PROCEDURE 562
Adopted
Last revised
Review date
October 6, 2008
March 2016
March 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SERVICE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
1) PURPOSE
This administrative procedure has been developed to ensure the safety of students, staff
members and the public when service and repairs to building electrical systems and
equipment are performed by authorized persons, contractors and electricians.
2) DEFINITIONS
Electrician—an electrician is licensed under the statutes and regulations of the province of
Ontario to install, alter and repair electrical systems.
Licensed-Trade—a member of the Ontario College of Trades who is licensed to perform
work within a defined scope of practice or a worker who is registered with a provincial safety
authority such as Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) or Electrical Safety
Authority (ESA) for a defined scope of practice. Examples of licensed-trades include
electricians, plumbers, gas technicians, and millwrights.
Authorized Person—an authorized person, as defined in the Ontario Electrical Safety Code,
means a qualified person who by the nature of his or her duties or occupation is obligated to
approach or handle electrical equipment or a person who, having been warned of the
hazards involved, has been instructed or authorized to do so by someone having the
authority to give the instruction or authorization.
3) GENERAL PROCEDURES
a) All board staff and contractors performing work on electrical equipment or systems must
be electricians, licensed-trades, or authorized in accordance with Section 4 below.
b) When performing work, proper lock-out procedures in accordance with Administrative
Procedure 420-F Machine/Equipment Lockout must be followed to ensure electrical
safety of the persons performing the work and other persons that may come in contact
with the equipment or systems.
c) All work must be performed in compliance with the Ontario Electrical Safety Code,
Ontario Building Code, and Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act.
4) AUTHORIZATION TO PERFORM WORK
a) All staff are authorized to perform lockout/tagout of electrical equipment in accordance
with Administrative Procedure 420-F, provided that they have received board
lockout/tagout training.
b) Licensed-trades are authorized to install, alter or repair any electrical equipment or
system in accordance with their scope of practice and qualifications.
Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board
Administrative Procedures Manual
Page 1 of 3
Electric System Service for Public Safety
Administrative Procedure 562
c) Electricians are authorized to install, alter or repair any electrical equipment or system in
accordance with their license and qualifications.
d) Licensed plumbers are authorized to perform all electrical work within their scope of
practice including installation and repair of electric water heaters when there is an
existing branch circuit.
e) Licensed gas technicians (G1 or G2) are authorized to perform all electrical work within
their scope of practice on plumbing and heating equipment including: remove and replace
existing wiring, receptacles, motors, and electrical connections rated at 240 volts or less.
f)
Maintenance and Preventive Maintenance Staff are authorized to install, alter, or repair
electrical systems of 30 volts or less with a transformer rated output of less than 1000 VA
such as controls, communications and security systems, and to replace lamps.
g) Information Technology Services staff are authorized to install, alter, or repair electrical
systems of 30 volts or less with a transformer rated output of less than 1000 VA such as
controls, communications, learning technology, and security system circuits.
h) Custodians are authorized to replace lamps.
i)
Teaching staff are authorized to perform routine maintenance of electrical equipment on
which they instruct in accordance with their knowledge, training, and qualifications.
Examples of such maintenance include belt tightening, saw blade replacement, and
calibration.
j)
All work performed by a contractor on electrical equipment and systems must be
performed by a licensed-trade in accordance with their license and qualifications.
k) An apprentice electrician is authorized to perform the duties of an electrician while under
the guidance of an electrician.
5) ELECTRICAL SAFETY AUTHORITY (ESA) LOG BOOK
a) An Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) log book is required at each building for occasional
review by an ESA inspector under the Continuous Safety Service (CSS) program. The
log book must be located in the custodian’s office for access by electricians, authorized
persons and ESA inspectors.
b) Electricians and authorized persons must record electrical work as it is completed.
6) ELECTRICAL PERMITS AND RECORDS
a) An Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) permit is required for installation of electrical systems
b) A permit is not required for repair or maintenance of existing electrical systems. However,
the work must be recorded in the building ESA log book. A permit is not required for
installation of a single electrical outlet to an existing panel by an electrician but must be
recorded in the log book.
c) A permit must be obtained for all work completed by a contractor.
Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board
Administrative Procedures Manual
Page 2 of 3
Electric System Service for Public Safety
Administrative Procedure 562
7) PRODUCT CERTIFICATION DESIGNATION
a) All electrical products installed or used on board property must be certified by a
certification agency accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (such as CSA or
ULC). If it is not certified as such, then it must be approved by an approved agency
accredited by the Standards Council of Canada. ESA is an accredited approvals agency.
b) All repair work performed on electrical products must be completed by an authorized
person in such a manner as to maintain the product certification.
8) PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)
a) PPE may be required for electrical work taking into account the expected hazards,
voltage levels, condition and age of the equipment, equipment design, barriers around
the equipment, and conditions of work.
b) When PPE is required, it shall be worn for its intended purpose and shall be kept in
serviceable condition and inspected before use. Defective or worn-out PPE shall be
reported to a supervisor and replaced before use.
Legal References:



Ontario Electrical Safety Code
Ontario Building Code
Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act
District References:



Administrative Procedure 266 - Technology Education Safety
Administrative Procedure 420-F - Machine/Equipment Lockout
Administrative Procedure 560 - Use of Electrical Appliances and Vending Machines in Board Buildings
Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board
Administrative Procedures Manual
Page 3 of 3