Saudi Electricity Company ‫ﺍﻟﺸﺭﻜﺔ ﺍﻟﺴﻌﻭﺩﻴﺔ ﻟﻠﻜﻬﺭﺒﺎﺀ‬

DOM - 01- 04
DISTRIBUTION OPERATION MANUAL
ISSUE DATE: DECEMBER 15, 2004

DISTRIBUTION OPERATION MANUAL

FOR

HOLD TAG

Technical Support Department

Operation Improvement and Standard Division
Saudi Electricity Company ‫ﺍﻟﺸﺭﻜﺔ ﺍﻟﺴﻌﻭﺩﻴﺔ ﻟﻠﻜﻬﺭﺒﺎﺀ‬ DOM No. 01-04

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Table Of Content
Page

1. Purpose 2
2. Scope 2
3. Coordination with other procedures 2
4. Definitions 2
4.1. Work Permit Issuer (Switchman 2
4.2. Work Permit Receiver (Craftsman 2
4.3. Lockout 3
4.4. Work Permit 3
4.5. Hold Tag 3
4.6. Power lines 3

5. Responsibilities during Work on Portion Of power Lines and Association Equipment.3

5.1. Training 3
5.2. Personal Responsibilities 3
6. Procedural Requirement 3
6.1. Preplanning 3
6.2. Switching procedure 4
7. Procedure For Applying Locks And Hold Tags 4
7.1. Lockout Procedure 5
7.2. Hold Tag and Lockout Procedure 6
7.3. Exception to Application of Lockout and Hold Tag

8. Procedure For Verifying De Energized Condition 7

8.1. Checks on isolation 7
8.2. Verify that Equipment cannot be restarted 7
8.3. Verify that circuit and equipment are de energized 7
9. Procedure For Change Of Issuer /Receiver 7
10. Procedure For Restoring Electric Service 7
10.1. Verify Circuits and Equipment Are in Condition to Energize 7
10.2. Verify Employees are Clear of Lines and Equipment 7
10.3. Lockout and Hold Tag Device Removal 8
11. Procedure For testing Or Temporary Operation 8
12. Precaution To Be Observed When Working On De Energized Power Line And
Equipment. 8

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1. PURPOSE.

The purpose of this Manual is to provide tagging and locking procedure to be

implemented before issuing Electrical Work Permit. The purpose of this is to safeguard
persons and property from hazards arising from the installation, operation or
maintenance and restoration of distribution power lines and associated equipment.

2. SCOPE.

2.1. Covered: This DOM covers distribution power lines and associated equipment
below 69 KV.
2.2. Not Covered: Work on Low Voltage distribution system is not included in this
Manual.

3. COORDINATION WITH OTHER PROCEDURES.

The Hold Tag and Safety Lock procedure shall be implemented in coordination with
appropriate procedures for safely isolating other energy systems such as hydraulic,
pneumatic, thermal, process gases and fluids, chemical and mechanical, in order to
provide for the isolation of all energy sources that could endanger personnel.

No work shall be done on the Medium Voltage distribution system by a craftsman

without an appropriate Work Permit.

4. DEFINITIONS.

For the purpose of this Manual, the following definition shall apply:

4.1. Work Permit Issuer (Switchman): A person who is duly authorized by his Division
Head to de-energize/ reenergize in a safe manner, a piece of equipment or line and
issue the Work Permit and Hold Tag in order to allow a craftsman to perform his
work safely.
4.2. Work Permit Receiver (Craftsman): A competent person who is authorized by his
Division Head to perform work safely, and to whom the Work Permit and Hold
Tag are issued.

A contractor Craftsman shall be authorized by SEC to receive Work Permit and

Hold Tag, after receiving letter from the contractor, indicating that the subject
craftsman is competent to do his job and is with valid certificate as receiver of
Work Permit.

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4.3. Lockout: A method used to prevent inadvertent closing of switches or disconnects.

Using Safety Locks intended for the purpose is an effective method. It is designed
to deter accidental or unauthorized operation of disconnecting means.

4.4. Work Permit: Authorization issued to a craftsman to work on portion of power lines
or piece of equipment, which are normally energized, or with a possibility to be
energized, and are inherently hazardous to work on, unless all power source/s are
properly deenergized in a safe manner. This protection will be issued only, when
proven by approved method/s that lines n equipment are de-energized and safe to
perform work.

