Safety considerations when undertaking public lighting works on ESB's overhead and underground LV network. The webinar will cover training requirements, approvals, Live Working policies, Live Working procedures, interactions with ESB Networks and overall safety considerations that need to be adhered to by Local Authorities and their Public Lighting contractors when undertaking public lighting related works on ESB’s overhead and underground LV network. Speaker: Sean Scannell, Public Lighting Interface Manager at ESB Networks.

1. Safety Considerations when undertaking
public lighting works on ESB’s overhead and
underground LV network
Sean Scannell – Public Lighting Interface Manager
28th January 2021

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Introduction
Public Lighting Interface Manager with ESB Networks
Tel: (087) 3925167
E-mail: sean.scannell@esb.ie
16 years with ESB, including:
• 3 years in Moneypoint Power Station with ESB Power Generation
• 5 Years in Middle East with ESB International
• 2 Years as MV Network Planner with ESB Networks
Point of Contact between ESB Networks and public
lighting Stakeholders

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Background to ESB & Public Lighting
1950 – 1970: Majority of public lights (PL) were installed on existing ESB
overhead network. Local Authorities paid ESB to install and
maintain PL.
1970 – 1985: Underground 2 core concentric cable installed by ESB (on behalf
of Local Authorities) to supply PL columns.
1986: ESB Contracts established.
1985 – 2009: Underground 3 core cable (3 core SWA, 2 core NYCY with braid)
installed by a combination of ESB Contracts, LA staff and third
party contractors to supply PL columns (on behalf of LAs).
2008: Energy market deregulation. ESB Contracts closed.
Responsibility to operate, maintain, develop the PL network
fully assumed by the Local Authority sector.
2009 – Now: Underground 3 core cable installed by contractors. PL
customer service pillars and PL-ESB Interface Units (interface
between ESBs’ network and PL network) are now mandatory.

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PL Asset Ownership
ESB
minipillar
PL cust.
service
pillar

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PL Asset Ownership
Who owns what ?
ESB
minipillar
PL cust.
service
pillar

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PL Asset Ownership
ESB Networks Ownership Local Authority Ownership
Poles supporting network conductors PL Equipment - Columns, Brackets,
Lanterns, Contactors, Photocells + Control
Equipment
All network connections + service cables
to PL Interface Units
PL Switch-wire
Operational Control of PL Switch-wire PL Customer Service Pillar
Service cable to PL Customer Service
Pillar or first PL column
O/H Network PL Interface Unit
Poles supporting only PL cables +
equipment (i.e. Poles with no network
attached)

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PL Asset Ownership
ESB Networks Asset Local Authority Asset

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PL Asset Ownership
ESB Networks Asset Local Authority Asset

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Public Lighting Infographic
PL Column
x 20,000
PL on ESBN pole
x 20,000
LED

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ESB Networks PL Requirements document
First revision of the document
issued in June 2010.
Document has been reviewed by
working group consisting of ESBN,
RMO (including some Dublin
based Local Authorities) and
Dublin City Council.
The revised document circulated
to Local Authorities and their
contractors in October 2020.

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Safety Measures
• Category C Insulated Hoist
• Insulated Tools
• LV Shrouding
• Electrical Interface Equipment
• ARC Resistant Overalls
• Rubber Gloves
• PL Live Work Approval Certificate
• PL Live Work Training
• Live Work Policies and Procedures
• Pre-Work and Commissioning Checks
• Notification to ESBN of Live Work
Tools & Equipment
Live Working PPE
Training & Approvals
Work Procedures

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Category C Insulated Hoist
Certification
Certified to 46kV
(to standard: ANSI/SIA 92.2 -1990 Category
‘C’/BS or EN 61057: 1994)
Testing
2kV Annual Di-electric
GA1 6 monthly Inspection

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Insulated Tools
Certification
Insulated Tools rated for LV Live
Working 1,000V AC
(EN Standard: 60900 and/or IEC
60900)
Regularly Inspected
Stored Separately

