Written By:

K. Walker
Number & Rev. Level (Rev. Date):
Element 7.1.3.7,
Rev. 2, (10-Dec-10)
Revised By:
A. Hendry, K. Walker
Original Issue Date:
June 6, 2000
Approved By:
D. Speidel
Page:
1 of 4
Title:
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
1.0 PURPOSE
This procedure outlines the responsibilities and activities required to ensure Quality, Health, Safety and
Environmental (QHSE) Management responsibilities are carried out associated with the use of electricity in the
workplace.
Implementation of this procedure will ensure that all M-I SWACO (Company) personnel are aware of risks
associated with the use of electricity and electrical equipment.
2.0 SCOPE
Covers all aspects of QHSE Management associated with carrying out business activities or processes involving
the use of electricity and electrical equipment. Covers all M-I SWACO personnel or any third party organization or
personnel (e.g. consultants) associated with Company business activities or processes.
3.0 RESPONSIBILITIES
The local manager is responsible for ensuring the necessary resources are made available to maintain electrical
supplies and equipment in safe working order and for ensuring that only adequately trained and qualified people
are authorized to conduct work on electrical systems and equipment.
All personnel are responsible for handling electrical systems and equipment in a safe and responsible manner, for
reporting any defects noticed and for ensuring only suitably and sufficiently trained personnel conduct work on
electrical systems and equipment.
4.0 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
M-I SWACO acknowledges that health and safety hazards may arise with the provision and use of electricity and
electrical equipment. It is the Companys intention to ensure that any risks associated with electricity such as:
death or injury to persons from: electric shock, electrical burns, electrical fires, electric arcing or explosions
initiated or caused by electricity are reduced to a minimum.
This procedure covers the normal use of equipment supplied with electrical power in use in workshops, offices,
sites, warehouses and accommodation. The equipment may be fixed or portable. Risks associated with testing or
maintenance is also covered.
Any person using equipment supplied with electrical power is at risk if that equipment is incorrectly or
inadequately maintained, untested or has not undergone periodic examination or maintenance. Maintenance and
repair personnel are especially at risk if the equipment they are testing or repairing is not correctly isolated from all
possible sources of electrical power. Persons not directly involved with the installation, test or repair may be
Title:
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
Page:
2 of 4
Number & Rev. Level (Rev. Date):
Element 7.1.3.7, Rev. 2, (10-Dec-10)
placed in danger if the correct procedure for isolation is not carried out, refer to Element 7.1.3.12 Lock Out Tag
Out.
Electrical hazards are associated with the following:
the fixed installation;
electrically powered tools;
portable electrical appliances; and
leads, connectors and other components of electrical tools and appliances.
The following actions should eliminate or reduce the risk associated with the above hazards to an acceptable
level. The analysis of the likelihood and severity of harm being caused by electrical equipment, taking into account
the preventative and protective measures should be shown on the general risk assessment form. Where changes
take place in any of the activities outlined above or any other hazard is identified which is not included above, an
additional risk assessment must be carried out with details of the appropriate arrangement.
Examples of activities where a specific risk assessment will be required include:
electric welding adjacent to water or other conducting liquids;
use of electrical equipment in adverse weather conditions;
working on sites and in conditions where cable damage is likely, e.g. trailing leads in walkways, stairwells,
being, pulled over sharp edges, or at heights where cables may be unsupported putting strain on cable
clamping devices;
use of computer controlled equipment;
working near overhead and underground power lines;
portable equipment used outside;
testing, maintenance and the provision of electrical services in flammable risk areas or explosives
magazines;
provision and/or maintenance of electrical services in areas adjacent to bulk or bottled gas storage areas;
any requirement for working on electrically live equipment; and
provision of electrical services in buildings during the construction phase.
4.1 Planning and Organizing
The site manager will ensure that any electrically powered equipment, service or portable apparatus in use on
their premises is of an approved type which meets the requirements of appropriate countrys legislation and
standards. Where no specific country legislation exists, as a minimum, all electrical equipment used on site must
be inspected and approved by suitably qualified person prior to putting into service. All electrical equipment shall
be tested and maintained to a safe standard by qualified personnel in accordance with the control measures
outlined below.
1. The fixed systems will be installed to appropriate countries standards and legislative requirements, and
will be maintained and tested at intervals as specified by the manufacturer.
2. Portable apparatus will be maintained and tested at intervals specified by the manufacturer. Equipment
requiring to be operated outdoors or in a workshop environment, where possible, should be suitable for
use on a 110 volt supply and should be fed from a double wound, center tapped to earth transformer.
