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Safety provisions in the
Electricity Acts and Rules
Presented by
Chief Electrical Inspector (T&D), Orissa
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Agenda
Electrical Safety
 Statutory Safety provisions
 Reasons of accidents
 Case studies
 Provision of penalty on breach of Acts and
Rules
 Suggestions
 Conclusion
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Electrial Safety

53(a) of the Electricity Act 2003
– Provisions relating to safety and electricity supply
 (1) The Authority may in consultation with the State
Government, specify suitable measures for –
– (a) protecting the public (including the persons engaged in
the generation, transmission or distribution or trading)
from dangers arising from the generation, transmission or
distribution or trading of electricity, or use of electricity
supplied or installation, maintenance or use of any electric
line or electrical plant;
– (b) eliminating or reducing the risks of personal injury to
any person, or damage to property of any person or
interference with use of such property ;
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Electrial Safety
 185 of the Electricity Act 2003
– Repeal and saving
– (2) Notwithstanding such repeal, :– (c) Indian Electricity Rules, 1956 made under
section 37 of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 as it
stood before such repeal shall continue to be in
force till the regulations under section 53 of this
Act are made.
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Statutory Safety Provisions
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I.E. Rule – 3, Sub rule – (6):
In every registered factory, where more than 250 KW
of electrical load is connected, there shall be a
person authorised by the management of the
factory for ensuring the observance of the safety
provisions laid under the Act and the rules made
there under, who shall periodically inspect such
installation, get them tested and keep a record
thereof and such records shall be made available to
the Inspector [or any officer of a specified rank and
class appointed to assist the Inspector], if and when
required.
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Statutory Safety Provisions

I.E. Rule – 3, Sub rule – (7):
All suppliers of electricity including generating
companies, transmission companies and
distribution companies shall appoint a safety
officer for proper observance of safety
measures in their organization in construction,
operation and maintenance of power station,
sub-station, transmission and distribution
lines.
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Statutory Safety Provisions

Rule 3, Sub-Rule (2)
– No person shall be authorised under sub-rule (1)
unless he is competent to perform the duties
assigned to him and possesses either an
appropriate certificate of competency or permit to
work.
(Many of the accidents involve helpers.)
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Statutory Safety Provisions

Rule 45. Precautions to be adopted by consumers,
owners, occupiers, electrical contractors, electrical
workmen and suppliers:– (1) No electrical installation work ……shall be carried out
….. a person holding a certificate of competency and by a
person holding a permit issued or recognized by the State
Government
– (2) No electrical installation work which has been carried
out in contravention of sub-rule(1) shall not be energized
or connected to the works of any supplier.
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Statutory Safety Provisions
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Rule – 9
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Rule – 29
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Rule – 30
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Rule – 31
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Rule – 33
Rule – 34
Records of tests available with
the owner for inspection.
Adequate ratings of the Electrical
Installation as per Indian
Standards.
Service line and apparatus of the
supplier on consumer’s premises.
Isolating arrangement by
supplier.
Earthing system.
Accessibility of bare conductors
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Statutory Safety Provisions
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Rule – 35 Danger Notice.
Rule – 36 Handling of electric supply lines
and apparatus.
Rule – 41 Distinction of different circuits.
Rule – 42 Prevention of accidental charge.
Rule – 43 Protection equipment, Fire
buckets, First aid box etc.
Rule – 44 Instructions for restoration of
persons suffering from electric
shock
Sec 161 of Electricity Act 2003. ( The intimation of accidents (forms and
time of service notice) Rules, 2004.
 Procedures for intimation of accidents.
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Statutory Safety Provisions
Execution of electrical installation
works.
 Rule – 46
Periodical inspection and
testing of equipments.
 Rule – 63
Approval by Inspector
 Rule – 64 to 92
 Relating to distribution of HT system
safety, clearance etc.

