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Keep people, equipment, and production safe underground and at surface. This course demystifies CSA M421 (Use of Electricity in Mines) and shows your team how to apply it, practically, across pits, plants, shops, substations, and mobile equipment. We cut through jargon and focus on what the standard expects, how it fits with the Canadian Electrical Code and mine-specific regulations, and how to make sound decisions during projects, maintenance, and outages without slowing the operation.
You’ll build a working understanding of the full electrical ecosystem in mining from high-voltage distribution and portable substations to trailing cables, ground-check monitors, cord-connected loads, and variable-speed drives.We translate M421 requirements into clear actions: how to select and maintain equipment for harsh environments, how to implement effective grounding and bonding, how to coordinate protection for long feeders and large motors, and how to manage arc-flash and shock risk where access, dust, vibration, and moisture complicate the job.
Because mines never sit still, we spend time on change and field realities: expansions and tie-ins, temporary power for moves and rebuilds, safe switching and lockout during shovel or crusher maintenance, and commissioning practices that won’t leave you exposed at audit. Expect practical guidance on documentation, labeling, inspection and test routines, and how to align electrical safety with mine rescue, ventilation, and operations so everyone is pulling in the same direction.
We connect M421 to the standards and rules it touches the Canadian Electrical Code, control of hazardous energy (LOTO) practices, and applicable provincial mine and OH&S requirements so your team understands both the “what” and the “why.” The goal is a shared playbook: engineers specify with confidence, electricians execute safely, supervisors verify, and leadership can demonstrate due diligence.
Participants leave with a clear grasp of M421’s intent and the confidence to apply it whether they’re planning a new feeder to a shovel, selecting a portable substation, setting protection for long conveyors, or preparing for their next regulatory review.
Who should attend: electrical engineers and technologists, mine and plant electricians, maintenance and reliability leaders, project and construction managers, EHS professionals, and contractors who design, install, commission, or maintain electrical systems in mining environments
Unfortunately, this course does not currently have any upcoming dates.
Yet, if you're interested in it, please chat with our sales team
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Course topics
I. Scope, Principles & Governance of CSA M421
Objective: Interpret M421’s scope and intent, and connect it to your mine’s policies, Canadian Electrical Code requirements, and provincial mining/OH&S rules.
II. Mine Power Architecture: Surface to Face
Objective: Describe typical distribution topologies from surface substations to underground/surface loads and apply configuration choices that reduce risk.
III. Grounding, Bonding & Ground-Fault Protection
Objective: Select and verify grounding/bonding methods and ground-fault protection schemes that meet M421 and suit mining environments.
View all topicsI. Scope, Principles & Governance of CSA M421
Objective: Interpret M421’s scope and intent, and connect it to your mine’s policies, Canadian Electrical Code requirements, and provincial mining/OH&S rules.
- How M421 interfaces with the Canadian Electrical Code and provincial mining regulations
- Key definitions: portable substation, power centre, mobile equipment, trailing cable, ground-check
- Roles and accountabilities (owner, engineering, maintenance, operations, contractor)
- One-line diagrams, switching procedures, and document control
- Risk assessment, management of change, and pre-job briefing expectations
- Due-diligence records: logs, permits, inspections, and audits
II. Mine Power Architecture: Surface to Face
Objective: Describe typical distribution topologies from surface substations to underground/surface loads and apply configuration choices that reduce risk.
- Surface substations, portable/pad-mount subs, and underground power centres
- Primary distribution, sectionalizing, and back-feed prevention
- Long feeder effects: voltage drop, impedance, and fault levels
- Protection coordination intent across feeders, transformers, and loads
- Normal, alternate, and emergency sources (including generators)
III. Grounding, Bonding & Ground-Fault Protection
Objective: Select and verify grounding/bonding methods and ground-fault protection schemes that meet M421 and suit mining environments.
- System grounding approaches (e.g., high-resistance grounding) and application limits
- Ground-fault relays and sensitive protection on extended feeders
- Ground-check monitors: principles, wiring, and fail-safe logic
- Equipotential bonding at the face, shops, and wet areas
- Touch/step potential controls and earth electrode maintenance
- Continuity testing and troubleshooting nuisance trips
- Documentation of settings, test results, and revisions
IV. Trailing & Reeling Cables, Couplers & Connectors
Objective: Specify, install, and maintain mining-rated cables and connectors to minimize failures and exposure.
- Cable types, ampacity, bend radius, and mechanical protection
- Couplers/connectors for medium voltage: ratings, interlocks, and inspection
- Splicing and terminations: procedures and acceptance tests
- Cable routing, guarding, reels, and strain-relief practices
- Mobile equipment moves: isolation, verification, and re-energization checks
V. Switchgear, Protection & Arc-Flash Risk Management
Objective: Apply protective device settings and equipment features that limit arc energy and protect personnel in constrained mining spaces.
- Metal-clad vs. portable switchgear; arc-resistant features and remote operations
- Breaker maintenance, racking practices, and interlocks
- Protection strategies for large motors, crushers, conveyors, and hoists
- Maintenance modes and arc-energy-reduction techniques
- Labeling, approach boundaries, and space control underground and at surface
- Incident learning: near-miss capture and corrective actions
VI. Mobile & Stationary Equipment Electrical Interfaces
Objective: Manage safe electrical interfaces for shovels, drills, draglines, continuous miners, and plant equipment during operation and maintenance.
- Isolation/LOTO for mobile and fixed equipment; verification of zero energy
- VFDs and soft starters: harmonics, DC bus hazards, and bypass modes
- Interlocks, permissives, estops, and functional testing
- Auxiliary power/shore supply connections and sequencing
- Commissioning and post-maintenance return-to-service checks
VII. Environmental Conditions, Locations & Equipment Suitability
Objective: Choose enclosures, protection, and installation methods that withstand dust, moisture, vibration, and corrosive atmospheres.
- Enclosure ratings, sealing, heaters, and condensation control
- Wet locations and washdown: GFCI, bonding, and routing considerations
- Ventilation impacts on electrical equipment and cable life
- Lighting, communications power, and reliability in headings/shops
- Corrosion protection, mechanical protection, and hardware selection
- Hazard assessment for gas/dust where applicable and links to site rules
VIII. Inspection, Testing, Maintenance & Documentation
Objective: Build sustainable inspection and test programs that keep systems reliable and demonstrate compliance during reviews.
- Periodic tests: ground-check, ground-fault devices, insulation resistance, and relay verification
- Acceptance/commissioning tests for portable substations and power centres
- Breaker servicing, infrared/ultrasound checks, and condition trending
- Label updates, settings files, and controlled revision history
- Contractor oversight: pre-job expectations and verification on turnover
- Audit preparation: evidence packages and continuous-improvement loops
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Norm Jewitt
Years of Experience40He began his career in the electrical trade by engaging in construction activities at a potash mine located west of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Since then, he has accumulated experience in various facets of the electrical trade, including construction, commissioning, and maintenance.Norm has contributed his skills to the commercial, industrial, and mining sectors. Additionally, he successfully managed...
See Norm Jewitt CVExpertise
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Brad Schaitel, CBONorm is knowledgeable about CSA standards and examples of electrical safety and previous problems.
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Zach Heisinger, Maka PowerI was very green on all things to do with this course. Norm provides a very good understanding of not only why we are testing but also how each machine works. I feel very confident I will be able to further my knowledge of this with more practice with our own equipment in the shop.
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Matthew Lavergne, Maka PowerNorm was very informative and great at explaining things. The hands-on training will help when I do this in the field.
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