Professional Documents
Culture Documents
WORKPLACE
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
DISCLAIMER
The information produced by WorkCover Corporation of South Australia in this publication is
correct at the time of printing and is provided as general information only. In utilising general
information about workplace health and safety and injury management, the specific issues
relevant to your workplace should always be considered. This publication is not intended as a
substitute for the requirements of the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act, 1986 or
the Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Act 1986.
CONTENTS
1. Introduction 2
2. Definitions 3
6. Electrical installations 11
7. Electrical plant 13
1. INTRODUCTION
2. DEFINITIONS
The Act aims to bring employers, The OHSW Regulations are made
employees and their representatives under the OHSW Act and set out
together to resolve health and safety the general principles that provide
issues at work. The Act also gives practical steps for employers in
powers to government inspectors from preventing injuries and illness at work.
Workplace Services to inspect These steps are:
workplaces and investigate health and • consultation with employees and
safety issues. their representatives
Employers’ duties under the Act are • hazard identification to identify
to ‘ensure so far as reasonably potential causes of injury
practicable that the employee is, while • risk assessment to assess how likely
at work, safe from injury and risks to it is that hazards will cause injury and
health’. This is a wide-ranging how serious this might be
responsibility that involves taking
• risk control to ensure that injuries are
action to control risks associated with
prevented by minimising the risk
hazards in the workplace.
• provision of information, instruction,
In determining what is reasonably training and supervision to ensure
practicable, employers must take into employees are aware of risks and
account the severity of the risk, control measures
knowledge about the hazard and ways
• reporting of hazardous situations,
to remove or reduce it, the availability
fatalities and injuries so action is
and suitability of ways to reduce or
taken to prevent them from
remove the hazard, and the cost of
happening again.
taking action.
The Regulations also address specific
health and safety issues, such as
workplace electrical safety, to provide
a framework for employers to follow.
This legislation makes it mandatory for This Act establishes a system for the
electrical installations (electrical wiring, licensing of electrical contractors and
accessories, fittings, consuming registration of electrical workers,
devices, control and protective gear which is accompanied by a disciplinary
and other equipment associated with process.
the wiring) to be installed according to
The Act requires that a registered
the Australian/New Zealand Standard
electrical worker must carry out all
Wiring Rules (AS/NZS 3000).
installation, alteration, repair and
The legislation includes requirements maintenance work on electrical fixed-
for installation compliance testing. The wiring up to the socket outlet, although
Office of the Technical Regulator is the there are some exemptions provided.
administrator of the Act and
Electrical contractors and workers are
Regulations.
responsible for ensuring that the work
The provisions in the Regulations are they do is carried out according to the
to ensure that new or modified relevant standards. The regulatory
installations comply with AS/NZS 3000 authority is the Office of Consumer
before the supply of electricity is and Business Affairs (Attorney
connected. General’s Department).
General principles
SAfer approach
HIERARCHY OF CONTROLS
Start here
6. ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS
7. ELECTRICAL PLANT
Purchasing or constructing
electrical plant
Vents for cooling are not Test tags are within test
obstructed dates and secure
Disadvantages
Routine examination of Non-electrical work Person who is familiar with the equipment. This
electrical equipment. could be the user of the equipment
Checking for external damage,
frayed or damaged cords etc
Protective earth testing of Non-electrical work Person who is trained in the use of earth testing
equipment to AS/NZS 3760 meters such as a continuity meter or ohmmeter
Insulation resistance testing Non-electrical work Person who has been trained in the use of
of equipment or isolation insulation resistance testing meters, such as an
transformers to AS/NZS 3760 insulation resistance meter or appliance tester
Push button test of Non-electrical work Person who is using the RCD and has been
portable RCDs instructed how to use the built-in test button
Performance test of portable Non-electrical work Person who is trained in the use of an RCD
RCDs. Measure the tripping tester. This training could be by in-house
time and tripping current to personnel, qualified electrician, TAFE or by the
AS/NZS 3760 supplier of the RCD tester
Push button test on Non-electrical work Person who is using the RCD and has been
non-portable RCDs instructed how to use the built-in test button
Performance test of Non-electrical work Person who is trained in the use of an RCD
non-portable RCDs. tester. This training could be by in-house
Measure the tripping time personnel, qualified electrician, and trade school
and tripping current to or by the supplier of the RCD tester. A licensed
AS/NZS 3760 electrician may be required if it is necessary to
access the supply distribution board
Repair, alteration, testing or Electrical work For electrical work a competent person should
modification of the internal meet the criteria of a non-electrical work
components of electrical competent person and have a suitable
plant, or fixed-wiring electrical licence as is required under the
installation. Examples Plumbers, Gas Fitters & Electricians Act 1995
include installation of power which is administered by the Office of
points, wiring of extension Consumer & Business Affairs
leads, repairs to electrical
plant etc. to AS/NZS 3000
Start at this point and select the work environment Frequency Chart
description which best describes your workplace.