Rule – 45
…. and many more.
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Other Provisions
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47. Testing of consumer’s installation
47A. Installation and Testing of Generating Units
48. Precautions against leakage before connection
49. Leakage on consumer’s premises
50. Supply and use of energy
50A. Additional provisions for supply and use of
energy in multi-storeyed building (more than 15
metres in height)
51. Provisions applicable to medium, high or extrahigh voltage installations
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Other provisions

ELECTRIC SUPPLY LINES, SYSTEMS AND
APPARATUS FOR LOW AND MEDIUM
VOLTAGES
– 60. Test for resistance of insulation
– 61. Connection with earth
– 61A. Earth leakage protective device
– 62. Systems at medium voltage
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Other provisions

OVERHEAD LINES, UNDER GROUND CABLES AND GENERATING
STATIONS
– 74. Material and strength
– 75. Joints
– 76. Maximum stresses: Factors of safety
– 77. Clearance above ground of the lowest conductor
– 78. Clearance between conductors and trolley wires
– 79. Clearances from buildings of low and medium voltage lines and
service lines
– 80. Clearances from buildings of high and extra-high voltage lines
– 81. Conductors at different voltages on same supports
– 82. Erection of or alternation to buildings, structures, flood banks and
elevation of roads
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Other provisions
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82A. Transporting and Storing of material near overhead lines
83. Clearances: General
84. Routes: Proximity to aerodromes
85. Maximum interval between supports
86. Conditions to apply where telecommunication lines and power lines
are carried on same supports
87. Lines crossing or approaching each other
88. Guarding
89. Service-lines from Overhead lines
90. Earthing
91. Safety and protective devices
92. Protection against lightning
93. Unused overhead lines
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Other Rules/Standards
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Beside above I.E. Rule, the following code of practice as
per I.S. & Standards shall be referred for construction.
Operation & maintenance of lines / sub-stations.
Code of practice for Earthing (IS3043 – 1966)
Code of practice for installation & maintenance of
transformer (IS1886 – 1961)
Code of practice for selection, installation and
maintenance of transformers (IS10028 part-III – 1981)
Specification of insulating oil for transformers and
switchgear (IS335 – 1963)
Code of practice for maintenance of insulating oil (IS1866
– 1961)
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Other Rules/Standards
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Guide for safety procedure and practices in electrical work
(IS5216 – 1969)
R.E.C. safety manual 3/1974
R.E.C. specifications and construction standards 1/1971 &
1981
R.E.C. manual 6/1976 installation & maintenance manual
for 33/11 KV sub-station.
R.E.C. manual 7/1975 maintenance manual for 33 KV, 11
KV lines, medium & low voltage lines.
R.E.C. manual 10/1976 manual for design of 33/11 KV
sub-stations for rural electrification system.
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Reasons of accidents
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Snapping of Conductors.
Accidental contact with live electric wire / equipment.
Violation / neglect of safety measures / lack of
supervisions.
Defective appliances / apparatus / tools.
Inadequate / lack of maintenance.
Unauthorised work / Sub-standard construction.
Others reasons (inadequate knowledge / training of the
work force, leakage of current etc.)
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Snapping of conductors
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–
–
–
–
–
–
Snapping of Conductors attributed to
Ageing of conductors / insulators.
Improper sag.
Non-standard spans.
Inadequate supervision during construction and
monitoring thereafter.
Inadequate maintenance.
Non-availability of skilled manpower and tools
to carry out repair works etc.
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Snapping of Conductors

