CIRCULAR

ON STIPULATING CERTAIN DETAILS OF ELECTRICAL SAFETY

Pursuant to the Electricity Law dated 03 December 2004 and the Law on amendment and supplement to the Electricity Law dated 20 November 2012;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 14/2014/NĐ-CP dated 26 February 2014 on stipulating details for the enforcement of the Law on electrical safety;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 95/2012/NĐ-CP dated 12 November 2012 on regulating the functions, missions, authority and organizational structure of the Ministry of Industry and Trade;

At the request of the Head of Industrial Safety Techniques and Environment Agency;

Minister of Industry and Trade issues the Circular on the stipulation of certain details of electrical safety.

Chapter I

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Article 1. Scope of regulation

This Circular stipulates the following details of electrical safety: Safety training, grading and issuance of cards regarding electrical safety; ground wiring for houses' metal structure and constructional works inside and adjacent to the protection barriers of overhead power lines at 220kV or higher for prevention of electrical induction; electrical safety signs; arrangements for construction of residences and buildings inside the protection barriers of overhead high-voltage power lines, regulations on reporting of electrical accidents and violations against the protection barriers of high-voltage power lines.

Article 2. Regulated entities

This Circular applies to organizations and individuals working in the electricity sector and consuming electric power in Vietnam's territories and other entities concerned.

Article 3. Definitions

In this Circular, the following phrases are construed as follows:

1. Electrical operators and repairmen in rural and mountainous areas, border areas and islands are power companies’ workers practicing their profession as per the Law on Cooperatives and working in rural and mountainous areas, border areas and islands.

2. Operators, testers, builders and repairmen for power lines and electrical equipment in enterprises work for corporations that: Generate, transmit, distribute, construct and consume electric power for production activities (with private electrical substations) as per the Companies Law.

3. Employers are legal representatives or individuals who are authorized by organizations and persons directly managing workers.

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SAFETY TRAINING, GRADING AND ISSUANCE OF CARDS REGARDING ELECTRICAL SAFETY

Article 4. Individuals given training, grade and card regarding electrical safety

1. Operators, testers, builders and repairmen for power lines and electrical equipment, including dispatchers and workers who install, remove, check and inspect electricity measurement systems.

2. Electrical operators and repairmen in rural and mountainous areas, border areas and islands.

Article 5. Theoretical training

1. General training

a) Electrical diagrams and requirements for electrical safety assurance

b) Safety assurance measures for works in progress: Conduct field surveys and make written records (if required), establish plans, register tasks, organize units, require assignment sheets or orders before performing tasks, abide by work permission procedures, supervise safety issues at work, conform to work completion procedures and switch on power.

c) Technical measures for preparation of safe workplace: Cut and prevent power from turning back on in work areas, check the presence of electric power, set up barriers, place warning boards and prohibition signs, and establish safe work zone.

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dd) Features, effects, uses, maintenance methods, regulations on inspection (test) of safety equipment and work instruments commensurate with workers' assignments.

2. Specific training

a) Operators of transmission lines and electrical equipment

- For transmission lines:

+ Procedures for operation and handing of transmission lines’ issues;

+ Safety practice during: Examination of transmission lines, undertaking of live-line or off-line works, removal and trimming of plants in and near the protection barriers of transmission lines, work at height.

- For electrical equipment:

+ Operational procedures, problem handling procedures, safety procedures for electrical equipment and substations;

+ Safety practice during: Examination of electrical equipment, start or shutdown of electrical equipment, handling of electrical equipment and direct current systems;

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b) Electrical builders

- Safe practice during groundworks for electricity pylons and trenching work for underground electrical wires;

- Safety practice during installation and erection of pylons;

- Safe wiring practice for transmission lines and anti-lightning cords;

- Safe practice during installation of electrical equipment.

c) Electrical testers

- Operational procedures, problem handling procedures, safety procedures for apparatus of test stations and laboratories, test safety measures;

- Safe practice during separate tests for power generators, voltage and current transformers, electrical wires’ insulation.

d) Repairmen for transmission lines and electrical equipment

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- For electrical equipment: Safe practice upon handling of electrical equipment such as transformers, circuit breakers, power generators, high-voltage electric motors, capacitors, direct current systems.

dd) Workers who install, remove, check and inspect electricity measurement systems on site

Safe practice during installation, removal, checking and inspection of offline and live-line electricity measurement systems on site.

