parallel to de-energized static wire Ground fault currents are injected into the soil thought the tower footings Significant Transfer Touch Hazards may exist here. There are...
