GERT8000-HB17 Iss 4

This handbook is for those personnel who need to go on the operational railway in an DC electrified area to carry out their duties.

The rules have been changed to extend the distance that a person, or anything being carried, can come within live conductor rail equipment (CRE) to 1.5m (5 feet) but to make clear that activities or tasks can be carried out within this 1.5 metre (5 feet) dimension if there is a method statement or electrical risk assessment, all specified precautions to manage danger from live CRE, shoe gear and associated exposed live train-mounted equipment are in place and the precautions in the method statement or company instructions are being carried out. 

In addition to live CRE, the rules have also been changed where relevant throughout the handbook to state that they also apply to the danger from live shoe gear and associated exposed live train-mounted equipment which can also pose an electrical risk. 

Section 3.2 has been amended to state first the type of defects that must be reported to the signaller and those which must be then reported to the ECO.
Section 7 has been rewritten to give a more complete set of instructions.

Optional reading and resources:

Management of Electrical Risk on Electrified Lines