The purpose of this presentation is to describe the process of auditing the Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution standard (the standard) at power generation facilities. The steps to take prior to visiting the site will be described. Portions of the standard applicable to power generation facilities will be detailed. Areas where past experience has shown compliance gaps and possible solutions to those gaps will also be detailed. Best practices observed in these areas will also be discussed.
The author has fifteen years of professional safety experience including ten year working in the power industry. In those ten years, the author has audited in excess of seventy power generation facilities worldwide. Within the United States, the standard has been central to auditing activities since it's effective date.
The standard was developed with the intent of applying to the facilities that provide, transmit and distribute the nation's power. It was written specifically to apply to the unique safety and health hazards associated with bulk power generation, transmission and distribution. This presentation and proceedings paper will focus on those portions of the standard that are most commonly applicable at power generation facilities.
The standard was written to be applicable to the traditional utility power plant. As with most regulations, it's application was spread to other non-traditional assets as well.
When trying to identify scope and application of this standard, two questions must be answered: Is the asset designed to generate power? This includes power generation technologies including steam turbines connected to a generator, movement of water through a turbine connected to a generator and others such as solar and hydrogen fuel cell technologies.
The second question that must be answered: Is the asset designed to provide power as a primary and continuous (not emergency or back-up) source? This includes those assets designed as base load facilities, cogeneration facilities and equipment designed to provide primary and continuous power to the enterprise only.
This means that standard applies beyond the typical utility model. It also means the voltage output of the generation equipment is not a determining factor. The equipment can generate high or low voltage and be included or excluded from the standard. It includes power generation facilities intended to provide power only to a single building owned and operated by the building owner. It applies to cogeneration units whose main purpose is to generate production steam and electricity is sold as a bi-product.
The standard does not apply to backup generation facilities. It does not apply to standby or emergency generation. The standard does not apply to facilities not regulated by OSHA (i.e. areas regulated by the Department of Transportation).
This presentation will include a review of audit practices typically found in power generation. This is not a comprehensive review of the Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution standard.
