Electrical Safety

> Legal requirements
> Who is a competent person?
> What is a regular basis for testing?
> Do I need to test at other times?
> What equipment should I test?
> What records do I need to keep?
> Templates & References
  

The OHS Amendment (Electrical Equipment) Regulation 2006 was gazetted on Friday 28th April 2006. The amending regulation amends Clause 64 and 65 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001 (the Regulation) by simplifying the requirements for the ‘testing and tagging’ of electrical equipment by identifying workplace environments where testing and tagging is warranted, such as construction sites and other hostile operating environments. Electrical equipment that falls outside these environments does not warrant a rigorous inspection and testing procedure but will continue to be subject to the general risk assessment provisions of the Regulation.

Legal requirements

A documented maintenance, inspection and testing regime for electrical equipment is required by Clauses 64 and 65 of the OHS Regulations 2001.

Visual inspection will often be sufficient to find faulty electrical equipment.  However, the supporting standard, AS/NZS 3760:2003 requires that equipment be tested by a competent person on a regular basis.

Who is a competent person?

A risk assessment of your electrical equipment can be carried out by any person who has gained appropriate knowledge and skills through training, qualification or experience.

In some cases, such as a low risk environment, this may be a staff member.  Other situations will require an electrician or similarly qualified professional.

What is a regular basis for testing?

WorkCover NSW requires a risk assessment to be carried out on electrical equipment and has developed a guide to risk assessment, Electrical Equipment Risk Assessment (PDF). The prescribed time frames for scheduled tag and testing of electrical equipment vary according to the type of equipment and the manner and environment in which it is used.  The following is an extract of AS/NZS 3760:2003 table which should be used to determine the appropriate frequency for testing your electrical equipment.  

*  This category appears to be the “best fit” for community care organisations.

Do I need to test at other times?

You are also required to tag and test any electrical equipment that has been repaired prior to returning it to use in the workplace.

What equipment should I test?

For the aged care industry, this may result in the need to also test residents’ electrical equipment.  If a resident is in retirement village, it is unlikely that there would be a requirement to test their equipment.  However, once a resident moves into a low or high care environment, their equipment, such as hair dryers, should be tested.

Testing of any electrical equipment hired or leased is the responsibility of the supplier and should be done prior to every hire.

What records do I need to keep?

You are required to keep a register which includes:

1. the name of the person who did the inspection/test;
2. the date/s of the inspection/test;
3. the results of the inspection/test;
4. the date for the NEXT inspection/test.

This register must also be used for maintenance tasks carried out on electrical equipment.

All new electrical equipment should be added to the register with dates for the first inspection/test.

Records must be kept for 7 years.

Records for used electrical equipment must be transferred to the new owners, and electrical equipment sold as scrap must be labelled “must not be used”.

Templates & References

WorkCover Guide to Testing Electrical Equipment for testing plug-in electrical equipment in the workplace