INTRODUCTION
Since its inception, the Polish Power Transmission and Distribution Association has been actively involved in technologies for the operation of power grids that ensure uninterruptible power supply to consumers, known as “live working”. Live working technologies were first used in Poland on a larger scale in the mid-1970s, when power plants implemented the “contact” and “remote” work methods for performing live work on low-voltage overhead lines. At that time, the Institute of Energy developed a complete set of documentation required to perform these works.
Re-development of live working technologies in Poland took place in the 1990s, when, on the one hand, the previous obstacles that hindered the development of this technology disappeared, and on the other hand, the market approach of Distribution Companies to the principles of customer service was contrary to depriving them of power supply. In 1994, technical progress and new design solutions inspired the Polish Power Transmission and Distribution Association to establish Team for Live Working. The Team was responsible for modernizing the existing and preparing new live working technologies, including developing new documentation, such as live working instructions and training programs. The Team continues its activities, and their effects include the development and implementation of consecutive live working technologies and the update of live working documentation. This resulted in the unification and modernization of training and operational documentation for live working, which further improved safety of working conditions, rules of conduct and performance of live working in Poland. These activities provided and systematically updated:
- “Instructions for live working on overhead and cable power lines and distribution devices up to 1 kV” with a set of training programs,
- “Instructions for live working in overhead networks of 15 and 20 kV using the method of >electro-insulating gloves<” along with a study guide and a package of training programs (technology provided by Electricity Supply Board International, Ireland),
- “Instructions for live working in MV overhead networks using the >remote< method” along with a package of training programs,
- “Instructions for the inspection of live power equipment up to 30 kV” together with a set of training programs – the instructions cover the inspection of indoor power stations and switchboards with a rated voltage of up to 30 kV and power switchboards with a rated voltage of up to 1 kV. The inspection includes:
– dry cleaning,
– wet cleaning,
– refilling the saturant,
– tightening the screw connections. - “Instructions for live disconnecting and connecting earthing in overhead lines up to 20 kV” together with a package of training programs.
Carrying out work under voltage in accordance with the technologies included in the instructions defined by PTPiREE requires the purchase of appropriate instructions and training of employees in one of the training centres authorised by PTPiREE to conduct training compliant with the training documentation and PTPiREE instructions – see detailed information below in the section “Purchase of live working instructions”.
Conducting training in accordance with the training documentation and PTPiREE instructions requires the training centre to sign an agreement with PTPiREE and to meet the appropriate requirements – see detailed information below in the section “ Live working training”.
PURCHASE OF LIVE WORKING INSTRUCTIONS
Performing PPN in accordance with PTPiREE documentation requires the purchase of live work instructions – the current PTPiREE offer for the sale of live work instructions includes the following items:
- “Instructions for live working on overhead and cable power lines and distribution devices up to 1 kV”,
- “Instructions for the inspection of live electrical power equipment up to 30 kV”,
- “Instructions for live working in overhead networks of 15 and 20 kV using the method of >electro-insulating gloves<“
- “Instructions for live disconnecting and connecting earthing in overhead lines up to 20 kV”
LIVE WORKING TRAINING
Carrying out work under voltage requires Distribution Companies and other companies performing such work to provide installers with appropriate equipment and tools and, most importantly, to train them in specialist live working courses. These courses are conducted in training centres and based on safe instructions and training programs. Recently, a number of disturbing events took place in Poland, resulting in inadequate training of employees (or training conducted by unauthorized persons) responsible for performing and supervising live working. This may result in serious accidents when working under voltage, caused by insufficient or incorrect training. The reasons for this include:
- various types of instructions and programs for live working prepared contrary to the safe principles of live working and the regulations in force in Poland,
- excessive desire of some training centres to attract clients by reducing costs, and thus excessively shortening the substantive scope and duration of the course, as well as conducting courses by people who do not have the appropriate qualifications and knowledge, etc. As a result, the trained persons (installers) do not have the opportunity to acquire the appropriate knowledge during the course, or to practice at least once all the live working technologies specified in the course completion certificate,
- offers for live working training conducted by unknown companies or individuals who do not have the appropriate training facilities, trained instructor staff, or appropriate documentation, but who outdo everyone else with a very low price and an incredibly short duration of the course, sometimes even carried out without practical classes.
In order to sort out the issue of live working training in accordance with the PTPiREE documentation, a decision was made to prepare uniform requirements for training centres wishing to conduct live working training compliant with this documentation. Fulfilment of these requirements and signing of an agreement with PTPiREE by a training centre authorises it to conduct live working training in accordance with PTPiREE documentation. Training centres interested in training according to PTPiREE documentation are requested to contact us at: ptpiree@ptpiree.pl
Below you will find a list of training centres that have the PTPiREE authorization to conduct training in the scope of specific PTPiREE instructions:
- Wiśniewski Nidzica Sp. z o. o. – in the scope of:
– “Instructions for live working on overhead and cable power lines and distribution devices up to 1 kV” ,
– “Instructions for live working in overhead networks of 15 and 20 kV using the method of >electro-insulating gloves<” ,
– “Instructions for live disconnecting and connecting earthing in overhead lines up to 20 kV”. - ZIAD Bielsko-Biała SA – in the scope of:
– “Instructions for live working on overhead and cable power lines and distribution devices up to 1 kV” ,
– “Instructions for live working in overhead networks of 15 and 20 kV using the method of >electro-insulating gloves<“.
At the same time, for the safety of all those wishing to train in live working, we would like to inform you that other companies or centres offering live working training in accordance with the PTPiREE instructions do so illegally, without having the appropriate knowledge and documentation. Therefore, taking care of the proper development of live working technology and the safety of people using it, we would like to inform you that this may result in improper training of employees in live working technologies, consequently leading to accidents at work.