RFP: FQ13024/WJG CONTRACT NO. FQ13024 APPENDIX C STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOP) SOP #33 REMOVAL AND RESTORATION OF THIRD RAIL POWER FOR WORK BY CONTRACTOR S FORCES MAINLINE, REVENUE SYSTEM PURPOSE The purpose of this Standard Operating Procedure is to delineate responsibilities and procedures for the removal and restoration of third rail power for work by contractor forces on the mainline. SCOPE This SOP is applicable to all WMATA personnel working on the Rail System, contractors performing the work and WMATA contractor escorts. GUIDELINES FOR REMOVING POWER 33.1 a. Power will be removed to perform work on the third rail or items connected to the third rail by red tag outage and with a WMATA escort by the appropriate WMATA Office. b. Power will be removed for work on equipment and structures in or over the track bed other than the third and its connected equipment, or work that intrudes into the dynamic outline of the train by supervisory outage and with a WMATA escort by the appropriate WMATA Office at their discretion may require power to be removed by red tag outage and a WMATA escort based on the type of work to be performed. NOTE 1: Contractor work that is not in or over the track bed, does not intrude into the dynamic outline of the train, and is not affected by train movements or third rail status will not, at the discretion of the WMATA Office, require power removal. Such contractor work may, at the discretion of the WMATA Office, require a WMATA escort. NOTE 2: A management representative of each contractor who will be performing work on the rail system will, prior to the scheduling of the work, receive an Authority orientation to the rail system rules, procedures, restrictions and any other pertinent information as applicable. The contractor will be required to acknowledge receiving the orientation by authorized signature.
PROCEDURES FOR REMOVAL AND RESTORATION OF POWER FOR A RED TAG OUTAGE 33.2 Removal a. The contractor who requires the outage will, it coordination with appropriate WMATA Office, submit the request to Systems Maintenance Planning via GOTRS. Each request must identify track number(s), chaining of the outage area, and start and stop time of outage. Planning will notify the requestor of the approval or disapproval of the request. b. The Maintenance Operation Center (MOC) will, in coordination with the Operations Control Center (OCC), initiate the power outage. c. Power crews will rack out and block tag the appropriate yard disconnect switches and/or circuit breakers at the involved substations as directed by MOC and confirm that the third rail is de-energized with and approved voltage tester. d. When the outage area has been secured (racked out, tagged and tested), MOC will activate and hold the red tag for the outage area. e. The WMATA escort will, prior to starting the work, contact the MOC to verify that the red tag has been activated and obtain the red tag number. f. The WMATA escort will, after receiving the red tag number, contact OCC advising them of the red tag number and request permission to enter the track bed to test the third rail, and protect the work area as follows: 1. A reflective rubber mat shall be placed in the track-bed, at each end of the Actual Work Area, to identify the actual work area for the crew (Figure 2) 2. Shunt straps and red limit lights shall be placed at each end of the Protected Work Area (Figure 2) 3. The person in charge of the work crew shall notify OCC before work begins to confirm that shunt straps and limit lights are in place, the switch on the opposite track has been blocked for a straight through move if an interlocking is within the protected work area and the protected work area has been established. g. The WMATA escort will, prior to allowing the contractor to start work, brief the personnel of the work crew on applicable WMATA safety rules/procedures, track(s) involved, work area limits, red tag number and any restrictions on the work, as Page 2 of 8
specified by the Power Outage or General Order. The contractor must comply with the rules, procedures, and any restrictions set forth by the escort. h. In the event that the work continues through and MOC or OCC shift change, it will be the responsibility of the initial MOC or OCC supervisor to advise the relief person of the outage and the name of the person in charge of the work crew. i. In the event the work continues through the escort s shift change, it will be the responsibility of the initial escort to advise the MOC and the OCC of the new escort s name. At all times, OCC must be kept informed as to who is in charge and responsible for clearing the work area. 33.3 Restoration a. The WMATA escort will, prior to or at the scheduled stop time of the outage, contact MOC advising them that the work is completed, the work area has been inspected for re-energization, all personnel/equipment are clear and the red tag can be cleared, identifying it by number. b. The WMATA escort will, after contacting MOC, contact OCC advising them that all personnel/equipment are clear of the work area and that the red tag can be cleared c. When the red tag is cleared, MOC in coordination with OCC will direct power crews to remove the block tags, rack in the breakers and place in remote the appropriate circuit breakers at the involved substations. d. MOC will advise OCC that the breakers for each outage area are positioned to be reenergized. e. OCC will cause announcements to be made on the OCC and MOC radio nets that power is being restored. f. OCC will restore power by supervisory as described in Safety Rule 42.17 and notify MOC of any circuit breakers that do not close PROCEDURES FOR REMOVAL AND RESTORATION OF POWER FOR SUPERVISORY OUTAGE 33.4 Removal a. The contractor who requires the outage will, in coordination with the appropriate WMATA office, submit the request to OCC via GOTRS. OCC will notify the Page 3 of 8
