Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations

8.22 (1) For the purposes of subsection (2), a

point of safety grounding

point of safety grounding means

• (a) a grounding bus, a station grounding network, a neutral conductor, a metal structure or an aerial ground, or

• (b) one or more metal rods that are not less than 16 mm in diameter and are driven not less than l m into undisturbed compact earth at a minimum distance of 4.5 m from the base of the pole, structure, apparatus or other thing to which the electrical equipment is attached or from the area where persons on the ground work and in a direction away from the main work area. (point de mise à la terre)

(2) No safety ground shall be attached to or disconnected from isolated electrical equipment except in accordance with the following requirements:

• (a) the safety ground shall, if feasible, be attached to the pole, structure, apparatus or other thing to which the electrical equipment is attached;

• (b) all isolated conductors, neutral conductors and all non-insulated surfaces of the electrical equipment shall be short-circuited, electrically bonded together and attached by a safety ground to a point of safety grounding in a manner that establishes equal voltage on all surfaces that can be touched by persons who work on the electrical equipment;

• (c) the safety ground shall be attached by means of mechanical clamps that are tightened securely and are in direct contact with bare metal;

• (d) the safety ground shall be so secured that none of its parts can make contact accidentally with any live electrical equipment;

• (e) the safety ground shall be attached and disconnected using insulated protection equipment and tools;

• (f) the safety ground shall, before it is attached to isolated electrical equipment, be attached to a point of safety grounding; and

• (g) the safety ground shall, before being disconnected from the point of safety grounding, be removed from the isolated electrical equipment in such a manner that the employee avoids contact with all live conductors.