Article 6. Practical training

1. Use, maintenance, examination and testing of safety equipment and work instruments commensurate with workers' assignments.

2. Methods for separation of electrocution victims from power source and first aid approaches.

3. Safe practices commensurate with workers' assignments.

Article 7. Organization of training

1. Employers shall bear the following responsibilities regarding workers as stated in Section 1, Article 4 of this Circular:

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b) Select trainers as per Section 3 of this Article;

c) Organize training, examinations, grading and issuance of cards regarding electrical safety for workers who have passed tests. If they fail tests in theory or practice, failed parts of the training must be re-taken;

d) Manage and supervise internal training, grading and issuance of cards regarding electrical safety.

2. Department of Industry and Trade shall bear the following responsibilities for workers as defined in Section 2, Article 4 of this Circular:

a) Prepare written materials and stipulate training schedule commensurate with safety grade and assignments of electrical operators and repairmen in rural and mountainous areas, border areas and islands;

b) Select trainers as per Section 3 of this Article;

c) Organize training, examinations, grading and issuance of cards regarding electrical safety for workers who have passed tests. If they fail tests in theory or practice, failed parts of the training must be re-taken at employers' requests.

3. Trainers

a) Theory trainers must possess university qualifications and at least 5 years’ expertise in specialist activities that they coach.

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4. Form and duration of training

a) Initial training: It is given to new recruits. The duration of an initial training must be at least 24 hours.

b) Periodic training: It occurs on annual basis. The duration of a periodic training must be at least 8 hours.

c) Re-training: It is given to workers changing positions or safety grade, using new equipment or technology, failing tests or resuming after at least 6 months’ absence from work. The duration of a retraining must be at least 12 hours.

5. Employers may organize separate electrical safety trainings, as the case may be, according to this Circular or combine trainings in work safety, work hygiene, fire fighting or other regulated drills.

6. Employers incur expenses of training and card issuance.

Article 8. Electrical safety grade

There shall be 5 grades of electrical safety, from 1/5 to 5/5.

1. Requirements on each electrical safety grade.

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- Accomplishment of at least 80% of the initial training in theory and practice;

- Possession of knowledge of general regulations for assurance of safety during performance of assignments;

- Compliance with regulations on use and management of safety equipment and work instruments provided.

b) Grade 2/5:

- Possession of knowledge of general regulations and safety measures for assurance of safety during performance of assignments;

- Compliance with regulations on use and management of safety equipment and work instruments provided;

- Possession of knowledge of methods for separation of electrocution victims from power source;

- Possession of knowledge of first-aid approaches for electrocution victims.

c) Grade 3/5:

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- Possession of abilities to detect violations and unsafe behaviors;

- Possession of knowledge for examination and supervision of workers coping with power lines or electrical equipment.

d) Grade 4/5:

- Similar requirements for grade 3/5;

- Possession of thorough knowledge of responsibilities and work scope of each division joining in assignments;

- Possession of knowledge for safe practices and supervision of workers at work;

- Possession of abilities to analyze and investigate electrical problems and accidents.

dd) Grade 5/5:

- Similar requirements for grade 4/5;

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2. Occupational eligibility by safety grade

a) Personnel graded 1/5 shall be eligible for:

- Assignments that require no contact with energized equipment or transmission lines;

- Provision of supports to divisions that cope with electrical equipment and transmission lines.

b) Personnel graded 2/5 shall be eligible for:

- Assignments given to holders of grade 1/5;

- Assignments in areas where electric power has been entirely cut.

c) Personnel graded 3/5 shall be eligible for:

- Assignments given to holders of grade 2/5;

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- Live-line work with low-voltage lines and equipment;

- Performance of works on high-voltage power grids;

- Examination of substations and power lines in operation;

- Provision of work orders, direct instructions and permission to divisions and supervision of their working on low-voltage power grids.

c) Personnel graded 4/5 shall be eligible for:

- Assignments given to holders of grade 3/5;

- Live-line work with low-voltage and high-voltage lines and equipment;

- Provision of assignment sheets, work orders, direct instructions and permission to divisions and supervision of their working on transmission lines and electrical equipment.

dd) Personnel graded 5/5 shall fulfill all tasks assigned.

