Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations

8.13 (1) Subject to subsection (4), no work on or live test of isolated electrical equipment shall be performed unless

• (a) isolation of the equipment has been confirmed by test; and

• (b) the employer has determined, on the basis of visual observation, that every control device and every locking device necessary to establish and maintain the isolation of the equipment

  • (i) is set in the safe position with the disconnecting contacts of control devices safely separated or, in the case of a draw-out type electrical switch gear, is withdrawn to its full extent from the contacts of the electrical switch gear,

  • (ii) is locked out, and

  • (iii) bears a distinctive tag or sign designed to notify persons that operation of the control device and movement of the locking device are prohibited during the performance of the work or live test.

(2) Where more than one employee is performing any work on or live test of isolated electrical equipment, a separate tag or sign for each such employee shall be attached to each control device and locking device referred to in subsection (1).

(3) The tag or sign referred to in subparagraph (1)(b)(iii) or subsection (2) shall

• (a) contain the words “DO NOT OPERATE — DÉFENSE D’ACTIONNER” or display a symbol conveying the same meaning;

• (b) show the date and hour that the control device and the locking device referred to in paragraph (1)(b) were set in the safe position or were withdrawn to their full extent from the contacts;

• (c) show the name of the employee performing the work or live test;

• (d) where used in connection with a live test, be distinctively marked as a testing tag or sign;

• (e) be removed only by the employee performing the work or live test; and

• (f) be used for no purpose other than the purpose referred to in paragraph (1)(b)(iii).

(4) If, because of the nature of the work in which the electrical equipment is being used, it is not feasible to comply with subsection (1), no work on or live test of electrical equipment shall be performed unless a guarantee of isolation referred to in section 8.14 is given to the person in charge.