Remedial measures:
– Proper inspection during construction and before
energisation followed by regular monitoring.
– History of the line is to be built up as a data base
to asses the ageing of conductors / insulators.
– Replacement of aged conductors / insulators
wherever warranted.
– Maintaining the standard spans and proper
stringing
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Accidental contact with live electric wire /
equipment
This happens to mostly with the employees / operating
staff of the utilities. It has been estimated that about 11% of
total reported cases / fatalities are due to accidental contact with
live system
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Operating staff not properly skilled / trained.
Similarly, the work is not being supervised by qualified personnel
Inadequate ground clearance / operational clearance of the live parts.
Ignorance about the discharging line / equipment before starting of
maintenance work / repair works.
Error in isolation of supply.
Non-availability of safety tools & devices (as per IE Rule 36)
Absence of clear instructions and supervision i.e. standard codified
maintenance manuals should be prepared which will guide the
maintenance personnel to follow the standard instruction including line
clearance / return procedure.
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Violation/neglect of safety
measures/lack of supervision
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Formulation of safety policy
Training to the workforce
Enforcement of safety practices
Adequate supervision
Fast acting protection relays / releases may
be considered for distribution lines.
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Unauthorised work/ defective
appliance/apparatus/tools
Around 6 to 7% of the reported cases of accidents / fatalities
is due to the reason of un-authorised work / defective
appliances / apparatus etc
 Unauthorised work should be checked in accordance with the
various available legal / mandatory provisions.
 Scrupulous follow up of various quality control orders of Govt.
may help in reducing the large number of accidents caused by
sub-standard appliances / equipment.
 The owners of the installation should provide approved type
of safety tools and protective equipment to operating staff /
workmen and ensure use of safety devices.
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Present Scenario
180
160
140
120
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
100
80
60
40
20
0
Total
Human
Animal
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Analysis of Voltage class
1% 7%
32%
EHV
33 KV
11 KV HT
MV
60%
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Case Studies

Electrical accident of Mini bus
– Due to contact of luggage carrier along with a bicycle with
one of the conductor of a 11 KV feeder under SOUTHCO
– Low height of the conductor : 3.51m < 6.1m
– 1 fatal, 15 no-fatal.

Electrical accident of villager
– Physical contact with live conductor
– Low height of the LT line due to damage of pin binding. 1
fatal
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Provision of penalty on breach of Acts
and Rules
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142. non-compliance of directions by Appropriate
Commission.
In case any complaint is filed before the Appropriate Commission by any
person or if that Commission is satisfied that any person has contravened
any provisions of this Act or rules or regulations made thereunder, or any
direction issued by the Commission, the appropriate Commission may
after giving such person an opportunity of being heard in the matter, by
order in writing, direct that, without prejudice to any other penalty to
which he may be liable under this Act, such person shall pay, by way of
penalty, which shall not exceed one lakh rupees for each
contravention and in case of a continuing failure with an
additional penalty which may extend to six thousand rupees for
every day during which the failure continues after contravention of the
first such direction.
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Provision of penalty on breach of Acts
and Rules

146. Punishment for non-compliance of orders or directions.
Whoever, fails to comply with any order or direction given
under this Act, within such time as may be specified in the
said order or direction or contravenes or attempts or abets
the contravention of any of the provisions of this Act or any
rules or regulations made thereunder, shall be punishable with
imprisonment for a term which may extend to three
months or with fine, which may extend to one lakh
rupees, or with both in respect of each offence and in the
case of a continuing failure, with an additional fine which may
extend to five thousand rupees for every day during which
the failure continues after conviction of the first such offence.
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Suggestions
– The divisional office, sub-divisional office and section office shall display
telephone nos. of the key persons and area Electrical Inspector / Deputy
Electrical Inspectors / Asst. Electrical Inspectors for general public so that
information on accidents can be reported by the any public.
– Training and skill development of the workforce shall be a mandatory activity
of the utilities.
– Prepare and follow a maintenance manual for lines and sub-stations. The
manual must include the procedure of taking line clearance (LC) & LC returns.
– District administration need to ensure electrical safety clearance certificates on
every temporary connection given to Melas, Yatras, Exhibitions etc. (The
accident like Madhuban (Baripada) fire hazards & fatalities may not be
repeated)
– All the utilities shall be advised to prepare a safety manual for their activities
and specify the functions and responsibilities of each category of involved
personnel / Officers. The safety office of the utilities has the responsibilities to
oversee to the adherence of the duties / functions.
– Avoid misuses of danger board / danger notice. Use in the appropriate places
to create the potentially of electricity danger.
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Need of the hour
The accident figures of the past few years
indicates a rising trend.
 Need to reduce (eliminate) accidents and
fatalities
 Detailed study on the subject to identify the
causes and adopt remedial measures
 Un-stinted support from DISTCOS for
complying to statutory safety requirements.
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Neither safety nor accidents happen
…....they are both caused by us
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Thank You
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