“The Evolution of theSwitchman Certification Program”Incident and Injury Free Switching

Switching Incident Tracking

Electric Power Research InstituteXIII Annual Conference

September 15, 2009Jeff Uhls – Manager - Distribution Control Center

Evolution of Switchmen Certification

Yearly Average of Switching Orders Executed

Transmission – 1,600 Switching Orders

Distribution – 4,500 Switching Orders

Evolution of Switchmen Certification

Establish a Switching Safety Programo Asses current Situationo Identify Gapso Implications

• Safety• Reliability• Cost (Internal and External)

o Perform Root Cause Analysiso Implement Solutions

Evolution of Switchmen Certification Situation in 2007

No structured procedures for identification and reporting of switching incidents

Investigation not documented

No current procedure for tracking, reporting and sharing incidents across the utility

Limited focus placed on switching incidents

Evolution of Switchmen Certification Gaps Identified

Switching Incidents not consistently investigated

Root cause analysis not implemented

Little or no accountability for switching incidents

No reporting or tracking of incidents or statistics

No sharing or reporting between Business Units

Evolution of Switchmen CertificationImplementation of Incident and Injury Free Switching

Develop Switching Incident Notification Form

Create Investigation GuidelinesDetermined the Safety Organization to Lead InvestigationDevelop criteria for Cross-functional Investigation Team membersEstablish a Timeline for investigation

Investigations start as “Switching Incident Investigations”

Evolution of Switchmen Certification

Switching Incident Investigation

Create Team according to GuidelinesMember of Power Delivery Safety Department – Facilitator of Investigation Applicable Operating Authority RepresentativeMember(s) directly involved in switching incidentImmediate SupervisorOthers as deemed necessary by the Safety Department

Start Investigation within 10 Days of Incident

Perform “Root Cause” analysis – Determine all contributing causal factors involved in the incidentEquipment FailureMapping IssuesTraining Human Error

Evolution of Switchmen CertificationSwitching Incident vs. Switching Error

Switching IncidentsInitial event caused by Equipment or Mechanical FailureInitial event caused by inaccurate records or mappingInitial event due to circumstances or casual factors which occur when Operating Practices (OP’s) and Approved Work Methods (AWM) followed.

Switching ErrorSwitching Order improperly written or executedSwitching Order is executed improperlyIncorrect switch is operated while executing a Switching OrderSwitch is operated without approval

Evolution of Switchmen Certification

Document Findings and Recommendations Post Switching Incident finding on Safety Website

Review Action Items with associated crewsRecommend updates to circuit maps Enhance or introduce Training

Report findings to Management for Accountability

Evolution of Switchmen Certification

Evolution of Switchmen Certification

Evolution of Switchmen Certification

Level of Switchmen Certification

Distribution

Transmission

Substation

Questions?