TYPICAL AUTHORISATION TEST QUESTIONS

Q1. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE SAFETY RULES?

A. These rules are designed and intended for the protection of the authority’s staff
and other persons against loss of life or limb and injury or damage to persons or
property, the prevention of loss, damage or destruction of authority property and
to ensure a safe and secure environment for the efficient control, operation and
maintenance of the authority’s plant and equipment.

Q2. Who gets issued with the safety rulebooks?

A Employees who are permitted or required to control,
Operate or maintain any of the authority’s generation,
Transmission or distribution plant or equipment.

Q3. Who is the chief executive’s appointed representative in?

the context of these rules at the power station?
A. The chief executive’s appointed representative at the
power station is the general manager.

Q4 who can cause variation of the safety rules?

A. These rules may, at any time, be reviewed and revised by
The chief executive or his authorised representative, in
Which event all employee’s issued with the rules or engaged in the control,
operation or maintenance of the authority’s plant or equipment shall be advised in
writing of such revisions.

Q5. Where do you place revisions of the safety rules?

A. in your safety rule book issued, which has a revisions
containing a table. Each revision to the electrical safety rule will be numbered
and this table is provided
So that you can record the revision as they are received and fixed in your copy
of the rules. this will
enable you to keep your copy up to date.

Q6. Why do those that get issued with these rules sign for
them?
A. as proof of receipt of copy. the copy is kept in your
personal file and becomes part of your condition of service.

Q7. how many safety rule books are there, name them?
A. There are 3 different rule books. These are
Electrical safety rules (second edition, 1998)
Live line safety rules (supplement) (first edition, august 1990)
Mechanical safety rules (first edition, 1988).
Q8. Which statutory instrument do these rules come under?
A. The electrical safety rules come under the electricity
Act. The authority is required to comply with the provision of the electricity
act, 1985 and with any regulation made there under; all agents and employees
of the Authority are required to conduct their work in accordance with the Act
and Regulations. A copy of the Act and Regulations shall be kept available for
reference in all relevant premises occupied by the Authority.

The Mechanical Safety Rules come under the Zimbabwe Factories and Works
Act.
Zimbabwe Government Factories and Works Act Chapter 2 and 3 as amended
on 5th January 1982 and relevant regulations as amended from time to time.

Q9. DEFINE A COMPETENT PERSON?

A. A person over 18 years of age who has sufficient technical knowledge and
Experience to safely carry out specific tasks/functions.

Q10. DEFINE APPROVED?

A Sanctioned by the Chief Executive or his Authorised Representative.

Q11. DEFINE A JUNIOR AUTHORISED PERSON?

A. A competent person appointed in writing by the Authority to carry out specific
Work on the Authority’s Power System in accordance with his/her Certificate
of Authorisation. A junior Authorised Person shall not issue or cancel Permit –
To – Work or Live Line Permit – To – Work or Sanction – For – Test or
Limitation – Of – Access Documents.
This category includes those whose involved in Direct Wire Board (D.W.B.)
And Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (S.C.A.D.A.) operations such
As may be found in Power Stations, Sub-Stations and Control Centres.

Q12. CAN A JUNIOR AUTHORISED PERSON APPLY OR REMOVE A CIRCUIT

MAIN EARTH?
A. No, because a Junior Authorised Person cannot issue or cancel a permit-to-work
Live line permit-to-work or sanction for test or limitation of access document.
However a Junior Authorised Person can apply or remove circuit main earths
only under the direct supervision and instruction of a Senior Authorised Person.

Q13. DEFINE A CONTRACTOR REPRESENTATIVE?

A. A competent person other than a person employed by the Authority, who is
Required to work on the Authority’s plant and equipment,
Q14. DEFINE ITEMS TO CHECK ON A CONTRACTORS REPRESENTATIVE
BEFORE ISSUE OF A SAFETY DOCUMENT?
A. 1. That the person is over 18 years of age.
2. Has sufficient technical knowledge i.e. is aware of the scope of work.

Q15. DEFINE A SENIOR AUTHORISED PERSON?

A, A competent person appointed in writing by the Authority to carry out work
and all forms of switching on the Authority’s Power System in accordance
with his/her Certificate of Authorisation.
His/her functions include those of a Junior Authorised Person.
A Senior Authorised Person is permitted to issue and cancel Permit- to-
Work, Live Line Permit-to Work, Sanction-for- Test, and Limitation of
Access Documents.
Q16. WHAT IS A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORISATION?
A. A Certificate given to a Competent Person by the Chief Executive or his
Authorised Representative confirming that he/she has proved himself/herself
capable of carrying out the duties he/she is expected to perform and defining
the limits of his/her authorisation.

