Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Contents:
Policy: Procedures:
1.0 Background 4.0 Administrative Arrangements
2.0 Legal Requirements 4.1 Hazards of Electricity
2.1 Definitions 4.2 Equipment Safety
3.0 Responsibilities 4.3 Protection from Electric Shock
4.3.1 Earthing / Insulation
4.3.2 Residual Current Devices (RCDs)
4.3.3 Low Voltages
3.1 University 4.4 Electrical Safety Risk Management
4.4.1 Regular in-service testing
4.4.2 Isolation and Tagging: Non-compliant
equipment
4.4.3 Use low voltage equipment
4.4.4 Electromedical equipment
4.4.5 Design/hiring equipment
4.4.6 Purchasing equipment
4.4.7 Information, Instruction and Training
3.2 Office of Facilities Management 4. 5 Record Keeping
3.3 Deans and Heads of School/Centre 5.0 Electric Shock and Related Electrical Incidents
3.4 Licensed Electrical Workers / Contractors 6.0 Contact Information
3.5 Supervisors, Staff and Students 7.0 References and Links
3.6 Visitors 8.0 Appendices
3.7 Safety and Health Office
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1.0 Background
This document summarises the operating procedures of the University of Western Australia to control
the hazard posed by electricity and to minimise the risk of injury or disease arising from such a source.
The management of electrical safety at the University is designed to provide protection from –
• Electric Shock arising from:
• Exposed contacts
• Damaged insulation on equipment or extension leads or
• Wet conditions in the area in which electrical equipment may be used
These procedures provide the minimum requirements on practical guidance on how to meet the
requirements of Occupational Health and Safety (Plant) Regulations 1996, the objective of which is to
protect people at work against risks to safety or health from plant and systems associated with
electricity. Managers, supervisors, staff, students, contractors and visitors to the University shall
follow these procedures.
Electrical Installation
The electrical installation is the electricity supply to a building, and includes the main switchboard,
distribution boards, and all fixed wiring to isolation switches or socket outlets
Electrical Equipment
An electrical equipment is an electricity consuming device or apparatus (including the cable) that is
connected to the electrical installation
3.0 Responsibilities
3.1 University
• Is responsible for providing support for implementation of the Electrical Safety Procedures to
ensure that all staff, licensed electrical workers, students and visitors comply with these Electrical
Safety Procedures and electric shock and related electrical incidents which are documented
below and in Section 5.0
• Individual –
- report to / contact immediately your immediate supervisor;
- complete the UWA Confidential Incident / Injury Report Form Part 1
- (After hours emergencies: contact the Security Office on 9380 2222).
• Supervisor –
- Report to / contact immediately the Office of Facilities Management, Senior Technical
Officer Electrical on 9380 2036 or Workshop Electrical Supervisor on 9380 2016 who
will conduct an investigation;
- contact the Safety and Health Office on 9380 3938;
- (After hours emergencies: contact the Security Office on 9380 2222); and
- immediately ensures where the incident occurred the area is made safe (provided safe to
do so) and access to the area restricted until an investigation has been conducted
3.2 Office of Facilities Management (OFM) (in their area of control) are
responsible for:
• The electrical installation in all University buildings including provision, maintenance, repair,
alteration and additions to the electrical installation
• The safety of such installation and its compliance with appropriate legislation, Australian Standards
and this document
• Maintaining a list of University personnel authorised to carry out or supervise electrical work in the
University
• Ensuring all electrical contractors meet University standards and relevant requirements of these
procedures
• Liaising with others for assistance with compliance of this document
• Complying with the procedures of electric shock and related electrical incidents referenced in
Section 5.0
• Ensuring that appropriate staff attend an approved UWA electrical training course to comply with
these procedures and associated legislative requirements
3.3 Deans and Heads of School / Centre (in their area of control) are responsible for:
• Liaising with the Office of Facilities Management for any electrical work required.
• Ensuring compliance with AS3760 - 2001 (Appendix 2 – Testing and Inspection Intervals for
Electrical Equipment)
• Ensuring that only licensed electrical workers (including all contractors), as defined in these
procedures, carry out and supervise electrical work in their School or area
UWA Electrical Equipment Safety Procedures 3
• Ensuring that procedures for the management of electrical safety in his or her School are
established and implemented in consultation with employees and their elected safety and health
representative, this includes conducting an annual Electrical Safety Checklist (Appendix 5),
referencing the Safety Risk Management Procedures. Any local policy and procedures must be
cross-referenced to these and any other relevant procedures
• Maintaining the Electrical Equipment Register (Appendix 1) and complying with Appendix 2
• Complying with the procedures of electric shock and related electrical incidents referenced in
Section 5.0
• Ensuring that appropriate staff attend an approved UWA electrical training course to comply with
these procedures and associated legislative requirements
3.4 Licensed Electrical Workers / Contractors (in their area of control) are responsible
for:
• Ensuring that all electrical work he or she undertakes complies with relevant mandatory
requirements set down by legislation and the safety standards outlined in these procedures
• Always advising the Workshop Electrical Supervisor of the Office of Facilities Management and /
or the Senior Technical Officer (Electrical) of any change to their licensed status
• Advising the Head of School / Centre of any change to their licensed status.