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1. Card issuance

a) New cards shall be issued to workers who have received initial training and passed tests or who change occupations.

b) Cards shall be reissued to workers who lost or damaged their cards.

c) Cards shall be revised and reissued to workers who change safety grade.

d) The time limit for issuance, reissuance and revision of workers' cards as per Section 1, Article 4 of this Circular must not exceed 05 working days upon workers' accomplishment of initial training, periodic training, retraining and tests or upon their petitions for replacement of cards damaged or lost.

dd) The time limit for issuance, reissuance and revision of workers' cards as per Section 2, Article 4 of this Circular must not exceed 10 working days upon workers' accomplishment of initial training, periodic training, retraining and tests or upon the Department of Industry and Trade’s receipt of their petitions for replacement of cards lost or damaged. Employers that employ workers as stated in Section 2, Article 4 of this Circular shall be responsible for submitting 01 application for training and card issuance to the Department of Industry and Trade by hand or by post. Such application includes:

- The employer’s letter of application that specifies: Full name, occupation and current safety grade of the workers;

- 02 portrait photos (2x3 cm) and previous electrical safety cards (if available) of the workers;

e) The sample card as per Appendix I of this Circular.

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a) Term of validity: Upon issuance to the date of revocation.

b) Workers at work must carry and show electrical safety cards at requests of employers or electrical safety inspectors.

3. Revocation

a) Electrical safety cards shall be revoked upon workers’ transfer or discontinuation of employment.

b) Card issuers shall be responsible for card revocation.

Chapter III

GROUND WIRING OF METAL STRUCTURE INSIDE AND NEAR PROTECTION BARRIERS OF OVERHEAD TRANSMISSION LINES AT 220 KV OR HIGHER FOR PRECLUSION OF ELECTRICAL INDUCTION

Article 10. Ground wiring range

1. At the voltage of 220 kV: 25 meters from the edge of the outer or lowest line inside and near the protection barriers.

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Article 11. Targets for ground wiring

1. Residences and buildings with metal roofs: Roofs shall be connected to the ground. Ground wiring is not required for metal parts under the roof.

2. Residences and buildings with non-metal roof: All insulated metal parts such as partitions, walls, girders, beams, rafters and window frames shall be connected to the ground.

3. All metal structures outside residences and buildings such as iron frames, aluminum panels, television antenna, clothes lines.

Article 12. Ground wiring technique

1. Ground rod is made of round steel bar in diameter of at least 16 mm or square steel bar with equivalent gauge or steel angle with smallest measurements at 40x40x4 mm. The buried part of the rod must be at least 0.8 meter long (in vertical direction). The other end of the rod protrudes from the ground (less than 0.15 meter high). The location of the ground rod must not cause inconveniences to occupants in houses and buildings. Insulation coating must not be applied on the ground rod’s surface. Ground rods prone to corrosion must be copper bonded or zinc plated.

2. Earth wire may be made of round steel wire in smallest diameter of 6 mm or flat steel wire with least measurements at 24x4 mm or multi-strand soft copper wire with least gauge of 16 mm². If earth wire is made of steel, it must be zinc plated or applied with anti-rust paint.

3. Earth wire shall be bolted or welded to the exposed part of the ground rod and the metal structure that requires ground wiring.

4. If ground wiring is readily in use, extra ground rod shall not be required though earth wire must be bolted or welded.

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1. Responsibilities for ground wiring

a) Main investor of the high-voltage power grid shall bear all expenses and responsibilities for installing the earthing system for residences and buildings that come into existence prior to the construction of the high-voltage power grid.

b) Legitimate users of residences and buildings built after the high-voltage power grid shall install the earthing system or give requests and incur all expenses for the organization managing and operating the high-voltage power grid to set up the earthing system.

2. Management of earthing system

Legitimate owners and users of residences and buildings with metal structures connected to the ground must manage the earthing system. Upon the detection of the earthing system's damage or anomalies, the organization managing and operating the high-voltage power grid must be informed promptly for joint actions.