Q17. DEFINE A CONTROLLER?

A. A Senior Authorised Person appointed in writing by the Authority to control
power in one or more of the specific fields of Generation, Transmission,
Sub-Transmission or Distribution and whose duties are to maintain maximum
Safety at all times to personnel and plant and equipment on the Authority’s
Power System. The Controller shall approve all operations on the Authority’s
plant and equipment and shall consent to all issues and cancellations of
Permit-to –Work, Live Line Permit-to- Work and Sanction for Test
Documents.

Q18. WHAT ARE THE DUTIES OF A CONTROLLER?

A. 1. To control power in one or more of the specific fields of Generation,
Transmission, Sub-Transmission or Distribution.
2. To maintain maximum safety at all times to Personnel and Plant and
Equipment on the Authority’s Power System.
3. Approve all operations on the Authority’s plant and equipment.
4. Consent to all issues and cancellations of Permit-to Work, Live Line
Permit-to Work and Sanction for Test Documents.

Q19. CAN THERE BE TWO CONTROLLERS AT THE STATION AT ANY

GIVEN TIME?
A. No. As this result in confusion and compromises on safety as you can
receive two conflicting instructions from two different Controllers.
Q20. DEFINE DEAD?
A. At or about zero potential with respect to earth and disconnected from any Live
System.

Q21. DEFINE ALIVE?

A. Electrically charged.

Q22. DEFINE A LIVE ENCLOSURE?

A. Any area within generating stations, switching stations or sub-stations in which
Live Conductors operating at medium voltage or above exist.

Q23. DEFINE EARTHED?

A. Effectively connected to the general mass of the earth in such a way as to ensure
At all times an immediate discharge of electrical energy without danger.

Q24. WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE FOR THE USE OF EARTHING DEVICES?

A . 1. Earthing devices shall be connected to the earth system before being secured to
the phases. The earthing connection shall only be secured to the phases by
means of a link stick or other approved equipment and care must be taken to
ensure that good contact is made.
2. All phases shall be earthed, even if work is to be done on one phase only.
3. Earthing devices shall not be applied in any busbar chamber or
compartment in which there is danger of accidental contact of the device
with any live high voltage equipment.
4. When removing earthing devices they shall be disconnected from the
phases first and the earth system last.

Q25. WHAT ARE CIRCUIT MAIN EARTHS?

A. Any earth connection which is applied on the instruction of a controller before
the issue of a Permit-to-Work or Sanction for Test.

Q26. WHAT ARE ADDITIONAL EARTHS?

A. Any earth connection which is applied after the issue of a Permit-to-Work
or Sanction for Test.

Q27. DEFINE DANGER NOTICE?

A. A portable notice in approved form attached to plant or equipment when live
Calling attention to danger of approach to or interference with, the plant or
equipment.
Q28. DEFINE CAUTION NOTICE?
A. A portable notice in approved form attached to plant or equipment and for
Its control devices conveying a warning against interference with the plant
Or equipment and/or its control devices.

Q29. WHICH OF THESE NOTICES CAN BE USED IN PLACE THE OTHER

WHEN ONE HAS RUN SHORT OF IT DURING SWITCHING?
A. A danger notice.

Q30. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A SAFETY DOCUMENT?

A. It is a form of declaration signed and given by a Senior Authorised Person to a
Competent person in charge of work for the purpose of making known to that
person exactly what plant and equipment is dead, isolated from all points of supply
and feedback, earthed and on which it is safe to work on.

Q31. NAME THE SAFETY DOCUMENTS USED AND THE DIFFERENCES

BETWEEN THEM?
A. LIMITATION OF ACCESS
A form of declaration signed and given by a Senior Authorised Person to a
competent person in charge of work in any generating station, switching station or
sub-station where a Permit-to-work, Live line permit to work or Sanction for test
is not applicable defining the limits of the area within which the work is to be
preformed.

PERMIT-TO-WORK.
A form of declaration signed and given by a Senior Authorised Person to a
Competent person in charge of work to be carried out on the Authority’s high
voltage plant and equipment for the purpose of making known to that person
exactly what plant and equipment is dead, isolated from all points of supply and
feed back, earthed, and on which it is safe to work.

