Prologue
These ‘VESI Minimum Rules For Carrying Out High Voltage Live Work In Victoria’ have been formulated by the ‘VESI HV Live Work Committee’ and have been circulated throughout the electricity supply industry in Victoria for the guidance of persons and organisation that conduct High Voltage Live Work in Victoria.
Committee members are drawn from a broad range of experienced stakeholders representing Electricity Network Supply Companies within the State, Contracting Companies providing HV live work services and relevant Live Work Training Service Providers (RTO’s).
The Committee’s charter is not aimed at specific HV live work practices / task methods, but rather the underpinning safety rules, policies and guidelines to be applied.
The purpose of the committee, and this document, is to promote safety and draw on a broad range of experience to establish, define and document appropriate rules and minimum safety guidelines relevant to conducting High Voltage Live Work in the Victorian Electricity Supply Industry, and to provide the achievement of consistent state wide industry application.
The rules contained herein pertaining to High Voltage Live Work are the minimum standard to be applied when conducting HV live work throughout Victoria. Organisations may enhance or supplement rules provided this does not result in reduced safety standards. The underlying aim of this document is to provide a consistent set of rules and guidelines, agreeable to all stakeholders, to be applied without alteration in order to eliminate confusion to lineworkers working across the State.
It is acknowledged throughout the electricity industry that safety is of the utmost importance, in regard to carrying out works, no other consideration is of equal importance.