4.5. Hold Tag: The Hold Tag supplements the locks in preventing accidental or
unauthorized operation of disconnecting means. It serves as a warning against
unauthorized operation of the disconnecting means or removal of the tag.

4.6. Power lines: Overhead or underground distribution network.

5. RESPONSIBILITIES DURING WORK ON PORTIONS OF POWERS LINES

AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

5.1. IMPLEMENTATION.

The Division Head of the personnel involved in works on portions of power lines
and associated equipment shall be responsible for the implementation of the
instructions on Work Permit and Hold Tag.

The Work Permit and Hold Tag procedures shall be complied with when work is
performed on or near de-energized lines or equipment in any situation, where there
is a danger of injury due to unexpected energization of the circuit parts or
unexpected start-up of equipment.

5.2. TRAINING

5.2.1. The supervisor shall ensure, that personnel who are assigned to work on, or
near de-energized power lines or equipment, are properly trained and
understand the purpose of the Hold Tag and Lockout and Work Permit
procedures that apply to their specific work assignments.

5.2.2. Operating Areas, with the assistance of Industrial Security Department will
conduct seminar to familiarize switchmen and craftsmen on the contents of this
DOM. Personnel involved shall be familiarized to understand the safety
significance of their responsibilities in implementing the procedures.

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5.3. PERSONNEL RESPONSIBILITIES

5.3.1. Switchman: It is his responsibility to provide a safe working facility for

craftsmen on the power lines or equipment by properly de-energizing/isolating
the power lines at all possible points of potential sources from which it can be
energized, and implement installation of locks and Hold Tags at all such
points, and system grounds where available
5.3.2. Craftsman: It is the responsibility of the craftsman as the receiver of Work
Permit to perform his job safely. He is responsible in following the correct
procedures on Work Permit and Hold Tag for the protection of himself and his
crew in addition to the proper use of prescribed personal protective equipment
applicable for the job. He shall apply personal grounds at suitable locations to
ensure his protection. The craftsman must always have Work Permit and the
third portion of the Hold Tag at the job site.

6. PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENT

The following procedural requirement shall be implemented to assure, that lines and
equipment, which are to be de-energized for craftsmen safety will be safely isolated
from all electric energy sources, and any stored electrical or mechanical energy, that
might endanger craftsmen will be released or restrained.

6.1. Preplanning shall be done in order to determine where and how electric energy
sources can be disconnected to safely de-energize lines and equipment that are to
be worked on.
Boundaries or interfaces between energized portions and de-energized portions
should be properly defined and marked, to avoid confusion on the switchman and
craftsman.

6.2. Switching procedure shall be prepared by Operations Unit so that electric

equipment involved shall be safely de-energized in accordance with the following:

6.2.1. The lines and equipment to be de-energized are disconnected from all energy
sources.

6.2.2. Disconnecting devices are operated only by person authorized as Issuer of

Work Permit. Control circuit devices such as push buttons, selector switches,
or electrical/mechanical interlocks that de-energize electric power switches
indirectly through contactors, controllers, or electrically operated
disconnecting devices shall not be used as the sole disconnecting means for de-
energizing circuits or equipment that are to be worked on.

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6.2.3. The procedure shall include requirements for releasing stored electric or
mechanical energy, which may endanger personnel. All capacitors shall be
discharged and high capacitance elements shall be short circuited and grounded
before the associated equipment is touched or worked on. Springs shall be
released or physically restrained when necessary to immobilized mechanical
equipment.

6.2.4. Where potential source of back feed is apparent due to customer generating
equipment accidental connection to SEC power lines/equipment, additional
safeguards should be planned for field implementation by
switchman/craftsman. The method shall include point of customer feeder’s
isolation and application of protective ground to prevent potential back feed.

7. PROCEDURE FOR APPLYING LOCKS AND HOLD TAGS

After disconnecting all possible sources of electrical and mechanical energy and proof
of disconnection had been done by testing and grounding, Locks and Hold Tags shall
be applied to ensure that the lines and equipment will not be reenergized without prior
notification to all craftsmen, who are assigned to work on or near the de-energized line
or equipment. Both Locks and Hold Tags shall be required to be placed on each
disconnecting means, that is used to de-energize the lines or equipment to be worked
on. The Locks and Hold Tags shall be attached in a manner that impedes the operation
of the disconnecting means.