SANCTION FOR TEST.

A form of declaration signed and given by a Senior Authorised Person to a
Senior Authorised Person in charge of testing of the Authority’s high voltage
plant and equipment for the purpose of making known exactly what plant and
equipment is to be tested and the conditions under which testing is to be carried
out.

Q 32. WHAT IS ROUTINE SWITCHING?

A. The operation of tap changers, switch gear including isolators, and other
methods of making or breaking a circuit.
Q33. WHAT IS EMERGENCY SWITCHING?
A. Opening of circuit breakers, links, hot line taps or other devices in order to avoid
immediate danger to life or damage to plant and equipment.

Q34. HOW DO YOU HANDLE EMERGENCIES AND DANGEROUS

SITUATIONS?
A. In emergencies you carry out emergency switching, which is the opening of
Circuit breakers, isolators, hot line taps or other devices in order to avoid
immediate danger to life or damage to plant and equipment.
All dangerous occurrences and accidents on the Authority’s power system shall
be reported immediately to the controller who shall immediately pass on the
relevant information to his/her immediate supervisor.
In addition, accidents must be reported in terms of the Electricity Act Chapter
13:05 and/or the Factories and Works Act Chapter 283.

Q35. WHAT IS THE USE OF THE WORKMAN’S DECLARATION FORM.?

A. A form signed by members of a working party acknowledging their
understanding of the nature of work to be undertaken, and the area in which it is
safe to work.

Q36. STATE THE VOLTAGE LEVELS AS SET IN THE SAFETY RULES BOOK?
A. High voltage – any voltage in excess of 650 volts.
Medium voltage – any voltage exceeding 259 volts up to and including 650
volts.
Low voltage – any voltage up to and including 250 volts.

Q37. WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY SAFE SUPPLY LIMITS?

A. Safe supply limits are operating electrical equipment within the statutory
requirements. For frequency it is +- 2.5 % and for voltage it is +- 10% for
330kv. and +-6% for 220v..

Q38. STATE SEVEN SWITCHING REQUIREMENTS REGARDING THE

OPERATION OF CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND ISOLATORS?
A 1. No switching or associated operations shall be carried out without the
Instruction of the controller except in the case of immediate danger to persons
or plant or equipment.
2. When the controller requires switching to be carried out, he/she shall
Communicate directly with the Junior or Senior Authorised person who is
to carry out the switching. In the absence of direct communication facilities
The message may be relayed by a competent third party.
3. Before any switching or associated operation is carried out on the
Authority’s Power System. Which may affect other systems the controller
shall communicate with the appropriate official(s) of the system concerned
 and the routine switching shall be agreed between them. The high voltage
switching shall be recorded at all centres concerned.
4. Switching or operations to controllers instructions shall be carried out
without undue delay. All switching operations, whether to the controllers
instructions or when there is immediate danger to life , plant or equipment.
Shall be reported to the controller as soon as possible. The circumstances
of an occurrence necessitating any emergency switching shall be reported
at the same time.
5. Should any plant or equipment show signs of faulty operation, the
circumstances shall be reported to the controller and the plant or equipment
shall be examined before further operation.
6. When any person receives instructions regarding work on, or the operation
of plant and equipment, he/she shall report any objection to the carrying
out of the instruction to the controller, who shall then have the matter
investigated, and if necessary, referred to higher authority.
7. Where the controller is not in direct/indirect communication with a Senior
Authorised Person, the controller shall hand over control of a section of the
network under his authority to the Senior Authorised Person to perform a
specific task/operation. Control is to be handed back to the controller as
soon as practicable. The control hand-over must be recorded on an
appropriate form.

Q39. WHAT SWITCHING IS FORBIDDEN AND WHY?

A. Making live or dead by signal or pre-arranged understanding after an
interval of time is forbidden. Safety of plant and personnel is compromised,
e.g. you might tell someone to energise a line after a period of time when
people could still be working , maybe due to distance or lack of
communication.
Q40. WHY ARE THE RECORDS OF H.V. SWITCHING KEPT?
A. 1. As terms of reference.
2. So as to determine the state of the plant or equipment, i.e. for example
which sections are isolated or energised.

Q41. WHAT IS LOAD ALLOCATION?

