High Voltage Safety is a one-week course with formal lectures and group exercises. The course covers the knowledge and skills needed to safely work with energized high-voltage high-energy electric power systems. Principles and procedures for the safe operation & maintenance of marine low voltage (<1 kV), and marine high voltage (1-15 kV) equipment are covered. Insulated hand tools, "hot-sticks", proper grounding procedures, personal protective equipment (PPE), and thorough job-planning procedures are stressed throughout the course. Properties of electric charge, energy, electric potential, dielectric stress, electrostatic and inductive coupling, and material behavior in electric and magnetic fields are covered. The effects of electricity on humans, various personnel protection concepts, and basic first aid practices are all addressed. Differential protection schemes, insulation materials, Faraday shielding, equi-potential grounding, live-line tools, and isolation techniques are covered from both technical and practical perspectives. Various OSHA, IEEE, European, NFPA-70E, Electric Utility, and shipping company safety procedures are reviewed. Group exercises include the development of safe-work protocols, use of lockout/tagout (LOTO), maintenance task rehearsal, and equipment preparation. Actual measurements and maintenance tasks are then conducted on a live 12.47 kV three-phase power system by the same groups. Calculations of fault current, arc-flash hazards, and proper PPE selection are explained. Other technical topics covered include insulation testing (IR/PI/DAR/DD), four-wire Kelvin low-resistance testing, corona detection by ultrasonic and RF emissions, and signature analysis using an infrared imager.

Course Capacity: 12 students

Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of electricity and experience working around marine and/or industrial power systems

Special Requirements: Cotton long sleeve shirt, long pants, and safety shoes are needed for field exercises. This course is typically taken in conjunction with the Marine Electric Propulsion course.

USCG Approval:

Any applicant who successfully completes our High Voltage Safety (MEBAMD-219) course will satisfy:

• The High-Voltage Power Systems training requirements of 46 CFR 11.335(a)(4)(vi) for STCW endorsement as an Electro-Technical Officer (ETO); AND
• The High-Voltage Power Systems training requirements of 46 CFR 12.611(a)(4)(ii) for STCW endorsement as an Electro-Technical Rating (ETR); AND
• The standards of competence required by 46 CFR 11.335(a)(2); Section A-III/6 of the STCW Code, as amended 2010, Meeting the National Assessment Guidelines from NVIC 23-14, Tasks 1.8.A, 4.1.A, 4.1.B, and 4.1.C.

Applicants who have successfully completed our course need not present completed "Control Sheets" for these assessments in application for STCW certification.