ELECTRICAL RISKS AT THE WORKPLACE Heading FACT SHEET

ELECTRICAL RISKSAT THE WORKPLACEHeadingFACT SHEETOverviewThis fact sheet provides general guidance for persons conductinga business or undertaking (PCBUs) and workers on managingelectrical risks at the workplace. It does not cover electrical risksarising from overhead or underground electric lines.This fact sheet should be read together with the relevant workhealth and safety (WHS) Codes of Practice and any applicabletransitional arrangements.www.safeworkaustralia.gov.auFACT SHEET —Electrical Risks at the WorkplaceAugust 2012 Page: 1

What is an electrical risk?An electrical risk is a risk to a person of death, shock orother injury caused directly or indirectly by electricity.The main hazards associated with these risks are: contact with exposed live parts causing electricshock and burns (for example exposed leads orother electrical equipment coming into contactwith metal surfaces such as metal flooring or roofs) faults which could cause fires fire or explosion where electricity could be thesource of ignition in a potentially flammable orexplosive atmosphere (for example in a spraypaint booth).The risk of injury from electricity is strongly linkedto where and how it is used. The risks are greatest inharsh conditions, for example: outdoors or in wet surroundings—equipment maybecome wet and may be at greater risk of damage in cramped spaces with earthed metalwork, suchas inside a tank or bin—it may be difficult to avoidelectrical shock if an electrical fault develops.If a PCBU’s workers, including contractors, are requiredor allowed to use electrical equipment at a workplaceshared by multiple PCBUs (for example at a constructionsite) then the PCBU must ensure, so far as is reasonablypracticable, that the equipment is safe to use. This dutyapplies regardless of whether the PCBU ownsor supplied the electrical equipment.Common risk control measuresCommon measures to control electrical risks at aworkplace include: ensuring only appropriately licensed or registeredelectricians carry out electrical work providing safe and suitable electrical equipment forexample not using leads and tools in damp or wetconditions unless they are specially designed forthose conditions inspecting leads for damage before use andremoving any that are damaged from theworkplace. providing enough socket outlets—overloadingsocket outlets by using adaptors can cause firesSome items of equipment can also involve greater riskthan others. Portable electrical equipment is particularlyliable to damage including to plugs and sockets,electrical connections and to the cable itself. Extensionleads, particularly those connected to equipment whichis frequently moved, can suffer from similar problems. ensuring power circuits are protected by theappropriate rated fuse or circuit breaker to preventoverloadingGeneral duty to manage electrical risks using battery powered tools instead of mainsoperated where possiblePCBUs must manage electrical risks at the workplace.When managing electrical risks, the risks must beeliminated so far as is reasonably practicable. Ifelimination is not reasonably practicable, the risksmust be minimised so far as is reasonably practicable. so far as is reasonably practicable arrangingelectrical leads so they will not be damaged:For more information on managing risks refer to theCode of Practice: How to Manage Work Health andSafety Risks.General duty in relation to electricalequipmentAny PCBU with management or control over electricalequipment (including an electrical installation) mustensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that theequipment is safe to use. See below for examplesof common risk control measures. if the circuit keeps overloading—not increasingthe fuse rating as this creates a fire risk due tooverheating not running leads across the floor or ground,through doorways and over sharp edges using lead stands or insulated cable hangersto keep leads off the ground using cable protection ramps or covers to protectcables and cords, where applicable using Residual Current Devices (RCDs) (also knownas ‘safety switches’) to protect workers usingportable equipment as required by the WHSRegulationswww.safeworkaustralia.gov.auFACT SHEET —Electrical Risks at the WorkplaceAugust 2012 Page: 2

