Electrical Safety Permit 

The Traction Overhead & Equipment safety rules are designed to prevent injury to anyone working near railway traction overhead wires and equipment.

Everyone working in the rail corridor where there are traction overhead wires or equipment, requires the approval of the Area Manager, ONTRACK Infrastructure Limited.

It aims to ensure that anyone working in the rail corridor near traction overhead wires and equipment has:

• The necessary approval
• The required knowledge; and
• If necessary, the required training.

On the North Island Main Trunk line, between Palmerston North and Te Rapa the traction for electric trains is provided by 25kV AC power. 

In the Wellington Area the Electrified Multiple Units run on 1500 Volt Direct Current. In addition there are 3300 Volt AC power wires attached to the traction poles in some locations.

Substation feeder supplies of up to 50kV AC are also present in Hamilton.

It is dangerous to come too close or to touch overhead electrical equipment. This could cause injury or death by shock or burns.

Every person (other than KiwiRail, ONTRACK and United group staff) require approval before working on ONTRACK land. This approval is obtained from the Area Manager, ONTRACK Infrastructure Limited in the form of a Permit to Enter Railway Land.

A Permit to Work, issued only by Traction staff, may also be required for most work within the rail corridor where traction overhead wires are present. This Permit will detail safe approach distances, voltages, work method restrictions, safety information & emergency contact details.

Any Permit to Work application must be made at least 2 working weeks before work is due to commence.

The Permit to Work will be issued to the person in charge who MUST remain on site. He/she must sign the Permit and accept responsibility for ensuring that all people on the site under his/her control abide by the Permit to Work conditions.

When work is complete, the Permit to Work must be cancelled by the person in charge signing at the bottom and returning it to the traction person who issued it. NON RETURN OF A PERMIT TO WORK WILL DELAY RESTORATION OF POWER.

In addition any person may need a formal ONTRACK Safety Awareness course if working in the electrified area for more than 7 days. Anyone who has attended a course within 12 months may be exempted from this requirement, at the discretion of the Area Manager.

If the victim (or anything touching the person) is less than one arm’s length (750mm)* from the overhead line or equipment:

• Ring Train Control immediately and say it is an emergency call
• Explain what happened and ask for advice

If the victim is more than one arm’s length* from the overhead line equipment:

• Drag the victim clear, keeping yourself and the victim at least one arm’s length from the overheads equipment or anything which is touching it
• Apply resuscitation as soon as possible
• Raise the alarm when you can and ask for an ambulance

*Note: The normal safe distance is 2 metres and may only be reduced to 750mm when life is at stake.