| 1. |
Objectives |
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The objectives of the University's electrical
safety policy are to provide protection from:
Electric shock arising from: exposed contacts and conductors;
damaged insulation on electrical plant/equipment, cables/leads
and services;
wet conditions in the area of equipment used; or
incorrectly wired connectors and equipment.
Risk of fire arising from:
| heating equipment; |
overloaded circuits; |
| loose connections; |
short circuits; or |
| inappropriate electrical equipment in
hazardous atmospheres. |
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| 2. |
Policy |
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Flinders University is committed to providing
a safe working environment for all staff, students and visitors.
This extends to the provision of a safe and reliable supply
and use of electricity within the University, and compliance
with relevant Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations.
To this end the University will:
Require that only authorised persons as defined in this
Policy carry out or supervise electrical work; and,
Implement arrangements to ensure the safety of all electrical
installations, appliances and associated equipment in a workplace.
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| 3. |
Legislative Framework |
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3.1 |
The Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Act
1986 and Regulations 1995 specify the requirements for ongoing
workplace electrical safety. |
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3.2 |
Division 2.5 of the Regulations 1995 - Electrical,
apart from the requirement to comply with AS/NZ 3000 Electrical
Installations - Wiring Rules, and its prescriptive basic safety,
the Regulations also specify the methods and systems to be applied
to ensure on-going electrical safety at workplaces. This is
stated in Regulation 2.5.4 as follows:
Any electrical installation, materials, equipment or apparatus
within a workplace must be so designed, constructed, installed,
protected, maintained and tested as to minimise the risk of
electrical shock or fire. |
| 4. |
Procedures |
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4.1 |
Introduction |
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These procedures are intended to provide guidance
to the University community on compliance with relevant State
legislation concerning health, safety and welfare at work. Regulations
called up under various Acts are mandatory and must be followed
by the University where applicable. Wherever Approved Codes
of Practice are recommended or referenced, these documents and
associated policy statements may be interpreted with some flexibility
provided an equivalent or better standard of health and safety
is achieved. The Buildings and Property Division (Senior Technical
Officer - Maintenance Section) can be contacted for advice and
interpretation.
The following procedures provide an outline for the appropriate
standards for management of electrical safety in the University.
The technical details expected to be known to qualified electricians
and electronic technicians have not been repeated in this Policy.
Procedures will be developed from time to time to cover specific
areas of concern and are to be read in conjunction with this
document. |
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4.2 |
Definitions |
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4.2.1 |
Authorised Person |
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An authorised person for the purposes of this
Policy will have been authorised by Buildings and Property (Registration
Form for Authorisation) Division and may be: |
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(a) |
Authorised to install, repair and modify electrical supply
circuits, switchboards, fixed lighting, hard wired plant/equipment
and electrical devices, a Certificate of Compliance (issued
by the Electrician) will be required for the majority of work
at this level:
Minimum qualifications - Electrical Workers Registration
(formerly A Class) |
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(b) |
Authorised to disconnect/re-connect hard wired plant/equipment
for repair and maintenance purposes, a Certificate of Compliance
will be required for the majority of work at this level:
Minimum qualifications - Electrical Workers Registration
(formerly B Class) |
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No University or external personnel other than
those authorised under (a) or (b) above, are permitted to undertake
work on the electrical installation, up to and including the
supply outlet, irrespective of a licence or registration they
may hold, without the prior written permission from Manager,
Buildings and Property. Such permission will only be given on
a case-by-case basis and will be subject to overall supervision
by an appropriately qualified member of Buildings and Property
staff. |
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(c) |
Authorised to build, modify and repair specialist/experimental
apparatus capable of connection to the electrical supply installation.
Personnel authorised under this category will be technical staff
engaged in the development of equipment and appliances required
for specific use in teaching and research, for which commercially
produced equipment is not readily available
Minimum qualifications - Flinders University Electrical
Safety Training, Parts I & II Certificate |
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(d) |
Authorised to undertake repair and maintenance on appliances
capable of connection to the electrical supply installation.
Personnel authorised under this category will be technical staff
engaged in the repair and maintenance of equipment e.g. computers
and peripherals, audio visual equipment, laboratory equipment
and other appliances utilized in teaching and research
Minimum qualifications - Flinders University Electrical
Safety Training, Parts I & II Certificate |
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A register of persons within the University who
are authorised by the Buildings and Property Division to carry
out or supervise electrical work within the University will
be maintained by the Buildings and Property Division. All authorised
persons will be required to undertake continuing training in
electrical safety, the details of which will be determined by
the persons supervisor in association with the Staff Development
Unit.
