Eskom Life Saving Rules Implementation of the Eskom Life Saving Rules

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1 Eskom Life Saving Rules Implementation of the Eskom Life Saving Rules

2 LIFE SAVING RULES WHY DO WE HAVE THEM? Life Saving Rules are Non-negotiable Rules All Eskom Employees, Agents, Consultants, suppliers Contractors and Visitors must comply with them. These rules are generally determined in terms of the consequences of the behaviours they describe, i.e. if a particular set of behaviours or actions that have a very high probability of causing disabilities or fatalities, when performed. These rules are created to enforce zero tolerance of serious at risk behaviours. Five rules have been developed that will apply to all Eskom employees and contractors. There may be instances where divisions have additional Life Saving Rules addressing their specific risks and these will be supplementary to the generic Eskom wide rules. 2

3 RULE 1 : Open, Isolate, Test, Earth, Bond and/or Insulate before Touch No person may work on any electrical network unless: He / she is trained and authorised as competent for the task to be done. A pre-task risk assessment to identify all risks and hazards has been conducted prior to any work commencing. An equipotential zone is created for each worker on the job site by earthing, bonding and/or insulating according to approved procedures. All conducting material is connected together, all staff on site wear electrical safety shoes and insulating techniques are applied according to standards. The authorised person (team leader) has certified and shown all team members that the apparatus is safe to work on. 3

4 RULE 2 : Hook up at Heights Working at height is any work performed above a stable work surface, or where a person puts himself/herself in a position where he/she exposes himself/herself to a fall from or into. No person may work at height where there is a risk of falling unless: A pre-task risk assessment to identify all risks and hazards has been conducted prior to commencing any work at height. You are appropriately trained. You are appropriately secured during ascending and descending. You are using an approved fall arrest system where applicable. 4

5 OHS Act: Construction Regulation 8 Fall Protection Fall Prevention Equipment means equipment used to prevent persons from falling from an elevated position, including personal equipment, body harness, body belts, lanyards, lifelines or physical equipment, guardrails, screens, barricades, anchorages or similar equipment; Fall Arrest Equipment - means equipment used to arrest the person in a fall from an elevated position, including personal equipment, body harness, lanyards, deceleration devices, lifelines or similar equipment, but excludes body belts; Fall Protection Plan - means a documented plan of all risks relating to working from an elevated position, considering the nature of work undertaken and setting out the procedures and methods to be applied in order to eliminate the risk; Procedure: Working at Heights 5

6 RULE 3 : Buckle Up A person driving any vehicle on Eskom business and/or on Eskom premises: MUST always wear a seat belt (passengers as well) Note: Employees are encouraged to follow this rule even during personal driving time and to encourage family and friends to always wear their seatbelts. 6

7 Rule 4: BE SOBER OHS Act: GSR 2A Intoxication 1. Subject to sub regulation (3), an employer or a user shall not permit any person who is or who appears to be under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, to enter or remain at a workplace. 2. Subject to sub regulation (3), no person at a workplace shall be under the influence of or have in his or her possession or partake of or offer any other person intoxicating liquor or drugs. 3. An employer or a user shall, in the case where a person is taking medicines, only allow such person to perform duties at the workplace if the side effects of such medicine do not constitute a threat to the health or safety of that person or other persons at the workplace. 4. Procedure: Management of Substance Abuse 7

8 Rule 5: Ensure that you have a Permit to Work Where an authorisation limitation exists, no person shall work without the required Permit to Work (PTW), which is governed by Plant Safety Regulations, Operating Regulations for High Voltage Systems (ORHVS), etc. No plant is to be returned to service without the cancellation of all permits on the plant in accordance with procedure. 8

9 Consequences of Violating a Cardinal Rule In terms of general health and safety in Eskom if any of the Cardinal Rules is not adhered to, it will result in a disciplinary process, which will have the power of dismissal. It must be highlighted that Eskom takes a ZERO TOLERANCE stance to violation of these rules and will therefore push for a sanction of dismissal during a disciplinary hearing. If a Life Saving Rule is broken the consequences need to be applied consistently and uniformly. NB: The Contractors and suppliers have their own Disciplinary code which they should use to discipline violators. NB: The Contractors and suppliers have their own Disciplinary code which they should use to discipline violators. 9

10 Guidelines for Successful Implementation Communicate the rule and the objective behind the rule. This is to get people to reasonably accept the rules. Measure understanding and document acknowledgement of Life Saving Rules Make sure that all procedures, equipment and training are in place and that any barriers to compliance are addressed. Track and publish statistics on Life Saving Rule violations. Ensure that there has been proper implementation and communication prior to introducing any sanctions. The role of supervisors and middle management in the implementation process is critical. 10

11 THANK YOU