A. 1. The allocation of load to the Authority Generating Stations interconnected
with the Authority’s transmission lines and sub-stations in accordance with
the Electricity Act 1985, is the responsibility of the controller, and will be
varied by him from time to time as required by system conditions and by the
terms of any agreement entered into between the Authority and the owners of
the said interconnected station.
2. The output of other privately or publicly owned generating station whose
operation the Authority has entered into an agreement will also be supervised
by the controller to the extent required by the relevant agreement.
3.Any person receiving instruction from the controller regarding station
loading, voltage adjustment, frequency control and associated matter shall
 carry out the instructions without undue delay and shall report back the
completion of the operation to the controller.
3. When any person receives instructions regarding load allocation, he/she
shall report any objection to the carrying out of the instructions to the
controller who shall then have matter investigated and, if necessary,
referred to higher authority.

Q42. WHAT PRECAUTIONS DO YOU TAKE BEFORE CARRYING OUT WORK

ON HIGH VOLTAGE PLANT AND EQUIPMENT?
A No person shall carry out work (including maintenance, repairs, cleaning and
testing ) on any part of high voltage plant and equipment unless this part of
the plant and equipment is :-
a0 Dead
b) Isolated and all necessary steps have been taken to lock off from live plant or
equipment.
c) Efficiently connected to earth at all points of disconnection of supply to the
plant or equipment or between such points and the points of work.
d) Screened where necessary to prevent danger, fix caution and
danger notices.
e) Released for work by the issue of a Permit- To- Work or
Sanction-For-Test to a person who is fully conversant with the
nature and the extent of the work to be done.
It is the duty of the person issuing the Permit-To-Work or
Sanction-For-Test to satisfy himself/herself that the forgoing
Provisions are complied with.

Q43. WHAT PRECAUTIONS DO YOU TAKE BEFORE CARRYING OUT

WORK ON HIGH STRUCTURES AND OVERHEAD LINES?
A. a) All persons while at work on poles and high structures shall make proper use of
their safety belts and other safety equipment, wear safety clothing and shall be
in visual range of a second person.
b) Before any pole is climbed it shall be sounded or tested. No pole
badly impaired by decay or damage shall be climbed until it has
been supported by approved means, and then only climbed by
one person.
Q44. WHAT ARE ACCESS FOR VISITORS?
A. Visitors are not permitted inside any live enclosure, unless they are accompanied,
without intermission by a Local Senior Official or Senior Authorised Person of
the Authority. Visitors will be required to read and sign the Visitor’s Live
Enclosure Permit thereby indemnifying the Authority against any injury
Which may result.

Q45. WHAT ARE SAFETY CLEARANCES? GIVE THE CLEARANCES AS IN

THE SAFETY RULE BOOK.
A. When work is to be carried out in a Sub-Station in which there are exposed High
 Voltage Conductors, then unless the whole plant or equipment is made DEAD, the
Section which is to be made DEAD for work to be carried out shall be defined as
far as possible by the use of Barriers, Notice Boards or Roping arranged so that the
minimum clearance from the nearest exposed live conductor to ground level or
to any platform or access way which may be required to be used shall be:-
Rated Voltage Clearance
Up to and including 33kv. 2.75 mtrs
66kv. 3.00 mtrs
88kv. 3.20 mtrs
110kv. and 132 kv. 3.50 mtrs
220 kv. 4.50 mtrs
330kv and 400kv. 5.50 mtrs

The clearance for any intermediate rated voltage shall be that applicable to the next
higher rated voltage.
b) If the work is such that these clearances are not sufficient to avoid danger, other
approved means shall be taken to provide the requisite degree of safety.

Q46. WHAT PRECAUTIONS SHOULD YOU TAKE ON WORKING ON METAL

CLAD SWITCHGEAR IN BUSBARS?
A. When work is carried out on spouts, the following operations shall be carried
In strict sequence:-
a) The section of Busbar or Circuit on witch work is to be carried out shall
made DEAD and shall be isolated from all points of supply.
b) The isolating devices is the shutters of the live spouts shall be locked.
c) The carrying out of the above-mentioned operations shall be reported to
the Controller and further instruction received for carrying out the
following :-
i) Where practicable the busbars or circuits shall be checked by means of
an approved voltage indicator to verify that they are DEAD, the
indicator itself being tested before and after the verification.
ii) Busbars – these shall be earthed with approved earthing
equipment at a panel other than that at which work is to
be done on the isolated section of the busbars
iii) Feeder Circuits – these shall be earthed with approved
earthing equipment to the feeder.
iv) Spouts – for the purpose of earthing metal clad switchgear
approved appliances only shall be used. The insertion of the
hand or any tool into the s[outs for this purpose is
forbidden.
v) The operations set out in Rule 21.0 b,c,f and h shall also be
carried out.

