Electricity

Electrical safety is a major issue in the building and construction industry.

An electrical risk is a risk to a person of death, shock or other injury caused directly or indirectly by electricity.

The main hazards associated with these risks are:

contact with overhead wires when carrying equipment like poles and ladders, or operating equipment with height extension such as cranes
contact with exposed live parts causing electric shock and burns for example exposed leads or other electrical equipment coming into contact with metal surfaces such as metal flooring or roofs
the use of outdated, poorly maintained equipment or unsafe use of equipment
faults which could cause fires
fire or explosion where electricity could be the source of ignition in a potentially flammable or explosive atmosphere

Electrocution incidents can be fatal. Non-fatal shocks can result in serious and permanent burn injuries to skin, internal tissues and damage to the heart. Other injuries or illnesses may include muscle spasms, palpitations, nausea, vomiting, collapse and unconsciousness. Electric shocks may also contribute to related incidents including falls from ladders, scaffolding or other elevated work platforms.

Those working with electricity may not be the only ones at risk. Poor electrical installation and faulty electrical appliances can lead to electric shock to others at or near the workplace.

The risk of injury from electricity is strongly linked to where and how it is used. The risk of injury is greatest in harsh conditions such as:

outdoors or in wet surroundings equipment may become wet and may be at greater risk of damage
in cramped spaces with earthed metalwork, such as inside a tank or bin it may be difficult to avoid electrical shock if an electrical fault develops

Some items of equipment also involve greater risk of electrical injury than others. Portable electrical equipment is particularly liable to damage. Plugs, sockets, connections and cables on portable electrical equipment and extension leads connected to frequently moved equipment are all particularly susceptible to damage and therefore may pose a greater electrical risk.

The Managing Electrical Risks at the Workplace Code of Practice sets out a range of measures to manage electrical risks.

Duty to manage risks

A person conducting a business or undertaking must manage electrical risks at the workplace. If elimination is not reasonably practicable, the risks must be minimised so far as is reasonably practicable. Any person conducting a business or undertaking 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.

If a person conducting a business or undertaking workers, including contractors, are required or allowed to use electrical equipment at a workplace shared by multiple person conducting a business or undertaking then the person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the equipment is safe to use. This duty applies regardless of whether the person conducting a business or undertaking owns or supplied the electrical equipment.

More information is available on our workplace rights and responsibilities page.

Reducing the risks

A safe work method statement must be prepared before electrical activities are carried out on site. The safe work method statement should as a minimum address:

shock protection from contact with earth leakage current
temporary switchboards for construction and demolition electrical installations
flexible cord extension sets
inspection and tagging
demolition and major refurbishment work.

The Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 prescribes mandatory testing and tagging for electrical power equipment used in an environment in which the normal use of electrical equipment exposes it to operating conditions that are likely to result in damage or a reduction in its expected life span. This includes conditions that involve exposure to moisture, heat, vibration, mechanical damage, corrosive chemicals or dust.

Inspection, testing and tagging is to be carried out on a regular basis by a licensed electrician or a person certified as competent to undertake the testing. Inspection and testing needs to be in accordance with the performance specifications of the Australian Standard 3760: 2010 In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment and the Australian Standard 3012: 2010 Electrical Installations - Construction and demolition sites.

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 such as damaged cords are detectable by visual inspection.

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.

A person conducting a business or undertaking 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.

Common measures to control electrical risks at a workplace include:

