Background

ElectraNet has three guiding priorities in relation to high voltage switching and work performed on their assets. These are: safety of personnel, safety of equipment and continuity of supply.

In 2016, ElectraNet launched a new Switching Manual to provide practical detail on the boundaries, interfaces, coordination requirements and safety principles to be observed when operating or accessing ElectraNet’s High Voltage apparatus.

All supporting training and licensing mechanisms were updated as part of this process.

ElectraNet required an experienced training organisation to develop bespoke curriculum and deliver specialised training and assessment to workers who perform HV operations on South Australia’s transmission network.

Our role

Thomson Bridge was appointed by ElectraNet to provide the following services:

• Develop a comprehensive curriculum for initial training of High Voltage switching operators; and
• Implement verification of competency of current operators via three yearly refresher training and annual license maintenance assessments.

Our Technical Design Team, together with our HV Subject Matter Experts, worked with ElectraNet’s HV Switching Committee to firstly, develop curriculum that was compliant with their manual and supporting regulatory framework. Secondly, this working group designed a program of practical switching training exercises based on available plant access across the transmission network’s substations and lines. This has resulted in an ongoing training system that delivers relevant and current theory together with solid practical switching experiences for trainees.

Procedures for booking of outages together with standardised switching sheets were also established to enable a robust portfolio of switching experiences for initial trainees and experienced workers undertaking competency refreshers.

Thomson Bridge continues to deliver switching training to the South Australian Switching Community on behalf of ElectraNet.

Project Details

• Client: ElectraNet - South Australia Transmission Network
• Location: South Australia
• Industry: Transmission/High Voltage/Substation
• Our role: Develop, implement & maintain skills for workers required to operate SA's Transmission Network high voltage apparatus
• Related work: Providing ElectraNet's Network Asset Access training to workers accessing substation, lines and easements.