requestor of the approval or disapproval of the request. OCC will record approved requests in the power outage or restoration request log. b. The WMAT escort will, prior to allowing the contractor to begin work, request from OCC permission to enter the track-bed before the outage is initiated and then: 1. Make a radio check with OCC to confirm that radios are working properly 2. Verify that the approved voltage tester is working properly 3. The WMATA escort will then contact OCC and request the supervisory outage be initiated c. OCC will initiate the outage, recording the date/time that power removal was completed and the name of the escort in charge of the work crew, in the request log d. OCC will then contact the WMATA escort and advise the escort to test the third rail with an approved voltage tester and confirm it de-energized e. When the WMATA escort confirms to OCC that the third rail is de-energized, the escort will protect the work area as follows: 1. A reflective rubber mat shall be placed in the track-bed, at each end of the Actual Work Area, to identify the actual work area for the crew (Figure 2) 2. Shunt straps and red limit lights shall be placed at each end of the Protected Work Area (Figure 2) 3. If an interlocking is contained within the protected work area, block the switch on the opposite track for a straight through move (Figure 3) 4. The person in charge of the work crew shall notify OCC before work begins to confirm that shunt straps and limit lights are in place, the switch on the opposite track has been blocked for a straight through move if an interlocking is within the protected work area and the protected work area has been established. f. The WMATA escort will, prior to allowing the contractor to begin work, brief personnel of the work crew that the third rail is to be considered energized at all times and not to make contact with it or its connected equipment. In addition, personnel will be advised of any applicable safety rules and procedures, track(s) involved, work area limits, and any restrictions on the work as specified by the General Order. The contractor must comply with the rules, procedures, and any restrictions set forth by the escort. Page 4 of 8
g. The WMATA escort will then contact OCC and request permission to commence work h. The WMATA escort must maintain contact with OCC during the work in the event OCC would have to clear the work area and restore power in order to respond to any emergency. In addition, the WMATA escort will periodically check the third rail to confirm that it is still de-energized. i. In the event that the work continues through an OCC shift change, it will be the responsibility of the initial OCC supervisor to advise the relief person of the outage and the name of the escort in charge of the work crew j. In the event that the work continues through the escort s shift change, it will be the responsibility of the initial escort to advise OCC the new escort s name. At all times, OCC must be kept informed as to who is in charge and responsible for clearing the work area. 33.5 Restoration a. The WMATA escort will, upon completing the work, verify to OCC that all personnel and equipment are clear of the track(s) and give OCC clearance to reenergize the third rail in the area b. When OCC receives the clearance from the WMATA escort and not other work crews are holding the same third rail area out of services, OCC will ensure that announcements are made on their radio net and the MOC net that third rail power is being restored in the work area c. After the announcements have been made, OCC will re-energize the third rail in the cleared work area. OCC will record the request to re-energize the power outage or restoration request log and also the time the restoration was completed PROTECTION FOR WMATA AND CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL ENGAGED IN WORKING ON THE THIRD RAIL OR EQUIPMENT DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE THIRD RAIL 33.6 The WMATA Maintenance Office or WMATA Office escorting the Contractor Forces, that require the Mainline Red Tag Power Outage, shall: a. Request the Red Tag Power Outage for the entire power circuit(s) encompassing the required work area (GAP to GAP) Page 5 of 8
b. After receiving permission from the OCC and prior to beginning work on the third rail and/or its connected equipment: 1. A reflective rubber mat shall be placed in the track-bed, at each end of the Actual Work Area, to identify the actual work area for the crew (Figure 2) 2. Shunt straps and red limit lights shall be placed at each end of the Protected Work Area (Figure 2) 3. If an interlocking is contained within the protected work area, block the switch on the opposite track for a straight through move (Figure 3) 4. The person in charge of the work crew shall notify OCC before work begins to confirm that shunt straps and limit lights are in place, the switch on the opposite track has been blocked for a straight through move if an interlocking is within the protected work area and the protected work area has been established 5. Verify, with OCC, track occupancy at the locations of the shunt straps; and, c. Remove all shunt straps after all personnel and equipment are clear of the work area 33.7 When a Mainline Red Tag Power Outage is requested, MOC shall: a. Require the requestor to request the Red Tag Outage from gap to gap, in addition to specifying the work area; and b. Provide, for inclusion in the General Order, the stationing markers (Commonly Known as Chain Marker(s)) of the gaps at which power will be removed by red tag on both sides of the work area 33.8 When a Mainline Red Tag Power Outage is requested, OCC shall: a. Provide in the General Order, the stationing markers (Commonly Known as Chain Marker(S)) of the gaps on both sides of the work area and the requirement to apply shunt straps across the running rails ten (10) feet inside the power circuit from the gap at each end of the Red Tagged area b. Verify track occupancy at the locations of the shunt straps, as specified in the General Orders c. Verify removal of the shunt straps when the work has been completed, time period has ended or when requiring the activity to clear, prior to allowing personnel to leave the area d. The times that the shunt straps are applied and removed must be recorded on the OCC radio tape or in writing Page 6 of 8
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