It should be noted that authorised persons as defined in (a)
and (b) above are legally bound by requirements of the Plumbers,
Gas Fitters and Electricians Act 1995. |
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4.2.2 |
Competent Person |
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A person who the Head of the Relevant Cost Centre
ensures has acquired through training, qualification, experience
or a combination of these, the knowledge and skills enabling
that person to perform the task required correctly. For in-service
testing of electrical equipment the qualification required is
the Flinders University Electrical Safety Training, Parts I
& II Certificate |
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4.2.3 |
Electrical Appliance |
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An electricity consuming device or apparatus,
including the flexible supply cord and supply transformers provided
with the appliance, that is connected to the electrical installation
by means of a removable plug. |
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4.2.4 |
Electrical Installation |
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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, fixed lighting and air conditioning equipment, etc. |
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4.2.5 |
Electrical Work |
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Electrical work includes all work involving construction,
repair or maintenance on: electrical installation(s);
electrical appliances. |
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4.2.6 |
EPOD (Electric Portable Outlet Device) |
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A device other than a cord extension set, having
a single plug intended for connection to a mains outlet socket,
a sheathed cord and an assembly of one or more outlet sockets. |
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4.2.7 |
Heads of Major Cost Centres |
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Heads of Major Cost Centres are the Heads of Faculty,
University Librarian and the Executive Director of Administration. |
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4.2.8 |
Residual Current Device (RCD) |
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A mechanical switching device designed to make,
carry and break currents under normal service conditions and
to cause the opening of the contacts when the residual current
attains a given value under specified conditions |
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4.3 |
Responsibility |
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4.3.1 |
Building and Property Division |
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The Buildings and Property Division is responsible
for: |
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(a) |
the electrical installation in all University buildings including
provision, maintenance, repair, alteration and additions to
the electrical installation; |
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(b) |
the safety of such installation and its compliance with appropriate
legislation, Australian Standards; |
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(c) |
maintaining a list of University personnel authorised to
carry out or supervise electrical work in the University (Authorised
Persons); |
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(d) |
ensuring all electrical sub-contractors meet University building
standards and relevant requirements of this Policy. |
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4.3.2 |
Head of Major Cost Centre |
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The Head of Major Cost Centre is responsible for: |
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(a) |
nominating University personnel for consideration by Buildings
and Property Division as authorised persons as defined by 4.2.1;
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(b) |
ensuring that only persons authorised in the appropriate
categories, as defined by this Policy, carry out or supervise
electrical work in their Cost Centre or area; |
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(c) |
ensuring that procedures for the management of electrical
safety in the Cost Centre is established and implemented in
consultation with employees and their elected health and safety
representative. Such procedures shall embrace: Hazard identification,
risk assessment, visual inspection, tagging and testing of
electrical equipment and recording of results;
Use of RCDs, their periodic testing and recording of results;
Safety of students engaged in activities involving the
use of electrical equipment.
Local procedures must be cross-referenced to this Policy and
any other relevant procedures;
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(d) |
appointing an electrical safety liaison person to co-ordinate
the auditing and administration of the testing and tagging programme
– not to carry out the actual testing;
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(e) |
ensuring so far as is reasonably practical that where an
outside contractor is employed to perform maintenance or repair
of any item of electrical equipment the person performing the
maintenance or repair is appropriately qualified.
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4.3.3 |
Authorised Person |
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The authorised person is responsible for: |
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(a) |
ensuring that all electrical work they undertake complies
with relevant mandatory requirements set down by legislation
and the safety standards outlined in this Policy;
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(b) |
advising the Head of Cost Centre of any change to their status
as an authorised person.
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4.4 |
Specific procedures required |
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Each Head of Cost Centre shall, amongst other
things: |
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4.4.1 |
Inspection and Testing of Electrical
Equipment |
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Ensure: local area procedures are developed
and maintained;
entry date tagging of new equipment is carried out; and,
testing of electrical equipment, the regime determined
through hazard identification and risk assessment, is carried
out by a competent person with reference to the tests specified
in the appendices of AS 3760 or other applicable Australian
Standards and Legislation. |
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4.4.2 |
Reporting |
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Ensure that a report is sent annually to the appropriate
Area Occupational Health and Safety Committee on the testing
of electrical equipment in their Area. The report will also
be submitted to the University OHS Committee. |
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4.4.3 |
Use of Residual Current Devices |
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Ensure that the Regulations relating to use of
Residual Current Devices (RCDs) are complied with (see 4.5.5). |
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4.4.4 |
Use of EPODs and Double Adaptors |
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Ensure that the University's policy in relation
to use of EPODs and double adaptors is adhered to (see 4.5.3). |
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4.5 |
General |
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4.5.1 |
Access to switchboards and circuit breakers |
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Access to University switchboards is restricted
to Buildings and Property Division staff and those approved
by the Buildings and Property Division ONLY.
Resetting of circuit breakers located in University switchboards
is to be carried out by Buildings and Property Division staff
and those approved by the Buildings and Property Division ONLY.
Reports of tripped circuits and requests for resetting tripped
circuits shall be directed to Maintenance Section. |
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4.5.2 |
Temporary Power Supplies and Switchboards |
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Requests for installation of temporary switchboards
and/or power supplies should be directed to the Manager, Buildings
and Property Division. |
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4.5.3 |
Use of EPODs, double adaptors and piggyback
plugs |
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The University has a shortage of socket outlets
in some areas and it is recognised that at times it will be
necessary to use electrical socket outlet devices of various
kinds.