7.1. Lockout Procedure

Only approved Safety Locks (Ref. DOM 01-02) shall be used by craftsmen to lock
the isolating devices. These locks and their individual, numbered keys shall be
issued and controlled by the authorized personnel’s Unit Head. The spare keys of
Safety Locks shall be kept systematically and securely by the Unit Head.

7.1.1. After the craftsman affixed his signature on the safety control portion of the
Hold Tag, and the third portion is issued to him, the switchman shall remove
the Security Locks and require the craftsman to install his Safety Lock.

7.1.2. After completion of the work each Safety Lock shall be removed from each
electric disconnecting means by the craftsman who applied the lock for his
protection.

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7.1.4 In case of loss of the Safety Lock’s key, the duplicate key kept with craftsman’s
supervisor can be used to open the Safety Lock. This event should be
documented. Duplicate key should be used in presence of both the switchman and
the craftsman.

In cases duplicate key is not available, the padlock may be broken or forced open
with the permission of the craftsman’s supervisor / Foreman, which will be
documented. Cutting or forcible opening of the padlock will be done in the
presence of both the craftsman and the switchman.

7.2 Hold Tag and Lockout Procedure

Hold Tags (see fig 1) shall be installed to supplement the locks in preventing
accidental or unauthorized operation of disconnecting means. It serves as a
warning for unauthorized operation of the disconnecting means and also for
recording and control. The following procedure should be strictly followed:

7.2.1 When all switches and disconnects have been opened, or controllers have been
held inoperative the switchman shall fill up spaces provided in the first, second,
and third portion of the Hold Tag, except for the portion for craftsman’s
signatures.

7.2.2 The craftsman will sign the second portion (safety control portion) of the Hold
Tag, after being sure that the lines/equipment had been verified to be de-
energized as per Clause 8.0 and Safety Locks have been installed by him.

7.2.3 The switchman will then tie first (top) portion of the Hold Tag at the
disconnecting means, and give the third portion to the craftsman. The second
portion (safety control) will be kept by the switchman for control reference,
when the third portion will be released to him by the craftsman for closing out.
Both the switchman and craftsman will follow the lockout procedure.

7.2.4 Hold Tag shall not removed from any device unless authorized, doing so will
cause for disciplinary action.

7.2.5 Each disconnecting means shall be properly tagged with an approved Hold Tag.

When Hold Tags cannot be attached to a device, they shall be attached to a

conspicuous point, as close as possible. In case of switchgear where Power
Circuit Breakers are lowered or rolled out, the control which would raise or roll
the breaker to its operating position shall be tagged.

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Multiple Hold Tags shall be issued and installed on a single disconnecting

means when more than one craftsman are working independently. One set of
Hold Tags should be issued and installed for each craftsman.

7.2.6 After completion of the work, the craftsman will then sign Work Permit and the
space provided on the third portion of the Hold Tag, and return the signed
portion to the switchman after making sure, that all works have been safely
completed, and that all men under his charge have been withdrawn and warned
that it is no longer safe to work on the line/equipment specified, and all gears,
tools and any protective grounds installed have been cleared or removed.

7.2.7 Each lock and Hold Tag shall be removed from each electric disconnecting
means by the authorized craftsman and switchman, who applied the devices.

7.3 Exception to Application of Lockout and Hold Tag

7.3.1 Applying Hold Tags only Where locks cannot be applied, or are not feasible due
to the existing design of the equipment, which are not provided for the
application of lock, application of Hold Tags only shall be permitted, provided it
can be demonstrated, that additional safe method will be implemented. The
method shall provide equivalent safety precautions that clearly prohibit
unauthorized or accidental energizing of the circuits or removal of the Tag, and
the use of Tag is accompanied by an additional safety requirement. The
switchman is qualified to implement the method and the craftsman is authorized
and trained to perform the work with a level of safety, equivalent to using both
locks and tags. The method shall include the following additional precautions:

7.3.1.1 Removal of an isolating circuit element and/or blocking of a controlling

switch.

7.3.1.2 Positively disabling the source/s of potentials by means of removing

fuses, links and or disconnecting the cables from power source/s, and the
rule of applying grounds are strictly followed.

