Transport
This is for transport operators moving high loads who are exposed to the risk of contacting exposed live parts, like electric lines.
What is a high load?
There are four categories of high load. The categories of high load are based on the maximum travel height above the road and carry different responsibilities:
| Category No. | Maximum travel height of load above road |
|---|---|
| 1 | Up to 4.6 metres |
| 2 | Over 4.6 metres, and up to 5.0 metres |
| 3 | Over 5.0 metres, and up to 5.5 metres |
| 4 | Over 5.5 metres |
Notification details
| Category No. | Notification details |
|---|---|
| 1 | Transport can be carried out without any notification |
|
2
3
4 |
Notification must be forwarded to the electricity network owner. It must include:
|
Travel requirements
For the higher loads, you should check the route for safe transport. This is known as scoping.
This checks the suitability of and the requirements for safe transport of the high load. This is done by physically checking the intended route.
Allow for changes in the road profile such as dips, and the distance between the front and rear wheel axles.
Scoping may not be needed where the route’s high load requirements can be checked by other means, such as referring to the network owner’s records.
Full travel requirements are available in Part 8 of the Electrical Safety Code of Code of Practice - Working Near Exposed Live Parts (PDF File, 789.0 KB).
Responsibilities
- Network owner
- Escort service provider
- Road transport operator
- Scoping service provider or network assessor
Network owner
The electricity network owner’s responsibilities regarding transport of high loads include:
- providing relevant electricity network information to transport operators and escort service providers
- advising of precautions for scoping and assessing high loads and escorting high loads, which address the electricity hazards of these activities.
Escort service provider
The escort service provider’s responsibilities for transporting high loads include:
- ensuring that only people with correct training perform relevant activities for escorting the high load
- informing the network owner if load and route do not meet the notification details
- using only specialised equipment, especially where the equipment may come into contact with exposed live parts
- notifying the network owner of identified operational electrical safety problems like damage to network assets
- directing road transport operators to ensure electrical safety is maintained.
Road transport operator (RTO)
A road transport operator’s responsibilities in for the transport of high loads include:
- notifying the network owner of plans to move a high load near network assets
- giving accurate high load information to the network owner
- complying with precautions required by the network owner
- complying with directions of the escort service provider.
If an escort service provider is not required the RTO must contact the electricity network owner about operational matters affecting electrical safety. An example of this would be where the high load transport meets electric lines that are lower than the minimum clearance prescribed in the regulation.
Scoping service provider or network assessor
This is an electricity network owner, person or a company carrying out scoping or assessing in accordance with the network owner’s safety precautions.
The scoping service provider’s or network assessor’s responsibility for the transport of high loads is to give accurate information about the network the high load is to be transported through.
More information on transporting high loads near electric lines is available in section 9 of the Code of Practice - Working Near Exposed Live Parts.