Everyone is responsible for safety
We hold safety as a core value. We’re committed to it in all facets. Our expectations for working safely include the highest level of accountability. Everyone is responsible for looking out for one another. Planning safety into each task and every project is safety excellence. Become a part of our journey to provide safe and reliable energy service to northern Indiana.
Life saving rules
- Wear your seatbelt
- Don’t use electronic devices while driving a vehicle
- Never enter a restricted area nor walk or work under a suspended load
- Always set up your work zone before starting work
- Never enter an excavation or trench without proper shoring or sloping
- Protect yourself against a fall when working up high
- Assess and address hazards and follow permit requirements in confined spaces
- Always follow energy control requirements whenever hazardous energy exists
- Complete and comply with required safe work permits
- Test air and wear PPE whenever confronted with gas in the atmosphere
- Maintain minimum approach distance by staying clear of energized lines and parts
- Wear electrical PPE when working in the electric system
Contractor Safety Information
Electric Field Operations and Storm Assistance
This section describes the characteristics and conditions that should be covered prior to performing work on our system, along with methods of how they can be determined if available. Assess these in the JSA or pre-job briefing before starting work.
Characteristics
Determining voltage on lines and equipment
Here's how to find the nominal voltages of lines and equipment:
- Reference the manufacturer’s equipment name plate rating
- Contact the NIPSCO Dispatch Authority
- You may need to supply a meter number or facility ID to determine location
- Use voltage measuring devices
Determining maximum switching, transient voltages
Transient voltages produced by switching operations are normally not predetermined and not documented for reference by crews prior to arriving at the job site. However, crews should always determine if transient voltages are possible during the JSA or pre-job briefing and take appropriate measures to mitigate or eliminate the hazards.
If we are aware or made known of any potential procedures that will or could create transient voltages by switching procedures, we will tell you.
Presence of hazardous induced voltages
Induced voltages can originate from various sources on an electrical system. These include: customer generation/back feed, lightning, parallel conductors running adjacent to energized conductors by means of electromagnetic field transference and other naturally occurring conditions. Practical conductors should always be isolated, tested, and grounded to eliminate the possibility of this type of situation. Induced voltages are normally not predetermined and consequently not documented for reference by crews prior to arriving at the job site. However, crews should always determine if transient voltages are possible during the JSA or pre-job briefing and take the appropriate measures to mitigate or eliminate the hazards.
If we are aware or made known of any circumstances that may result in induced voltages it will be documented on the work order or we'll tell you. During major storm restoration, potential back feed hazards will be communicated directly to you verbally, either by us or a representative when such conditions are known.
Presence of protective grounds and equipment grounds
The presence of protective grounds and equipment grounding conductors will be covered in the JSA or pre-job briefing. You can find this out through any of these materials:
- Maps
- Documentation contained in work packets or designs
- NIPSCO Dispatch Authority
- Project or construction compliance personnel
- Visual inspections performed by crew prior to beginning work
Conditions
Location of circuits and equipment
The locations of circuits and equipment, including electric supply lines, communication lines, and fire protective signaling circuits will be covered in the JSA or pre-job briefing. You can find this out through any of these materials:
- Maps
- Documentation contained in work packets or designs
- NIPSCO Dispatch Authority
- Project or construction compliance personnel
- Visual inspections performed by crew prior to beginning work
Protective grounds and equipment grounding conductors
Safety ground leads should not be less than 2/0 flexible stranded copper rubber covered 600V cable and should be equipped with approved clamps. The 600V insulation is for mechanical protection of the conductor only.
Related documents
Generation
This section describes the characteristics and conditions that should be covered prior to performing work on our system, along with methods of how they can be determined if available. Assess these in the JSA or pre-job briefing before starting work.
Gas Operations
This section describes various requirements contractors must know or shall have in place prior to work being performed on NIPSCO gas assets. These are in addition to any procurement, safety or other established NIPSCO requirement.
Always obtain these documents from this site at time of need to ensure you obtain the latest revision. Do not use previously down loaded documents as they may be out of date. These documents may be revised and updated without notice.
Operator Qualification
The Department of Transportation (DOT) Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) establishes requirements that Gas System Operators (NIPSCO) must comply with. This Federal Regulation is found in 49CFR192. Operator Qualification (OQ) is part of this regulation.
The NIPSCO OQ Program document details the workings of the NIPSCO OQ program. NIPSCO is responsible that all of their gas side contractors comply and follow these specific requirements.
The Contractor Requirement document details specific requirements the contractors need to meet to be compliant with the NIPSCO OQ Program.
To contact a NIPSCO OQ representative email OQAdmin@NiSource.com.
Contact us
Email NIPSCOContractorSafety@NiSource.com for more info.