Chapter IV

ELECTRICAL SAFETY SIGNS

Article 14. Classification of electrical safety signs

1. Electrical safety signs comprise prohibition signs, warning signs and instructional signs as shown in the following table:

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Type and content

Picture

Specification

 (Picture size and font size as per Appendix II of this Circular)

1

Prohibition signs

a

"Cấm trèo!” (“Do not climb!”) “Điện áp cao nguy hiểm chết người” (“Fatal high voltage”)

Picture 1a, 1b

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b

 “Cấm vào!” (“Do not enter!”) “Điện áp cao nguy hiểm chết người” (“Fatal high voltage”)

Picture 2

c

 “Cấm lại gần!” (“Do not approach!”) “Có điện nguy hiểm chết người” (“Fatal electricity”)

Picture 3

d

 “Cấm đóng điện!” (“Do not turn on!”) "Có người đang làm việc” (“People at work”)

Picture 4

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2

Warning signs

a

 “Dừng lại!" (“Stop!”) “Có điện nguy hiểm chết người” (“Fatal electricity”)

Picture 5

Bright red edge and lightning bolt, white background, black font

b

"Cáp điện lực” (“Electrical cable”)

Picture 6

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3

Instructional signs

a

 “Làm việc tại đây” (“Work here”)

Picture 7

Green outer background, white inner background, black font

b

 “Vào hướng này” (“Enter here”)

Picture 8

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 “Đã nối đất” (“Ground wired”)

Picture 9

Black edge and font, yellow background

2. Apart from electrical safety signs as defined in Section 1 of this Article, entities can set up other signs with different contents for internal use and for various tasks.

Article 15. Disposition of electrical safety signs

1. The sign “CẤM TRÈO!” (“DO NOT CLIMB!”) must be placed at high-voltage overhead transmission lines. The sign “ĐIỆN ÁP CAO NGUY HIỂM CHẾT NGƯỜI” (“FATAL HIGH VOLTAGE”) must be placed visibly in height of 2 to 2.5 meters above ground level at every pylon (Picture 1a or 1b, Appendix II of this Circular).

2. The sign “CÁP ĐIỆN LỰC” (“ELECTRICAL CABLE”) must be placed on the ground or the landmark at the center of the trench of underground electrical cable, which does not share space with other pipelines or cables. Signs must be placed at every turning point. The distance between two continuous signs must be at least 30 meters (Picture 6, Appendix II of this Circular).

3. The sign “CẤM VÀO” (“DO NOT ENTER”) must be placed at substations with wall barriers. The sign “ĐIỆN ÁP CAO NGUY HIỂM CHẾT NGƯỜI” (“FATAL HIGH VOLTAGE”) must be placed on substations’ doors or entrance gates (Picture 2, Appendix II of this Circular).

4. The disposition of signs for pole-mounted transformers shall conform to the regulation on high-voltage overhead transmission lines.

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6. The sign “CẤM ĐÓNG ĐIỆN!” ("DO NOT TURN ON!”) must be placed at control devices, motion drive devices and circuit breakers during power cut for performance of works.

7. The sign “DỪNG LẠI! CÓ ĐIỆN NGUY HIỂM CHẾT NGƯỜI” (“STOP! FATAL ELECTRICITY”) must be placed visibly on barriers (Picture 5, Appendix II of this Circular). 8. At marked places of work: the sign “LÀM VIỆC TẠI ĐÂY” ("WORK HERE”) (Picture 7, Appendix II of this Circular) must be placed at work areas. The sign “VÀO HƯỚNG NÀY” (“ENTER HERE") (Picture 8, Appendix II of this Circular) and the sign “ĐÃ NỐI ĐẤT” (“GROUND WIRED”) (Picture 9, Appendix II of this Circular) must be placed at work areas’ entrance.

