The following information provides general guidance for persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) and workers on managing electrical risks at the workplace. It does not cover electrical risks arising from overhead or underground power lines.
What is an electrical risk?
An electrical risk is a risk to a person of death, shock or other injury caused directly or indirectly by electricity. The main risks factors are:
The risk of injury from electricity is strongly linked to where and how it is used. The risks are greatest in harsh conditions, for example:
Some items of equipment can also involve greater risk than others. Portable electrical equipment is particularly liable to damage including to plugs and sockets, electrical connections and to the cable itself. Extension leads, particularly those connected to equipment which is frequently moved, can suffer from similar problems.
General duty to manage electrical risks
PCBUs must manage electrical risks at the workplace. When managing electrical risks, the risks must be eliminated so far as is reasonably practicable. If elimination is not reasonably practicable, the risks must be minimised so far as is reasonably practicable.
For more information on managing risks refer to the approved code of practice:
General duty in relation to electrical equipment
Any PCBU with management or control over electrical equipment (including an electrical installation) must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the equipment is safe to use. See below for examples of common risk control measures.
If a PCBU's workers, including contractors, are required or allowed to use electrical equipment at a workplace shared by multiple PCBUs (for example at a construction site) then the PCBU must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the equipment is safe to use. This duty applies regardless of whether the PCBU owns or supplied the electrical equipment.
Common risk control measures
Common measures to control electrical risks at a workplace include:
Unsafe electrical equipment
PCBUs must ensure that any unsafe electrical equipment within their management or control is disconnected or isolated from its electricity supply and once disconnected is not reconnected until it is repaired or tested and found to be safe or is replaced or permanently removed from use.
Implement systems to ensure unsafe equipment is not used at a workplace, including:
Inspecting and testing electrical equipment – general workplaces
Inspecting and testing electrical equipment will help determine whether it is electrically safe.
Regular visual inspection can identify obvious damage, wear or other conditions which might make electrical equipment unsafe. Many electrical defects are detectable by visual inspection for example, damaged cords.
Regular testing can detect electrical faults and deterioration that cannot be detected by visual inspection.
The nature and frequency of inspection and testing depends on factors such as the nature of the electrical equipment, how it is used and its operating environment.
The WHS Regulation has specific requirements for electrical equipment used in a 'hostile operating environment'.
For further information, refer to SafeWork SA’s: Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment
What is a 'hostile operating environment'?
A 'hostile operating environment' is a term used to describe an environment where electrical equipment is exposed to operating conditions that are likely to result in damage to the equipment or a reduction in its expected life span.
This includes conditions that involve exposing the electrical equipment to moisture, heat, vibration, mechanical damage, corrosive chemicals and dust.
Examples include wet or dusty areas, outdoors, workplaces that use corrosive substances, commercial kitchens, construction and manufacturing environments.
Inspecting and testing electrical equipment – hostile operating environments
Electrical equipment that is connected by a plug and socket – in essence 'plug in' electrical equipment – that is used in a 'hostile operating environment' (as described above) must be regularly inspected and tested by a competent person. If this equipment has not been regularly tested, then it must not be used until it is tested.
Brand-new equipment that is 'out of the box' does not need to be tested before being put into service unless there are reasonable grounds to believe it is electrically unsafe.
As a general rule electrical equipment used in 'hostile operating environments' should be inspected and tested at least once every 12 months. More frequent testing will be required where plug-in equipment is exposed to increased risks of mechanical damage or electrical deterioration, for example:
In addition to regular inspection and testing plug-in electrical equipment should also be tested:
Further guidance on indicative testing intervals can be found in AS/NZS 3760: 2010 In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment and the manufacturer's recommendations (if any).
Inspecting and testing electrical equipment – construction and demolition sites
AS/NZS 3012: 2010 Electrical installations – construction and demolition sites applies in relation to the inspection and testing of electrical equipment on construction and demolition sites (including record keeping requirements).
