Electrical Safety

Electrical work involves connecting electrical equipment to, or disconnecting electrical equipment from, a supply of electricity or electrical equipment involving repair, alteration or maintenance of electrical equipment or electrical installation work. Electrical installation work means the repair, alteration or maintenance of an electrical installation involving electrical work.

There are regulations covering electrical safety contained in Part 10 of the Occupational Health and Safety (Safety Standard) Regulations 1994.

Hazards associated with electrical work

The hazards associated with electrical work can be linked to how and where it is used as well as to the inherent dangerous properties of electrical currents. The hazards associated with electrical work include:

• Electrical currents are not visible, neither is there any smell or sound;
• it does not need to be high voltage for electrocution to occur;
• the unknown presence of overhead or underground power lines;
• poor electrical installation;
• faulty electrical equipment;
• unqualified persons working with electricity;
• fires and explosions as electricity can be an ignition source;
• working in wet weather conditions;
• working in confined spaces; and
• working with conductor metals

Risks associated with electrical work

Each year throughout Australia there are many electrical accidents at work. Contact with energised electrical currents or an apparatus of the electrical installation creates a serious health risk as a current passing through the body interferes with the operation of the heart. The electrical conductivity of the heart muscle is disrupted and the muscle can fibrillate. This condition dramatically reduces the output of oxygenated blood to vital organs including the brain and, unless reversed immediately, death will follow.

Electrocution accidents can be fatal however non-fatal shocks can result is serious and permanent burn injuries.

Indirect injuries occur when shocks from faulty equipment lead to falls from ladders, scaffolds and other work platforms. Falls from heights can escalate the electrical shock to major body fracture injuries.

Those working with electricity may not be the only ones at risk as poor electrical installations and faulty electrical appliances can lead to electric shock to others person at or near the workplace. Fire and explosions from an electrical fault can cause extensive and cost damage to property adding to the magnitude of the accident.

Employer’s Duties

Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991 (the Act) employers have a general duty to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure and maintain a safe and healthy work environment for all person at or near the construction site.

To ensure that the risks are managed in accordance with the duties outlined under the Act employers should systematically manage the risks to health and safety that arise from working with electrical equipment, connection and installation.

Employers can systematically manage risks by undertaking the following four-step risk management process:

1. identify the hazards;
2. assess the risk associated with the hazards;
3. control the risk; and
4. review the process

When undertaking risk management, employers must follow the relevant Commonwealth regulations and give consideration to codes of practice. If no regulation or code exists in relation to a specific hazard or risk, employers should choose a reliable source of guidance to follow.

Relevant Commonwealth Regulation

Employers have specific duties in relation to performing electrical work set out in Part 10 of the Occupational Health and Safety (Safety Standard) Regulations 1994.

Employers must ensure that individuals engaged in electrical work have the relevant expertise and qualifications to undertake the work. In all cases it is a legal requirement that all persons performing electrical work must meet any specific licensing requirements, or be licensed by regulation from the applicable state or territory.

The regulations require employers to inspect and test electrical equipment and installations and they must ensure that any unsafe equipment or installation is disconnected. Employers must ensure that all electrical work is carried out only in accordance with Australian/New Zealand standard on wiring rules (AS/NZS 3000–(2000) Wiring rules).

Electrical work must not be carried out on energised (live) installations unless circumstances are in accordance with the regulations. It is the responsibility of the employer in control of the workplace to ensure that work is not carried out when circuits or an apparatus of installation is energised.

Other parts of the regulations may also be applicable such as:

• Part 7 Confined Spaces
• Part 10 Construction work
• Part 13 Falls from 2 metres or above

Relevant Commonwealth Codes of Practice

In particular, the Occupational Health and Safety Code of Practice 2008:

• Part 1 - Risk Management
• Part 2 - First Aid
• Part 7 - Confined Spaces
• Part 10 - Asbestos in Situ (under development)
• Part 13 - Synthetic Mineral Fibres

Relevant Guidance Material

• Guidance Note electricity: residual devices - Worksafe WA
• Australian Standards: These standards are available from: International Standards on-line at SAI Global;
• • AS/NZS-3000-2000- Wiring Rules; and
    
  • AS/NZS-3760-2003- In-Service Safety Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment.

Further information

For further information about this fact sheet, or others in the series, please contact Comcare on the general enquiry line 1300 366 979 or by email ohs.help@comcare.gov.au.

Page last updated:June 13, 2008