Working in canopies at overhead-electrified stations

[tfw756rider]

Hi,

Does anyone in here know what the situation with the OverHead Line Equipment (OHLE/OLE) is, when work needs to be carried out in canopies at overhead-electrified stations?

For example, workers need to be up in the canopies when refurbishing/restoring/repainting them, or working on 240V electricals (e.g. lights, information screens, cameras, 240V cables) or the 100V speaker lines, etc.

I understand that a person has to be a bare minimum of about 2.75 (round up to 3) metres away from uninsulated 25,000V wires, to avoid the likely consequences of being any closer than that, but I would've thought that further than that bare minimum is good practice.

Can anyone in here tell me exactly what happens with the O(H)LE when such work up in the canopies needs to be carried out?

 

[The Planner]

Hi,

Does anyone in here know what the situation with the OverHead Line Equipment (OHLE/OLE) is, when work needs to be carried out in canopies at overhead-electrified stations?

For example, workers need to be up in the canopies when refurbishing/restoring/repainting them, or working on 240V electricals (e.g. lights, information screens, cameras, 240V cables) or the 100V speaker lines, etc.

I understand that a person has to be a bare minimum of about 2.75 (round up to 3) metres away from uninsulated 25,000V wires, to avoid the likely consequences of being any closer than that, but I would've thought that further than that bare minimum is good practice.

Can anyone in here tell me exactly what happens with the O(H)LE when such work up in the canopies needs to be carried out?

Isolations

 

[tfw756rider]

Isolations

More?

 

[The Planner]

More?

I doubt the work would happen unless its in a normal overnight posession, or an arranged disruptive one with the OLE off.

 

[Skeletor]

You require a c permit and should be briefed by the Nominated person.

You can refuse to go up without an isolation if you come in 2.75m of the infrastructure as you said.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

You can refuse to go up without an isolation if you come in 2.75m of the infrastructure as you said.

Most canopies I have seen carry a warning notice saying "no access without isolation" or similar; how likely is it that any work would be booked without an isolation also being booked in the first place?

 

[tfw756rider]

Acknowledging that there's still an open question, many thanks for the replies

 

[Trackbasher84]

Never, ever without an isolation. All pre-planned work has to be risk assessed. If its not safe dont do it!

 

[edwin_m]

Never, ever without an isolation. All pre-planned work has to be risk assessed. If its not safe dont do it!

As does work that isn't pre-planned.

Even at a non-electrified station, a lot of canopy work is likely to require a line block due to the hazards of passing trains.

 

[D365]

Acknowledging that there's still an open question, many thanks for the replies

Which of your questions has not been answered?

 

[tfw756rider]

Which of your questions has not been answered?

Not mine, Peter's, but it now has.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Jun 2025 ==

Many thanks again for the replies