Note: In event of failure to comply with these procedures or any of the rules laid down by the
Electricity Act and Regulations, shall be liable to have their name removed from the list of licensed
electrical workers on the University Electrical Contractor’s licence and from that date will be
barred from carrying out electrical work on any property of the University
• Always follow the example of the Standard Operating Procedure (Appendix 4) applicable to electrical
work
• Notifying the Office of Facilities Management, Senior Technical Officer Electrical, and / or OFM
Workshop Electrical Supervisor of any situation they believe poses a threat to the safety and health
of persons involved with electrical work (and any other person)
• Complying with the procedures for electric shock and related electrical incidents referenced in
Section 5.0
• Attending a UWA approved electrical training course to comply with these procedures and
associated legislative requirements
3.6 Visitors
• Are not authorised to interfere with or modify any electrical equipment
• Are always to be accompanied by a delegated personnel
• Shall comply with the procedures of electric shock and related electrical incidents referenced in
Section 5.0
3.7 Safety and Health Office (in their area of control) are responsible for:
• Assisting Deans and Heads of School / Centres / Office of Facilities Management, managers,
supervisors and others to implement these procedures
• Complying with the procedures of electric shock and related electrical incidents referenced in
Section 5.0
PROCEDURES:
Other possible consequences of electrical accidents are fire and explosion (as sparking can be a source
of ignition) and damage to equipment. Many of the accidents can be traced back to faults
such as incorrectly earthed equipment, frayed or broken insulation or practices such as
inappropriate work on live equipment.
Most mains power is supplied at 240 volts (50 Hertz), however, a higher voltage (such as 415 volts) or
lower (such as 12 volt) systems may power some equipment. Low voltage systems are usually safer
by virtue of reducing current flow through the body. Nevertheless, users should be aware that low
voltage equipment may still be hazardous in some situations.
Equipment can become unsafe after repeated usage if a component becomes faulty or insulation
deteriorates, or if flexible cords are damaged.
Visual inspections can usually verify that the following safety standards are maintained and are
recommended to be carried out annually. (Appendix 3 – Electrical Equipment Safety Checklist)
All work on electrical equipment, including construction or modifications must only be performed by a
competent authorised person.
Internal, non-visual or earthing equipment checks must only be conducted by a licensed electrical
worker and in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications.
The use of electrical apparatus in applications that involve liquids can present special electrical
hazards, as liquids will usually conduct electricity. This will be apparent in many laboratories where
equipment such as electrophoresis equipment or water baths are commonly used. In these cases, the
equipment must be of good standard and be suitable for the purpose for which it is used. Flammable
liquids must be kept separate to prevent fire or damage.
No double adaptors and piggy-backs to be used. All electrical plugs must be either moulded (integral
part of the cord) or transparent.
Class II (double insulated) equipment does not have an earth connection as in Class I equipment but
relies on double or reinforced insulation for protection. Introducing an earth on this equipment can be
dangerous.
For this reason the University requires RCDs to be installed on all socket outlets.
Where nuisance tripping of any RCD is a problem or for advice on requirements for RCDs, contact the
Office of Facilities Management, Workshop Electrical Supervisor or Senior Technical Officer
Electrical.
The responsibility for safety rests with the person with management and control of the workplace. In
particular, Schools and Sections are to ensure that all equipment purchased or brought to the
University is tested before use and at regular intervals thereafter and that electrical safety standards are
maintained in accordance with the Australian Standard AS/NZS 3760:2001. Equipment that has been
tested should be clearly indicated with an appropriate test tag. (Appendix 2 -Testing and Inspection Intervals
for Electrical Equipment)
• Out of Service tag (yellow and black): is a notice to all persons to identify appliances or
equipment that are out of service for repairs or alterations. These tags are fixed at common
isolation points of the equipment that is unsafe or not to be operated
Equipment that is faulty or damaged or otherwise does not comply with testing (Appendix 2) shall be
removed from service immediately and sent for repair or disposal. If disposed of, it must be
clearly labelled and rendered incapable (eg. cutting off plugs) of being connected to mains supply.
