W. Va. Code R. § 36-48-12

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 25, June 21, 2024

Section 36-48-12 - Trouble-shooting

12.1. Trouble-shooting and testing of energized circuits shall be limited to the following:

12.1.a. Trouble-shooting and testing of energized circuits shall only be conducted on low and medium voltage circuits; and

12.1.b. Trouble-shooting and testing of energized low- or medium-voltage circuits and equipment shall only be performed by persons certified to perform electrical or an apprentice electrician under the immediate supervision of a certified electrician. These persons shall wear rubber insulating gloves rated at least for the nominal voltage of the low- or medium-voltage circuit or equipment while trouble-shooting or testing.

12.2. Any on-board ungrounded, three-phase power circuit must be equipped with a light that will indicate a grounded-phase condition. The indicator light must be installed so that it can be observed by the continuous mining machine operator from any location the machine is normally operated. The machine must have a test circuit for the indicator light circuit to ensure that the circuit is operating properly. The test circuit must be designed so that when activated, it does not require removal of any electrical enclosure cover or create a double-phase to ground fault. A test circuit for the ground-fault indicator system shall be provided and a functional test of the system shall be conducted at least every seven (7) days. The test circuit shall be wired in a manner that the circuit cannot be bypassed. When the ground-fault indicator light indicates a ground fault on any of the ungrounded circuits, the following maintenance procedures shall be implemented.

12.2.a. The continuous miner shall only be trammed to a well supported area; and

12.2.b. The ground-fault shall be located and corrected prior to the continuous miner being placed back into operation.

12.3. Each output circuit from the section power center shall be equipped with a MSHA approved ground-wire monitoring device. Each receptacle shall be interlocked with the ground wire monitor circuit such that the circuit interrupting device will open when the trailing cable is disconnected from the power center receptacle.

12.4. Each ground-wire monitor and associated circuits shall be examined and tested at least weekly to verify proper operation and to verify that it will cause the circuit interrupting device to open.

12.5. Before any electrical work (including testing, troubleshooting, and fault finding) is performed inside any compartment of the section power center containing high-voltage components or parts, including capacitors, person(s) with electrical certification to perform high-voltage work shall determine that the contacts of the primary disconnect device in the power center are open and grounded, shall lock-out and tag the primary disconnect device, and shall assure that all 2400-volt capacitors have been discharged and grounded.

12.6. Before any electrical work (including testing, troubleshooting, and fault finding) is performed on any trailing cable or piece of section mining equipment supplied power by a trailing cable from the section power center, a certified electrician qualified to perform high-voltage work shall determine that the contacts of the secondary disconnect device are open and grounded, and shall lock-out and tag the secondary disconnect device.

12.7. Each person who is to perform work on the circuit or equipment must install a lockout device and shall be clearly identified on a tag that is attached to the visual disconnecting device. In cases of high voltage work each person must confirm that circuits are properly grounded.

12.8. Each padlock(s) and tag shall be removed only by the person(s) who installed them, except that if that person is unavailable, the lock and tag may be removed by a person authorized by the operator provided that the authorized person is qualified to perform electrical work on high-voltage circuits and equipment as required and that the authorized person determines that the removal of the lock and tag does not pose a hazard to miners.

12.9. Trouble-shooting and testing shall only be performed to determine voltage or current waveforms. Electrical work such as changing parts, repairing parts, tightening electrical connections or devices in energized panels or working on energized cables is prohibited.

W. Va. Code R. § 36-48-12