Thus ensuring that the maximum voltage with reference to earth is 55 volts. Alternatively a residual
current device, suitably rated circuit breaker or similar, country specific, fault trip device should be used
to minimize the risk of electrical shock.
Title:
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
Page:
3 of 4
Number & Rev. Level (Rev. Date):
Element 7.1.3.7, Rev. 2, (10-Dec-10)
3. Work to be completed on or near live equipment will require a risk assessment to be completed prior to
commencing with the work. This should justify both that the work cannot be carried out while the
equipment is dead, PPE required i.e. rubber gauntlets, rubber matting, insulated hand tools, and that it
is safe to carry out the work while the equipment is live.
4. All maintenance and testing of electrical plant and portable equipment is to be carried out by employees
or contractors who have been trained and certified as competent.
5. All power supplies will be fully isolated, labeled and locked in the off position while work is in progress
on the circuit or system. Where electrical isolators do not have provision for locking out circuit, breaker
or fuses should be switched off or pulled and the circuit conductors disconnected to ensure supplies
cannot be switched on accidentally.
6. Battery power banks will be of an approved construction, fitted with safety isolators and provided with
adequate ventilation extraction.
7. Suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety equipment will be provided.
5.0 TRAINING
The site manager will ensure that sufficient persons have been trained to carry out maintenance and testing of
equipment and services provided for use on M-I SWACO premises. Where contractors are to be used, only those
with the required qualifications will be hired to complete electrical work.
The site manager will ensure that a record of training is maintained on site. This will list the competence level of all
electrically trained staff, together with details of specialist courses completed by staff. Where contractors' or
subcontractors' staff are used on site, copies of their training records will be held by the site manager.
All persons required to install, maintain, repair or test electrical equipment, whether employees or contractors'
staff, shall have received training to ensure they have the competence to carry out the work in accordance with
any current country legislative requirements and standards. Any person required to operate equipment powered
from electrical sources will be given instruction and practical training in the use of the equipment.
All equipment in use within the Company's premises (or on client's sites when being used by the Company's
employees as part of a contract) is at all times safe to use, tested and maintained in accordance with the
maintenance schedule. Records of all electrical systems on site and all portable plant, together with the
manufacturer's specification and data on when the equipment was first used, tested "on site" and maintained, is to
be kept up to date by the appropriate personnel.
The site manager will ensure that PPE and safety equipment is used when needed to provide the required degree
of protection to those working on electrical equipment and systems, and others in the area or who may be affected
by the work.
A permit to work safety system is to be used where work is to be carried out:
on equipment in hazardous areas;
in confined spaces;
at height;
where "upstream or downstream" activities and operations require safety consideration prior to working
on equipment; or
where equipment being worked on is "dead" but is located adjacent to live "bus bars".
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ELECTRICAL SAFETY
Page:
4 of 4
Number & Rev. Level (Rev. Date):
Element 7.1.3.7, Rev. 2, (10-Dec-10)
This system should be in accordance with Element 7.1.3.10 Permit to Work.
Persons working on the electrical installation, or using portable electrical equipment, will report any defects noted
immediately. The site manager will ensure that any defective equipment is withdrawn from use immediately when
the problem is discovered and is prevented from any possible inadvertent use until it has been repaired and
tested.
6.0 RECORDS
6.1 Inspections
The site manager or their designated person will carry out random inspections of the work areas at intervals not
exceeding three months to ensure that safety arrangements are being complied with. The QHSE Representative
will ensure that audits are completed in all work areas of the organizations premises at scheduled intervals.
6.2 Event Investigation
Any QHSE Event involving an electric shock or burn to an employee or contractor working on M-I SWACO
premises, or electrical failure, fire or explosion involving electrical equipment, will be fully investigated and
documented by the site manager and the QHSE Representative.
6.3 Risk Assessment Review
This risk assessment and arrangement will be reviewed at intervals not exceeding two years, or when there is a
reported QHSE Event, or a change in the activity or process.
7.0 RELATED DOCUMENTS
7.1.3.12 Lock Out Tag Out
7.1.3.10 Permit to Work
8.0 REVISION HISTORY TABLE
Revision Date Description Reviewed/Revised by
1 06-Jun-00 New document K. Walker
2 10-Dec-10 Minor Revision, Logo and font change K. Walker, A. Hendry
Warning: The controlled source document is stored on the M-I SWACO QHSE Management System SharePoint site. Any
paper version is uncontrolled and should be compared with the source document at time of use to ensure it is up-to-date.