Australian Standard AS/NZS 3551:1996 Technical management programs for medical devices refers to
the safe management of electromedical equipment and provides guidance on setting up and
maintaining electromedical equipment. In some cases, provisions of the Therapeutic Goods Act may
also apply to electromedical devices in which case relevant approval must be obtained from
the Therapeutic Devices Branch of the Commonwealth Department of Human Services and Health.
Any persons cons idering using electromedical devices should contact the Secretary of the University
Human Ethics Committee and the Safety and Health Office for specialist advice.
UWA Electrical Equipment Safety Procedures 7
4.4.5 Design/hiring equipment
Equipment designed or constructed within the University must be designed and constructed in
accordance with relevant standards. It is also recommended that advice be obtained from the
Safety and Health Office Insurance Officer beforehand, as the liability exposure of the University (to
the end user) may be sufficiently great as to affect the viability of the project.
Electrical equipment, which is lent for hire or loan, must be visually checked before each hire
and regularly tested in accordance with AS 3760-2001.
• Supervisor –
- Report to / contact immediately the Office of Facilities Management, Senior Technical
Officer Electrical on 9380 2036 or Workshop Electrical Supervisor on 9380 2016
who will conduct an investigation and formally report the incident to Energy Safety Directorate
and the Network Operator;
- contact the Safety and Health Office on 9380 3938;
- (After hours emergencies: contact the Security Office on 9380 2222); and
7.0 Appendices
• Appendix 1: Electrical Equipment Register
• Appendix 2: Testing and Inspection Intervals for Electrical Equipment
• Appendix 3: Electrical Equipment Safety Checklist
• Appendix 4: Standard Operating Procedure (example)
• Appendix 5: Definitions
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CAUTION: This page must be read in conjunction with AS/NZS 3760-2001 as a whole, and particularly Clause 2.1.
TABLE 1
Type of environment and / or Interval between inspection and tests Cord extension sets
Equipment and EPOs
Interval Class of Equipment Residual Current Devices (RCDs)
i)Factories, workshops, places of work or 6 months 12 months Daily, or before 6 months 12 months 12 6 months
repair manufacturing, assembly, every use months
maintenance or fabrication
ii)Laboratories, health care and educational 12 months 12 months 3 months or 6 months 2 years 2 years 12 months
establishments, tea rooms and office kitchens before every use
iii)Office environment: where the equipment 12 months 12 months 3 months 6 months 2 years 2 years 12 months
or supply flexible cord is subject to flexing in
normal use OR is open to abuse OR is in a
hostile environment
iv)Office environment: where the equipment 5 years 5 years 3 months 6 months 2 years 2 years 5 years
or supply flexible cord is NOT subject to
flexing in normal use AND is NOT open to
abuse and is NOT in a hostile environment
v)Hire equipment (note 3) Inspected before each Inspect before each Prior to each N/A Prior to each N/A Inspect before
hire. Test monthly hire. Test monthly hire. Test hire. Test each hire.
monthly monthly Test monthly
vi)Repaired/serviced/second hand equipment
After repair or service which could affect electrical safety, or on re -introduction to service
vii)Equipment used for commercial cleaning 6 months 12 months 3 months N/A 2 years N/A 12 months
viii)Residential type areas: Residential 2 years 2 years 6 months 6 months 2 years 2 years 2 years
institutions, boarding houses, hospitals,
accommodation houses and the like
NOTES:
1 Multiple environments may exist in any location, eg. An ‘office’ classification and a ‘laboratory’ classification may exist within a ‘factory’
establishment
2 Regulatory Authorities, other Standards, workplace safety requirements or manufacturers’ instructions may specify intervals appropriate to particular
industries or specific types of equipment
3 RCDs in transportable equipment shall be regarded as portable RCDs
4 The following Standards refer only to the inspection and testing method of Clause 2.3 of this Standard, but not to the intervals of testing in Table 2 above.
Refer to the appropriate standard for specific test intervals:
AS 3001 Electrical Installations – Movable premises and their installations
AS 3002 Electrical Installations – Shows and Carnivals
AS/NZS 3003 Electrical Installations – Patient treatment areas of hospitals and medical and dental practices
AS 3004 Electrical Installations – Marinas and pleasure craft at low voltage
AS/NZS 3012 Electrical Installations – Construction and demolition sites
AS/NZS 4249 Electrical Safety Practices – Film, video and television sites