AEGIS Loss Control is continuously developing new products and services to assist member utilities in mitigating operational risks. We are excited to introduce another new service: Electric Utility Substation Safety and Security Inspection. This latest AEGIS Focused Services presentation provides practical advice on how to recognize conditions that may impact public safety and/or the physical security of electric substations.
Substations are integral components of all electric utility transmission and distribution systems, and represent a substantial investment for their owners. If not properly designed, constructed and maintained, these facilities can present significant exposures that could affect public safety and system reliability. The NESC stipulates that electrical equipment shall be inspected at suitable intervals. It also specifies requirements for substation fences and walls, safety signs, and fence and equipment grounding. Fences, gates and signs are intended to keep the public from entering these facilities.
There have been incidents where children, having entered electric substations by crawling through a large hole under the perimeter fence or using readily climbable objects, have been seriously injured after contacting energized equipment, lines or bus work. An effective inspection and maintenance program to identify and remediate these deficiencies promptly may prevent such incidents. Unfortunately, industry experience has shown that electric utility personnel, focused on their system’s technical and operational aspects, sometimes do not recognize deficiencies that could affect public safety.
The Electric Utility Substation Safety and Security Inspection presentation focuses on the importance of an effective inspection program and features a variety of aspects of substation safety, including:
Fences/walls
Safety signs
Grounding
Climbing hazards
Attractive nuisances
Inspection records
The program also includes lessons learned from electric contact incidents when deficiencies were not identified and properly addressed.
The Focused Services presentation generally lasts an hour and is available virtually or in person. It can be customized into a full-day program, that includes the presentation and on-site inspection of in-service facilities.
Recently, AEGIS delivered this presentation to over 200 employees at a Member company. The training was very well received and we were invited back to present in greater detail to the company’s substation inspectors.
All Focused Services℠ are available at no charge to AEGIS members with electric operations.
For more information, please visit AEGISlink.com, or contact Laura Strowbridge, Vice President of Loss Control Utility Operations, by e-mail or phone at 201.289.0787, or your designated Loss Control Senior Electric Utility Professional.
About Quick Tips
We send Quick Tips to the managers and operational professionals on our e-mail list, but please feel free to forward this to others in your organization who you feel may benefit. We would be pleased to add their names to the distribution list. Just let us know at quicktips@aegislimited.com.