Electrical work means:

  • connecting or disconnecting electricity supply wiring to and from electrical equipment; or
  • installing, removing, adding, testing, replacing, repairing, altering or maintaining electrical equipment or an electrical installation.

Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) must ensure:

  • workers and other persons are not exposed to electrical risks, as far as is reasonably practicable
  • Residual Current Devices (RCDs) are used in specified high risk environments
  • electrical work is carried out by a qualified electrician.

PCBUs, and workers who work with electricity are to refer to the Managing electrical risks in the workplace - Code of Practice for guidance.

A building and construction industry guideline is also available to provide practical guidance on the safety requirements for electrical practices on construction and demolition sites.

Electrical risks

When working with electricity workers are at risk of:

  • electric shock
  • explosion
  • fire
  • release of toxic gases and contaminants.

PCBUs can minimise risks by:

  • identifying the electrical hazards
  • determining the level of risk to workers and others
  • deciding what needs to be done and implementing risk controls
  • reviewing the risk controls - to make sure they are working as planned.

Managing the risks

Electrical work must only be carried out by a competent and trained licensed electrician. A risk assessment should be completed prior to initiation of electrical work.

As a general principle, electrical work should not be carried out on energised equipment or cables. Equipment should be tested to determine that it is not energised before work starts and procedures are in place to prevent inadvertent re-energising while work is being undertaken.

A person can only authorise energised electrical work after they have consulted with the person with management or control of the workplace.

The safe work principle TEST FOR 'DEAD' BEFORE YOU TOUCH must be applied at all times.

Managing electrical equipment and installations

Tools, instruments, equipment and PPE must be selected to be suitable for purpose and must be inspected regularly and maintained according to manufacturer's instructions. Workers conducting inspection, testing and maintenance must be suitably trained and competent to undertake those tasks.

Equipment used for detecting an energised source should be trialled, immediately before and after the testing, to ensure that it is functioning correctly.

A business needs to ensure that:

  • power circuits are protected by appropriately rated fuses or circuit breakers
  • electrical leads are not arranged so that they are easily damaged, run across floors or doorways, or over sharp edges
  • only leads and tools designed for wet or damp conditions are used in those conditions
  • circuits where portable equipment may be connected are protected by RCDs
  • if any current protective device (RCD or circuit breaker) is triggered, the system is not re-energised until the reason has been identified by a competent person
  • equipment identified as unsafe is disconnected or isolated and labelled as unsafe and not reconnected until it is repaired and tested as being safe
  • regular visual inspections and testing of electrical equipment, including RCDs, occurs. The nature and frequency of inspection and testing will vary depending on the environment in which the electrical equipment is used.

Testing frequency

Portable/specified electrical equipment Type 1 or 2 safety switch (RCD) (fixed) Type 1 or 2 safety switch (portable)

At least 3 monthly intervals by a competent person

Use the inbuilt test button (at least monthly)

An operating time/current test by a competent person at least annually

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

You must ensure that you keep a record of any testing of electrical equipment until the next test or until the equipment is permanently removed from the workplace or disposed of.

A record must specify:

  • the name of the person carrying out the testing
  • the date of the testing
  • the outcome of the testing
  • the date on which the next testing is due to be carried out.

This record can be in the form of a tag attached to the electrical equipment, however, other methods such as logbooks, a register or computerised database can also be used.

Download a copy of our Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment fact sheet.

Refer to the Managing electrical risks in the workplace - Code of Practice for more information on electrical testing.

Energised electrical work

Energised electrical work is PROHIBITED and can only be undertaken where it is absolutely necessary, such as:

  • when it is necessary in the interests of health and safety that the electrical work is carried out while the equipment is energised (for example, it may be necessary for life-saving equipment to remain energised and operating while electrical work is carried out on the equipment)
  • it is necessary that the electrical equipment to be worked on is energised in order for the repairs/alterations to be carried out properly
  • it is necessary for the purposes of testing to ensure the equipment is de-energised prior to work commencing
  • there is no reasonable alternative means of carrying out the work.

Energised electrical work must not be carried out merely because it is more convenient.

When electrical installations are properly designed and installed, the risk of electric shock / electrocution in normal use is very low. Modern electrical installations have multiple levels of protection throughout that render it safe to use, and typically requires the failure of at least two of those protection aspects before there is an immediate risk of electric shock / electrocution.

However, when electrical work on energised electrical installations is being undertaken, some of those systems of protection are, out of necessity, removed, disabled or diminished for the duration of the work, and the electrical hazards that the electrician faces must be appropriately managed.

Work on energised equipment requires systematic risk assessment, planning and preparation. It should only be undertaken by an electrician with the necessary competency, training, tools, testing equipment and personal protective equipment (see table 9.1 & 9.2) suitable for the work.

Energised work should only be carried out according to a safe work method statement (SWMS) prepared after consultation with relevant workers and Health and Safety Representatives, and with a safety observer present.

Safety barriers and signs should be considered to protect electrical workers from inadvertent contact with energised parts and warn and direct other persons away from any area where energised work is being undertaken.

There is always a risk of electric shock / electrocution when working around energised electrical installations as even small amounts of electricity can prove to be a fatal energy source.

Safety observer

The person acting as safety observer must be competent to implement identified emergency control measures, rescue and if necessary, resuscitate the electrical worker. Safety observers must not have other duties assigned to them while they are observing.

the safety observer must have 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 PCBU has conducted a risk assessment that shows there is no serious risk associated with the proposed testing work.