determining the reason why an RCD, circuitbreaker or other over current protective devicedisconnected the electricity before it is switchedback on ensuring RCDs are effective by regular testing carrying out preventative maintenance onelectrical equipment as appropriate for example anappropriate system of visual inspection and wherenecessary, testing.Unsafe electrical equipmentPCBUs must ensure that any unsafe electricalequipment within their management or control isdisconnected or isolated from its electricity supplyand once disconnected is not reconnected until it isrepaired or tested and found to be safe or is replacedor permanently removed from use.Consider implementing the following procedures toensure unsafe equipment is not used at a workplace: procedures requiring the physical conditionof electrical equipment including the lead andplug connections to be checked prior to use, asappropriate procedures for taking the electrical equipment outof service if there is any doubt as to electrical safety,including during use procedures for reporting faulty equipment.Electrical equipment used by carers inother people’s homesPCBUs that direct or allow workers to work in otherpeople’s homes as carers or in similar capacities must dowhat is reasonably practicable to ensure the safety ofthe workers.For example PCBUs must put arrangements in placeto ensure that workers do not use unsafe electricalequipment whether supplied by them or the homeowner. This could include putting procedures in placethat require electrical equipment that is reasonablybelieved to be unsafe to be disconnected or isolated.Such equipment must not be used by workers untilrepaired or tested and found to be safe.Alternatively workers could be supplied with portableRCDs to use with plug-in electrical equipment andsupplied with suitably maintained electrical equipment(for example vacuum cleaners) so they do not have touse the client’s equipment.Additionally PCBUs must ensure their workers havesuitable information, training, instruction and (ifnecessary) supervision to allow them to carry out workin other people’s homes without risks to health orsafety, so far as is reasonably practicable. This includessuitable training on electrical risks in domestic settings,and on the PCBU’s procedures to eliminate or minimisethose risks.Inspecting and testing electricalequipment—general workplacesInspecting and testing electrical equipment will helpdetermine whether it is electrically safe.Regular visual inspection can identify obvious damage,wear or other conditions which might make electricalequipment unsafe. Many electrical defects aredetectable by visual inspection for example,damaged cords.Regular testing can detect electrical faults anddeterioration that cannot be detected by visualinspection.The nature and frequency of inspection and testingdepends on factors such as the nature of theelectrical equipment, how it is used and its operatingenvironment.The WHS Regulations have specific requirementsfor electrical equipment used in a ‘hostile operatingenvironment’.What is a ‘hostile operatingenvironment’?A ‘hostile operating environment’ is a term used todescribe an environment where electrical equipmentis exposed to operating conditions that are likely toresult in damage to the equipment or a reduction inits expected life span.This includes conditions that involve exposing theelectrical equipment to moisture, heat, vibration,mechanical damage, corrosive chemicals and dust.Examples include wet or dusty areas, outdoors,workplaces that use corrosive substances, commercialkitchens, and manufacturing environments.www.safeworkaustralia.gov.auFACT SHEET —Electrical Risks at the WorkplaceAugust 2012 Page: 3

Inspecting and testing electricalequipment—hostile operatingenvironmentsFor extended hires the PCBU using the electricalequipment must ensure it is inspected and testedat the intervals applicable to the type of workplacewhere the equipment is being used.Electrical equipment that is connected by a plug andsocket—in essence ‘plug in’ electrical equipment—that is used in a ‘hostile operating environment’ (asdescribed above) must be regularly inspected andtested by a competent person. If this equipment hasnot been regularly tested then it must not be useduntil it is tested.Who is competent to carryout inspection and testing ofelectrical equipment to meet theserequirements?Brand-new equipment that is ‘out of the box’ doesnot need to be tested before being put into serviceunless there are reasonable grounds to believe it iselectrically unsafe.As a general rule electrical equipment used in ‘hostileoperating environments’ should be inspected andtested at least once every 12 months. More frequenttesting will be required where plug-in equipment isexposed to increased risks of mechanical damageor electrical deterioration, for example: electrical equipment used in manufacturing andwork shop environments (for example at leastonce every 6 months) commercial cleaning equipment (for exampleat least once every 6 months) hire equipment (see below).In addition to regular inspection and testing plug-inelectrical equipment should also be tested: after a repair or servicing that could affect theelectrical safety of the equipment in essenceundertaken by the person carrying out the repairor servicing before return to use before first use if bought second-hand if there is no record of it being tested previously.Further guidance on indicative testing intervalscan be found in AS/NZS 3760:2010 In-service safetyinspection and testing of electrical equipment and themanufacturer’s recommendations (if any).Hire equipmentPCBUs hiring out electrical equipment must ensureit is inspected and tested at the commencement ofeach hire and tested every three months.Inspection and testing of electrical equipmentunder the WHS Regulations must be carried out bya competent person—someone who has acquiredthrough training, qualification or experience theknowledge and skills to carry out the task.Examples include: a licensed or registered electrician (whicheverapplies in the jurisdiction) in some jurisdictions—a licensed electricalinspector a person who has successfully completed astructured training course and been deemedcompetent in the use of a pass-fail type portableappliance tester and the visual inspection ofelectrical equipment.Records of testing—electricalequipment used in hostile operatingenvironmentsA record of testing of electrical equipment used ina ‘hostile operating environment’ must be keptuntil the electrical equipment is next tested orpermanently removed from the workplace ordisposed of. A record of testing must specify: the name of the person who carried out thetesting the date of the testing the outcome of the testing, and the date on which the next testing must becarried out.The record may be in the form of a tag attachedto the tested electrical equipment.www.safeworkaustralia.gov.auFACT SHEET —Electrical Risks at the WorkplaceAugust 2012 Page: 4