Work Health and Safety 2011, Legislation information related to Electrical Work
The below information has been extracted from the identified legislation in relation to Electrical Work
Work health and safety changes will come into effect during 2012. These changes will introduce a common approach to the regulation of work health and safety and ensure there is a shared reference to requirements for electrical safety in the workplace.
QLD Electrical Safety Act, Code of Practice 2002– amended May 2011
11 Requirements for electrical work
(1) An employer or self-employed person must ensure that, unless the circumstances required under this division for the performance of live work apply, live work is not performed.
Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 – amended May 2011. Part 2 Electrical work
States – that an electrician working on equipment which is LIVE or has the potential to be accidentally energised shall have a safety observer
Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011- under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011
157 Electrical work on energised electrical equipment—when permitted
(1) A person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure that electrical work on energised electrical equipment is not carried out unless:
(a) it is necessary in the interests of health and safety that the electrical work is carried out on the equipment while the equipment is energised, or
Example. It may be necessary that life-saving equipment remain energised and operating while electrical work is carried out on the equipment.
(b) it is necessary that the electrical equipment to be worked on is energised in order for the work to be carried out properly, or
(c) it is necessary for the purposes of testing required under clause 155, or
(d) there is no reasonable alternative means of carrying out the work.
Maximum penalty: for non compliance
(a) in the case of an individual—$6,000, or
(b) in the case of a body corporate—$30,000.
(2) The electrical work that may be carried out under subclause (1) (a), (b) and (d) may include testing of the energised electrical equipment.
A safety observer is required by legislation in certain circumstances – see below additional information
Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011- under theWork Health and Safety Act 2011
161 How the work is to be carried out
(1) A person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure that electrical work on energised electrical equipment is carried out:
(c) subject to subclause (5), with a safety observer present who has the competence and qualifications specified in subclause (4).
(4) For the purposes of subclause (1) (c):
(a) the safety observer must be competent:
- (i) to implement control measures in an emergency, and
- (ii) to rescue the worker who is carrying out the work, if necessary, and
(b) the safety observer must have been assessed in the previous 12 months as competent to rescue and resuscitate a person.
MANAGING ELECTRICAL RISKS IN THE WORKPLACE – Code of Practice 2012
7. RISK CONTROLS – ENERGISED ELECTRICAL WORK – WHS Regulation 161
7.3 Carrying out energised electrical work
A person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure that electrical work carried out on energised electrical equipment is carried out:
by a competent person who has tools, testing equipment and PPE that are suitable for the work, have been properly tested and are maintained in good working order
in accordance with a safe work method statement prepared for the work, and
subject to the exception explained below—with a safety observer present.
They MUST be competent:
to implement the control measures in an emergency
to rescue the worker who is carrying out the work if necessary,
and has been assessed in the previous 12 months as competent to rescue and resuscitate a person.
A safety observer is not required if the work consists only of testing and the risk assessment shows there is no serious risk associated with the proposed work.
SAFETY OBSERVERS
A competent safety observer must be present when work is carried out on energised electrical equipment, unless the work consists only of testing and a risk assessment shows that there is no serious risk associated with the proposed work.
The role of the safety observer should be clearly communicated and understood.
The safety observer should:
- not carry out any other work or function that compromises their role, for example they should not be required to observe more than one task at a time
- not be situated in the work basket of the elevating work platform from which the electrical work is being carried out
- be able to communicate quickly and effectively with the electrical worker(s) carrying out the work. Specialist equipment may be necessary if there is a barrier to communication
- not have any known temporary or permanent disabilities that would adversely affect their role and performance.
M Lewis OHS and First Aid Training, hopes that you find these extracts from the current legislation to be informative.
Please refer directly to the WHS Act, Regulations and Electrical Risks code of practice to confirm or clarify this supplied information.