Q47. WHAT PRECAUTIONS SHOULD YOU TAKE WHEN WORKING ON H.V.

 WINDINGS OF GENERATORS AND ON DIRECTLY CONNECTED UNIT
TRANSFORMERS?
A. Work on the high voltage winding of the generator and directly connected unit
transformers shall be carried out as far as practicable in accordance with the
requirements of Rule 21,0 and the following additional precautions shall be taken.:-
a) The generator shall be at rest or on barring.
b) Where motor driven exciters are provided, the switch controlling the motor
shall be opened and locked
c) The field circuit switch shall be opened and locked
d) The valves or gates controlling the prime mover shall be locked in the
closed position.
e) Caution Notices shall be attached at the points referred to in b,c,d.

Q48. WHAT PRECAUTIONS DO YOU TAKE ON MOVING CRANES AND

OTHER EQUIPMENT INTO SUBSTATIONS?
A. The Senior Authorised Person shall be directly responsible for positioning,
Erecting and any subsequent movement of cranes or equipment within the sub-
station. The cranes or other plant or equipment shall be connected to the sub-
station earthing system as soon as practicable.

Q 49, DEFINE SANCTION FOR TEST?

A. A form of declaration signed and given by a Senior Authorised Person to a Senior
Authorised Person in charge of testing of the Authority’s high voltage plant and
equipment for the purpose of making known to such person exactly what plant
and equipment is to be tested and the conditions under which testing is to be
carried out.

Q50. DEFINE PERMIT-TO-WORK?

A. A form of declaration signed and given by a Senior Authorised Person to a
Competent Person in charge of work to be carried out on the Authority’s high
voltage plant and equipment for the purpose of making known to that person
exactly what plant and equipment is DEAD, ISOLATED from all points of supply
and feed back, EARTHED, and in which it is safe to work.

Q51. DEFINE LIMITATION-OF-ACCESS?

A. A form of declaration signed and given by a Senior Authorised Person to a
Competent person in charge of work in any generating station, switching station, or
substation ( where a P-T-W , L L P.T.W., or S.F.T. is not applicable), defining the
limits of the area within which the work is to be performed.

Q52, WHEN IS ONE ALLOWED TO CARRY OUT A TEST ON A PTW

DOCUMENT?
 A. Tests on a PTW document are done for AC testing at pressures below 15kv under
The terms of a PTW already in force. This testing is on high voltage plant or
equipment.

Q53. WHEN CARRYING OUT TESTS ON A PTW WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR

TESTING?
A. The yesting is carried out by the Senior Authorised Person and the holder of the
Permit-To-Work and the details will be logged at the Control Centre and Site of
work.
The Senior Authorised Person shall ascertain from the Controller that no other
PTW has been issued on the plant or equipment other than the PTW under which
the testing is to be carried out.

Q54. DEFINE COMPETENT THIRD PARTY AND WHERE AND HOW IS A

SWITCHING INSTRUCTION CONVEYED THROUGH A COMPETENT
THIRD PARTY?
A. A competent third party is a person in any generating station, switching station or
Substation who is able to relay a message or switching instruction conveyed by the
Control Centre. The person is either Junior or Senior Authorised and the
instructions are conveyed over the telephone. The receptient may then pass on the
information. An example is NCC Lusaka conveying a message to NCC Harare via
KSPS. Communications are normally difficult between the two Control Centres.

Q55. WHAT DOCUMENTS CAN BE ISSUED INDIRECTLY AND WHAT IS THE

PROCEDURE FOR SUCH ISSUE?
A. a) In the case of work on plant or equipment, where owing to spend circumstances
or the distances involved the arrangement for direcr issue of a PTW or LLPTW
would result in delay, the PTW or LLPTW may be issued by a Senior
Authorised Person with the consent of the Controller, in accordance with these
Rules, and its contents communicated by him/her to the Competent Person in
Charge of the work by telephone.
b) The Competent Preson shall enter the details of the PTW or LLPTW in a PTW
book or other approved document and shall read the contents to the Senior
Authorised Person for confirmation. Rule 17.1 a,b,c,d,e,and f shall apply.