9. The signs “CẤM TRÈO! ĐIỆN ÁP CAO NGUY HIỂM CHẾT NGƯỜI” (“DO NOT CLIMB! FATAL HIGH VOLTAGE”), “CẤM VÀO! ĐIỆN ÁP CAO NGUY HIỂM CHẾT NGƯỜI” (“DO NOT ENTER! FATAL HIGH VOLTAGE”), “CẤM LẠI GẦN! CÓ ĐIỆN NGUY HIỂM CHẾT NGƯỜI” (“DO NOT APPROACH! FATAL ELECTRICITY”) according to Article 14 of this Circular may be drawn with paint on regulated positions or on separate signposts.

Article 16. Responsibilities for disposition of electrical safety signs

Responsibilities for disposition of signs as stated in Article 15 of this Circular belong to:

1. Main investor (for newly built facilities) or operation management organization (for facilities in use) as per Section 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, Article 15 of this Circular.

2. Work supervisors as per Section 6, Article 15 of this Circular.

3. Direct leader of the division performing works or the individual permitting such division’s works as per Section 8, Article 15 of this Circular.

Chapter V

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Article 17. Arrangements for construction or renovation of residences and buildings inside protection barriers of overhead transmission lines

The arrangement of safety measures as stated in Section 2, Article 51 of the Electricity Law shall be as follows:

1. The organization managing and operating overhead power grids, in at most 05 working days upon its receipt of a written request from the building investor, must respond in writing about the field survey schedule.

2. The field survey at the expected location of construction or renovation and written arrangements with the building investor must be completed in 10 working days upon the receipt of the written request.

3. If safety measure arrangement is not attainable, the organization managing high-voltage power grids must respond in writing and specify reasons of failure to make arrangements with the building investor in 05 working days upon the field survey.

4. Details of written requests, notices of survey schedule and written arrangements abide by the Appendix III of this Circular.

Article 18. Electrical accident reporting and violations of protection barriers of high-voltage power grids

Apart from the accident reporting regulations in the laws on labor, the organization managing and operating high-voltage power grids must report to superior authorities (if applicable) and the Department of Industry and Trade according to Point c, Section 1, Article 17 of the Decree No. 14/2014/NĐ-CP, as follows:

1. Quick accident reporting

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b) Details and form of the report: The report sample is available in the Appendix IV of this Circular. Reports shall be faxed or emailed (in PDF format)

2. Reports on 6-month or annual basis.

a) Reporting time: On the 05^th of June and 05^th of December each year.

b) Details and form of the report: The report sample is available in the Appendix IV of this Circular. Reports shall be sent as official dispatch or via email (in PDF format)

Chapter VI

ENFORCEMENT

Article 19. Effect

1. This Circular comes into force as of 18 November 2014.

2. It replaces the Circular No. 03/2010/TT-BCT dated 22 January 2010 by Ministry of Industry and Trade on stipulating certain details of high-voltage power grid protection and the Decision No. 34/2006/QĐ-BCN dated 13 September 2006 by Minister of Industry on regulations on low-voltage power grid safety technique in rural areas.

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a) Electrical safety signs that display similar content in different manner compared to those defined in Section 1, Article 14 of this Circular must be replaced no later than 01 July 2016.

b) Employers are responsible for listing electrical operators and repairmen in rural and mountainous areas, border areas and islands, who were given safety cards according to the Decision No. 34/2006/QĐ-BCN dated 13 September 2006 by Minister of Industry, and request the Department of Industry and Trade to provide training and replace electrical safety cards according to this Circular no later than 31 December 2015.

Article 20. Responsibility for enforcement

1. Heads of the Ministry’s units, People’s Committees of provinces and centrally affiliated cities, and entities concerned are responsible for enforcing this Circular.

2. Industrial Safety Techniques and Environment Agency is responsible for guiding and inspecting the enforcement of this Circular on nation-wide scale.

3. Departments of Industry and Trade are responsible for:

a) Establishing plans for training, examination, grading, issuance of electrical safety cards and informing entities that employ personnel as defined in Section 2, Article 4 of this Circular;

b) Guiding and inspecting the enforcement of this Circular in their administrative territories;

c) Summarizing and monitoring electrical accidents and violations of protection barriers of local high-voltage power grids and reporting to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (through the Industrial Safety Techniques and Environment agency) on 15^th of June and 15^th of December every year.

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PP MINISTER
DEPUTY MINISTER




Cao Quoc Hung