7.3.1.3 Access of unauthorized person is prevented by use of other means of

mechanical locking devices such as Safety Lock on the enclosure of the
equipment.

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8. PROCEDURE FOR VERIFYING DEENERGIZED CONDITION.

After locks and the first portion of the Hold Tag have been applied by the switchman
on all disconnecting means, the following actions shall be accomplished to determine
if all electric energy sources have been disconnected and the equipment is held
inoperative:

8.1 Checks on isolation, The fact of isolation shall be checked and verified by
observing the break on the circuit prior to grounding.

8.2 Verify that Equipment cannot be restarted, where applicable, operate the
equipment operating control, such as push buttons, selector switches, and
electrical interlocks, or otherwise verify that the equipment cannot be restarted,
i.e., automatic devices are deactivated.

8.3 Verify that circuit and equipment are deenergized, Test the circuits, and
equipment by the use of appropriate test equipment to verify that the circuits
and equipment are deenergized. Voltage testers shall be checked for proper
operation immediately before and immediately after the test.

9. PROCEDURE FOR CHANGE OF ISSUER/RECEIVER

Work Permits may be transferred in compliance with the procedure given in the DOM
for Work Permit. The incoming and the outgoing Work Permit Receivers (craftsmen)
will go to all disconnecting means where the outgoing craftsman has installed Safety
Locks. The outgoing craftsman will remove his locks and the incoming craftsman will
install his Safety Locks

10. PROCEDURE FOR RESTORING ELECTRIC SERVICE

10.1 Verify Circuits and Equipment Are in Condition to Energize,

Before power lines and equipment are reenergized, all appropriate tests and visual
inspections shall be conducted to verify that all tools, mechanical restraints and
electrical jumpers, shorts and grounds have been removed, so that the circuits and
equipment are in a condition to be safely energized.

10.2 Verify Employees are Clear of Lines and Equipment,

Before power lines and equipment are reenergized, all affected employees shall be
notified to stay clear of the lines and equipment, and warned that it is no longer

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safe to work on the affected lines. There shall also be a visual verification by the
switchman, that all employees are in the clear.

10.3 Lockout and Hold Tag Device Removal,

Each lock and Hold Tag shall be removed from each electric disconnecting means
by the authorized craftsman and switchman, who applied the devices.

10.4 Releases for Energizing,

Where appropriate, an employee responsible for operating the machine or process

which was deenergized and where work was undertaken, shall be notified by the
switchman/craftsman when lines and equipment are ready to be energized, and
such employee shall provide assistance as necessary to safely energize the lines
and equipment.

11. PROCEDURE FOR TESTING OR TEMPORARY OPERATION

Where there is a need for testing or temporary operation of circuits and equipment
which have been deenergized and locked out and tagged out, paragraph 10, Procedure
for Restoring Electric Service shall be followed.

12. PRECAUTIONS TO BE OBSERVED WHEN WORKING ON DEENERGIZED

POWER LINES AND EQUIPMENT.

The following precautions shall be observed when working on deenergized lines and
equipment:

12.1 When the switchman has carried out the disconnecting of the power lines and/or
equipment at every isolation point, where it can be energized, and have verified
that the lines or equipment has been deenergized as per paragraph 8, Procedure for
Verifying Deenergized condition.

12.2 No person is allowed to work on a deenergized line or equipment unless he is fully

aware of the nature and also the extent of the work he is about to do. Unless the
craftsman himself had witnessed or he himself checked and verified, that the lines
are deenergized and grounded, he must not take the initiative of working on the
lines or equipment as if it is deenergized.

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12.3 Switchmen and craftsman shall use all necessary safety equipment approved
for the type of job. In addition to the appropriate safety shoes and safety hat,
rubber gloves, goggles, visors, insulating rods and handles, etc…, that may be
required for deenergizing, testing and for safe completion of the job and
restoration of power.
12.4 Craftsman shall work only within the safe boundaries defined or identified by
his supervisor or person in charge, which was discussed to him during
planning of the job and before start up.
12.5 Where personal protective ground cannot be installed at isolation points that
are not under the jurisdiction of the company, additional precautions are
required to eliminate potential back feed sources. Special safe working
procedure shall be planned for implementation. (See par. 6.2.4)

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