Electrical testing

Testing can include fault finding and troubleshooting, which can be conducted without a safety observer where the risks are negligible. However, a risk assessment must always be undertaken prior to testing to formally determine the level of risk.

The risk assessment can be outlined in a SWMS or other document. The risk assessment should consider:

  • the complexity of the test
  • the likelihood of the electrician coming into contact with energised parts
  • exposed equipment issues
  • fault levels and electrical fault protection systems.

Note: the provision of an electrical fault protection system must not be relied upon to replace a risk assessment or a SWMS.

Where serious risks are identified and assessed for testing work, a safety observer must be considered within the control measures of the SWMS or risk assessment document.

For typical and repetitive testing activities, a SWMS covering the repeated test or fault finding work can be used as a template, and modified for different locations, site specific hazards and associated risks.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Where PPE has been identified to minimise risks associated with electrical work, the suggested minimum PPE requirements below are taken from AS/NZS 4836:2011, table 9.1 and table 9.2.

Personal protective equipment

Requirements

Eye protectionEye protection without metal frames and complying with AS/NZS 1337 and selected in accordance with AS/NZS 1336.
Face shieldFace shield certified as rated at 10 cal/cm2 protection.
Arc flash suit and hood

Arc flash suit and hood rated at a minimum of 40 cal/cm2 protection

FootwearShoes or boots complying with AS/NZS 2210.2 selected and maintained in accordance with AS/NZS 2210.1.
Insulating glovesGloves complying with AS 2225 or an equivalent Standard and insulated to the highest potential voltage expected for the work being undertaken, and air tested each time prior to use.
Flame-resistant glovesGloves complying with AS/NZS 2161.4, e.g. gloves made from leather or other non-melting heat-resistant material.
Hearing protectionEar plugs or muffs complying with AS 1270.
Protective clothingFlame-retardant clothing covering the full body (including arms and legs) and not made from conductive material or containing metal threads.
Industrial fall-arrest systems and devicesIndustrial fall-arrest systems and devices complying with AS/NZS 1891.4 and that have been checked and inspected each time before use with particular attention being paid to buckles, rings, hooks, clips and webbing.
Safety helmets

Headwear complying with AS/NZS 1801.

Respiratory protection

Respiratory protection complying with AS/NZS 1715 and AS/NZS 1716.

Notes:

  1. Regulatory authorities may have additional requirements for personal protective equipment.
  2. Where insulated and flame-resistant gloves are worn together, they are to be matched in accordance with the insulated glove manufacturer’s instructions.

GUIDE TO THE SELECTION OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

TaskCurrents up to and including 100 ACurrent exceeding 100 A and up to and including 400 ACurrents exceeding 400 A
Work (isolated and verified)

Footwear

Protective clothing (if required)

Eye protective (if required)

Gloves (if required)

Hearing Protection (if required)

Safety helmet (if required)

Respiratory protection (if required)

Footwear

Protective clothing (if required)

Eye protective (if required)

Gloves (if required)

Hearing Protection (if required)

Safety helmet (if required)

Respiratory protection (if required)

Footwear

Protective clothing (if required)

Eye protective (if required)

Gloves (if required)

Hearing Protection (if required)

Safety helmet (if required)

Respiratory protection (if required)

Switching, isolating, removing fuses or links

Footwear

Protective clothing

Eye protection

Gloves (if required)

Hearing Protection (if required)

Safety helmet (if required)

Respiratory protection (if required)

Footwear

Protective clothing

Eye protection

Gloves

Hearing Protection (if required)

Safety helmet (if required)

Respiratory protection (if required)

Footwear

Protective clothing

Eye protection

Gloves

Hearing Protection (if required)

Safety helmet (if required)

Respiratory protection (if required)

Isolation verification, testing or fault finding

Footwear

Protective clothing

Eye protection

Gloves

Hearing Protection (if required)

Safety helmet (if required)

Respiratory protection (if required)

Footwear

Protective clothing*

Eye protection

Gloves

Arc flash suit and hood (if required)

Hearing Protection (if required)

Safety helmet (if required)

Respiratory protection (if required)

Face shield (if required)

Footwear

Protective clothing*

Eye protection

Gloves

Face shield

Arc flash suit and hood (if required)

Hearing Protection (if required)

Safety helmet (if required)

Respiratory protection (if required)

Live electrical work

Footwear

Protective clothing*

Eye protection

Insulating gloves

Arc flash suit and hood (if required)

Flame-resistant gloves (if required)

Face shield (if required)

Safety helmet (if required)

Hearing Protection (if required)

Respiratory protection (if required)

Footwear

Protective clothing*

Eye protection

Safety helmet

Insulating gloves

Arc flash suit and hood (if required)

Flame-resistant gloves (if required)

Face shield (if required)

Hearing Protection (if required)

Respiratory protection (if required)

Footwear

Protective clothing*

Eye protection

Insulating gloves

Flame-resistant gloves

Arc flash suit and hood

Hearing Protection

Respiratory protection (if required)

(if required): Determined by the risk assessment

*Collar up, top buttons done up and sleeves down

Bracelets, rings neck chains, exposed metal zips, watches and other conductive items must not be worn while working on or near exposed energized conductors or live conductive.

Further information