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Live Work Equipment & PPE
LV Shrouding
Class 0, 1000V, CE marked, IEC
61112 or equivalent standard.
Helmut
Full Face Visor. EN 397, 166
Arc Resistant PPE
Arc Resistant Overalls, 7kA Rated,
Class 2 (EN Standard: 61482)
Rubber Gloves
Arc Protected, Class 0 (EN
Standard: 60903

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Live Work Policies and Procedures
The Local Authority and their Contractors are required to carry out the following:
• Designate a member of staff to have responsibility for Live Working, to be
known as the Live Working Manager (this person could also be the
Authorizing Officer or Responsible Manager).
• Write own Live Working Policy and Procedures.
• Work in accordance with latest Live Working techniques (eg. application of
shrouding)

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Pre-Work and Commissioning Checks
Pre-Work checks required before work starts on ESB Networks Pole:
Visual Inspection
Hammer Check
Stray Voltage
Commissioning Checks after work is complete:
Check P – N 230V 
P – E 230V 
N – E 0V
Loop Impedance 0 – 0.5  

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Pre-Work and Commissioning Checks

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Training and Approval Process

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Definition of Live Work
All work in which the worker reaches into the Vicinity Zone (within 300mm of
live ESB apparatus) with either part of his / her body or with tools, equipment,
or devices being handled.
All work within the Vicinity Zone or on PL
columns directly fed from an ESBN source
shall be considered Live Work.
Live Work shall include the removal of a door on a
directly fed PL column which has not had its supply
isolated.
Live Work shall not apply to activities such as switching
operations, operation of a test switch and testing for
voltage.

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PL Live Work Training
5 Day Training Course delivered in ESBs Training Centre in Portlaoise
Classroom and Practical course with Assessment on Final Day.
Delivered by full-time professional Trainers

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PL Live Work Approval
Certificate issued by Local Authorities to
Electrical Contractor.
Permits holder to undertake Live Work
on ESBs LV Network.
Shall only be issued to:
• Qualified Electrician
• Completed Training
• Assessed by Local Authority
Valid for maximum 3 Year period.

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Competence & Retention of Skills
Training
Knowledge
Experience
Holders shall retain a log of Live Work tasks.
Complete minimum 1 Live Work task per month.
Greater than 9 months…re-training required.
Competence
Retention of Skills

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Safety Audits
Safety Audits are carried out regularly by ESB Network and Local Authorities to
ensure that PL work is being carried out in accordance with ESB Networks
requirements.
Monthly
Quarterly
Yearly
PL Contractor supervisors / managers should conduct safety
audit on their staff performing Live Work on ESBs network.
Local Authority should conduct audit of contractor staff
performing Live Work on ESBs network.
Every holder of valid PL Live Work Approval should be audited at
least once per year

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Authorising Officer / Responsible Manager
Formally appointed by the Local Authority and notified to ESB Networks.
Authorising Officer and Responsible Manager attends ESB Networks Training
Course.
Authorising Officer completes their assessment of each individual contractor
nominee, with the Authorising Officer making a recommendation to the
Responsible Manager for approval.

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Notification to ESBN of Live Work
The PL Contractor shall request and receive permission from the ESB Networks
LV System Manager prior to undertaking any LV Live Work. This request can be
completed as:
(A) per Specific Written Instruction from ESB Networks LV System Manager,
OR
(B) With the agreement of ESB Networks LV System Manager, by phone call or
SMS text message sent at least 15 minutes prior to undertaking LV Live Work .

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PL Interface Equipment
Electrical interface between
ESB’s network and the PL
network.
Allows isolation of PL Equipment
and work to proceed without
ESB Networks involvement.
Protects public, contractors and
PL equipment from damage.

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PL Interface Equipment

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PL Interface Equipment
Double Access Column
• ESB Networks compartment on
the bottom.
• Local Authority compartment on
top

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Other Safety Measures
• Work on un-bonded ESBN steel poles is prohibited
• Live work by PL Contractor is only permitted during day light hours
• Opening door on PL column directly supplied from an ESBN mini-pillar is
considered ‘Live Work’.
• Not permitted to make / break connections onto ESBs network.
• Only 1 PL Contractor Company to work in each Local Authority Area

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Thank you for your time
Any Questions?