This Workplace Electrical Inspection
NO and Testing Frequency Chart has been
Construction and developed as a guide to assist employers
demolition sites* meet their OHSW legislative obligations.
Factories,
workshops, NO
manufacturing,
Includes hairdressers, butchers,
fabrication repair, retail outlets, hotels and motels
YES assembly, or Commercial
maintenance environments, NO
laboratories, office
*Electrical kitchens, health
Equipment YES and education Office
establishments environment NO
Class I
where flexible
(protectively
*Electrical supply cord is
earthed)
Equipment not subject to
- 3 monthly YES
constant flexing
Class I Electrical
Class II
(protectively equipment which
(double insulated)
earthed) *Electrical is intended
- 3 monthly
- 6 monthly Equipment YES for hire
Class II Class I
RCDs
(double insulated) (protectively
Portable earthed) *Electrical
12 monthly
By the built-in - 12 monthly Equipment YES
push button test
Class II Class I
prior to use and RCDs
(double insulated) (protectively
each day whilst Portable *Electrical
-12 monthly earthed)
in use. Test for By the built-in Equipment
- 5 yearly
operation push button test
3 monthly. Class II Class I
prior to use and RCDs
(double insulated) (protectively
Non-portable each day whilst in Portable earthed)
-5 yearly
By built-in push use. Test for By the built-in
button test operation Class II
push button test
monthly. Test -12 monthly. RCDs (double insulated)
prior to use or 3
for operation at Non-portable monthly,
Portable
least once every By built-in push whichever is RCDs
By the built-in
12 months. button test longer. Test for
push button test
operation 2 yearly. Portable,
not exceeding 3 monthly.
non-portable,
Extension cords 12 months. Non-portable Test for operation
extension cords
& power boards Test for operation By built-in push 2 yearly.
& power boards
at least 3 yearly. button test not
3 monthly
exceeding 12 Non-portable Inspect ALL before
Extension cords months. By built-in push each hire and test
& power boards Test for operation button test not monthly.
at least 3 yearly. exceeding
6 monthly 12 months.
Test for operation
Extension cords References: AS/NZ 3760 In
For inspection & testing (I&T) process refer AS/NZS 3760 at least 3 yearly. service safety inspection and
& power boards
Section 2 Inspection & Tests. testing of electrical equipment,
Test records of RCDs are to be kept by the owner for a period 12 monthly Table 1 and AS 3012 Electrical
of at least 5 years from the last test date, except for the daily push installations - Construction and
button test for portable RCDs. demolition sites and SA OHSW
Extension cords & Regulations 1995, Division 2.5 -
* Electrical equipment - Only electrical equipment which is hand-
power boards Electrical.
held, moved whilst in operation, moved where damage to flexible
supply cord could occur or used in an environment where damage
5 yearly
to the equipment or flexible cord can occur requires regular
inspection and testing. For construction and demolition sites the
standard recommends the use of specific colour coded tags.
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have hearing/speech impairments.
Non-English speaking: (08) 8226 1990 for information
in languages other than English, call the Interpreting
and Translating Centre and ask them to call WorkCover.
This service is available at no cost to you.
The information produced by WorkCover Corporation of South
Australia in this publication is correct at the time of printing and
is provided as general information only.
© WorkCover Corporation of South Australia, 2003