ensuring only appropriately licensed or registered electricians carry out electrical work
not carrying out electrical work on energised equipment or cables wherever possible
testing equipment to determine that it is not energised before work starts
procedures to prevent inadvertent re-energising while work is being undertaken
isolating electrical equipment or circuits from all relevant sources of electricity supply by using opening switches, removing fuses or links, opening circuit breakers or removing circuit connections
providing enough socket outlets-overloading socket outlets by using adaptors can cause fires
if the circuit keeps overloading-not increasing the fuse rating as this creates a fire risk due to overheating
using tools, instruments, equipment and personal protective equipment suitable for the purpose and conditions
using battery powered tools instead of mains operated where possible
using lead stands, insulated cable hangers, cable protection ramps etc to protect cables and keep them off the ground
using residual current devices to protect workers using portable equipment as required by The Act.
determining the reason why an residual current devices, circuit breaker or other over current protective device disconnected the electricity before it is switched back on
procedures for pre checks, testing, tagging and preventative maintenance etc to ensure electrical equipment, residual current devices and personal protective equipment are in good working
inspection, testing and maintenance must be undertaken by a suitably trained and competent person
ensuring procedures for tag out, isolation, labelling and reporting of faulty procedures are in place and used
ensuring unsafe equipment is not reconnected until it is repaired and tested as being safe
meeting electrical safety standards

Residual current devices

A residual current device or safety switch is an additional safety measure which offers a high level of personal protection to a person using electrical equipment. Residual current devices are designed to immediately switch off the electricity, within 10 to 50 milliseconds, when 'leaking' to earth is detected.

Portable electrical equipment, power tools and extension leads at a workplace must be protected against earth leakage by a residual current device that is installed at a permanent switchboard or in a fixed socket outlet.

More information is available on our residual current devices page.

Energised electrical work

Energised electrical work must only be undertaken where it is absolutely necessary, and must not be carried out merely because it is convenient.

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 suitable for the work.

Energised work should only be carried out according to a safe work method statement prepared after consultation with relevant workers and health and safety representatives, and with a safety observer present. 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.

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.

More information is available on our energised electrical work page.

Overhead or underground electric line work

The Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 requires a person conducting a business or undertaking to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that no person, plant or thing at a workplace comes within an unsafe distance of an overhead or underground electric line.

Any construction work carried out on or near energised electrical installations or services is defined as high risk construction work and requires a safe work method statement for the work to be performed.

An approach distance is the minimum separation in air from an exposed overhead conductor that should be maintained by a person, or any object held by or in contact with that person. The approach distances take into account the differing levels of technical knowledge and items of plant and are greater for unauthorised persons than for authorised persons who have been trained and assessed as having the necessary technical knowledge and skills.

When operating cranes or mobile plant in the vicinity of overhead electric lines, a site specific risk assessment must be completed. Additionally, given that the work is near energised electrical installations, the work activity is classed as high risk construction work and must have a safe work method statement for the work activity.

Given the high risk associated with this type of work, a number of controls should be implemented to reduce the risk of serious injury or death. Some of the control measures used may include:

setting up the crane or mobile plant in a position that keeps the design envelope outside the approach distance
working at another time when the electricity supply can be isolated
erecting a physical barrier to prevent any part of the machine or the load being moved
limiting the hoisting, slewing, meaning forcible turning or swinging of a crane to a new position or other movements of the crane or mobile plant
making the hazards more visible by using warning signs or tiger tails
ensuring insulating gloves are used by anyone who may come into contact with a conducting part of the crane, plant or load being moved
ensuring that the operator of the crane or mobile plant and the safety observer are authorised
ensuring warning signs are fitted to cranes and mobile plant that are intended for use in the vicinity of energised overhead electric lin

Electrical installations or services

Any construction work carried out near underground energised electricity installations or services and any work carried out on or near pressurised gas distribution mains or piping is defined as high risk construction work. A safe work method statement must be prepared for any work construction work involving these activities.

Failure to appropriately manage the risks associated with these activities may result in serious injury or death. A risk assessment must be carried out to identify, assess and control the risks associated with this construction work.

Controlling the risks associated with underground assets may include:

using insulated hand digging tools
using non-powered hand tools
hiring a person with relevant electrical qualifications to do the job
installing a physical barrier to prevent accidental contact between a hand-held tool and underground electric cables
authorisations to conduct the work like a permit to work
training to identify the hazards and perform the work safely
personal protective equipment including electrically tested insulating gloves, fire retardant clothing and suitable eye protection.