As a general rule electrical equipment connected by a plug and socket that is used on construction and demolition sites should be inspected and tested at least once every three months. More frequent testing may be required as indicated by a site-specific risk assessment.
Hire equipment
PCBUs hiring out electrical equipment must ensure it is inspected and tested at the commencement of each hire and tested every three months.
For extended hires the PCBU using the electrical equipment must ensure it is inspected and tested at the intervals applicable to the type of workplace where the equipment is being used.
Who is competent to carry out inspection and testing of electrical equipment to meet these requirements?
Inspection and testing of electrical equipment under the WHS Regulation must be carried out by a competent person – someone who has acquired through training, qualification or experience the knowledge and skills to carry out the task.
Examples include:
Records of testing – electrical equipment used in hostile operating environments
A record of testing of electrical equipment used in a 'hostile operating environment' must be kept until the electrical equipment is next tested or permanently removed from the workplace or disposed of. A record of testing must specify:
The record may be in the form of a tag attached to the tested electrical equipment.
Requirements for RCDs (also known as 'safety switches') – hostile operating environments
If reasonably practicable, RCDs must be used to protect workers using 'plug in' electrical equipment in 'hostile operating environments' (as described above).
RCD requirements also apply to operating environments where the electrical equipment:
If it is reasonably practicable for an RCD to be provided, the RCD must have a tripping current that does not exceed 30 milliamps for socket outlets not exceeding 20 amps.
This requirement does not apply if the supply of electricity to the electrical equipment:
Maintenance and testing of RCDs
Where provided for use in a workplace RCDs must be fit for purpose, maintained so as to be effective and tested regularly.
Non-portable and portable RCDs if RCD requirements apply
The WHS Regulation does not mandate whether RCDs (where required) should be non-portable or portable. The choice of appropriate RCD will depend on all relevant circumstances, including for example, the degree to which the PCBU has management or control of the electrical installations at the workplace.
Provision of RCDs at shared workplaces
If RCD requirements apply at a workplace all PCBUs at the workplace have responsibility, so far as is reasonably practicable, to ensure compliance with the legal requirements.
At a shared workplace PCBUs will usually have varying degrees of control over certain parts of the physical workplace, for example their ability to have non-portable RCDs installed at the switchboard.
In these circumstances all PCBUs with a shared responsibility at a workplace must consult and co-operate with each other to ensure compliance with the legal requirements.
Each PCBU retains responsibility, for ensuring appropriate RCD protection is provided, and must discharge their duty to the extent to which the person has the capacity to influence or control the matter, disregarding any attempts to 'contract out' of the duty.
Testing RCDs – all workplaces
PCBUs with management or control of a workplace must take all reasonable steps to ensure that RCDs used at the workplace are tested regularly by a competent person to ensure the devices are working effectively.
A record of testing – other than daily push button tests – must be kept until the RCD is next tested or disposed of.
RCD testing requirements apply to both portable and nonportable devices. Portable RCDs will also require testing as portable electrical equipment if used in a 'hostile operating environment'.
For example, if workers use portable RCDs as part of their work for example, portable RCDs used by contract cleaners, then the PCBU directing the work must ensure the RCDs are tested regularly.
Requirements for RCDs and RCD testing at construction and demolition sites
AS/NZS 3012: 2010 applies in relation to the provision and testing of RCDs on construction and demolition sites (including record keeping requirements).
Type 1 or 2 safety switch (RCD) (fixed) | Type 1 or 2 safety switch (portable) |
---|---|
Use the inbuilt test button (at least monthly) An operating time/current test by a competent person at least annually Use | Use the inbuilt test button – immediately after it is connected and immediately before it used, first time each day By a competent person, at least every 3 months |
For further information on RCD’s at a construction site, refer to Building and Construction Industry Guideline For Safe Electrical Practices on Construction and Demolition Sites.
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