The use of EPODs can be unsafe because of the potential for
overloading, and inadequate protection of circuits. In hazardous
or wet areas EPODs must be secured in a safe position.
Double adaptors are prone to the plugs working loose with potential
for overheating or contact with live terminals. The use of double
adaptors is not permitted.
Piggyback plugs can be prone to overloading therefore wherever
possible suitable EPODs shall be used.
Wherever possible arrangements should be made to install sufficient
socket outlets for all of the equipment in the workplace.
In circumstances where it is necessary to use an EPOD, such
a device: must be marked with an appropriate Australian
Testing Authority Type Approval; and,
must be fitted with a resettable overcurrent protection
device.
Note: The Occupational Health, Safety and
Welfare Regulations, 1995 require that portable RCDs must
be used where electricity is supplied to movable electrical
equipment and there is no fixed RCD installed (see 4.5.5). |
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4.5.4 |
Reporting of electric shock and electrical
incidents |
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Regulations under: the Occupational Health, Safety
and Welfare Act, 1986; Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare
Regulations, 1995; and, the Electrical (General) Regulations
1997 require the University to notify the SA Government –
Workplace Services and the Office of the Electricity Technical
Regulator of any work-related injury that is caused by electric
shock as well an any incident involving electricity that might
have caused injury. Notification must be within 24 hours.
Hence, any injury or incident involving electricity in the University
must be reported to the Occupational Health and Safety Unit
as soon as possible after the event. In addition, as soon as
practicable, a yellow Accident/Incident Report Form must be
completed and forwarded to the Occupational Health and Safety
Unit.
On receipt of a report the Occupational Health and Safety Unit
will investigate immediately and, if appropriate, contact Workplace
Services which may decide to undertake further investigation. |
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4.5.5 |
Residual Current Devices |
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The Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations
require that if a supply of electricity is provided to a socket
outlet at a workplace, any risk associated with the supply of
electricity should be controlled, so far as is reasonably practicable,
by the installation of a non-portable RCD that complies with
AS 3190 - Approval and Test Specification for Current Operated
(Core Balance) Earth Leakage Devices.
Accordingly Flinders University will ensure that; |
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(a) |
all new installations will be protected by a non-portable
RCD; and |
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(b) |
existing installations will, wherever practicable, be fitted
with a non-portable RCD where there is a significant risk of
injury arising from the use of electrical appliances drawing
electricity from the circuit. |
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However, where electricity is supplied to movable
electrical equipment through a socket outlet and the supply
of electricity is not protected by a non-portable RCD, the output
side of the socket must be directly connected to a portable
RCD.
In this context 'movable electrical equipment' is: any
electrical equipment that is moved around a workplace while
it is being operated. This is equipment that a person would
normally be holding or controlling while it is operating e.g.
portable power tools, industrial floor polishers, vacuum cleaners,
etc; or,
equipment which is normally stationary while in operation
but because it is frequently relocated the supply cord could
be damaged e.g. portable welding equipment, audio-visual equipment,
computers on wheeled trolleys, etc.
and may include all extension leads and EPODs, if used in
connection with movable electrical equipment.
All RCD’s must be kept in a safe operating condition
and tested on a regular basis in accordance with AS 3760,
by a competent person at the intervals specified in the Standard. |
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| Appendix A |
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South Australian Legislation & Regulations
|
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Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Act,
1986
Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations, 1995
Plumbers, Gas Fitters and Electricians Act 1995
The Electricity Act 1996
Electricity (General) Regulations 1997 |
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Australian Standards relevant to electrical
safety |
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AS1543 |
Electrical Equipment of Industrial Machines |
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AS1674 |
Safety in Welding and Allied Processes, Part
1: Fire Precautions |
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AS2243 |
Safety in Laboratories - Part 7: Electrical Aspects |
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AS2430 |
Classification of Hazardous Areas, Part 3: Specific
Occupancies |
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AS2865 |
Safe Working in Confined Space |
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AS3000 |
Electrical installations - Australian/New Zealand
Wiring Rules |
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AS3001 |
Electrical Installations - Movable Premises (including
caravans) and their Site Installations |
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AS3002 |
Electrical Installations - Shows and Carnivals |
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AS3004 |
Electrical Installations - Marinas and Pleasure
Craft at Mains Voltage |
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AS3005 |
Electrical Installations of Tents and Similar
Temporary Structures |
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AS3007 |
Electrical Installations - Surface Mines and
Associated Processing Plants, Parts 1-5 |
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AS3012 |
Electrical Installations - Construction and Demolition
Sites |
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AS3100 |
Approval and Test Specification, Definition and
General Requirements for Electrical Materials and Equipment |
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AS3190 |
Approval and Test Specification for Current-Operated
(Core Balance) Earth Leakage Devices |
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AS 3200 |
Approval and Test Specification - Electromedical
Equipment General Requirements |
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AS 3551 |
Technical Management Programs for Medical Devices |
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AS 3760 |
In-Service Safety Inspection and Testing of Electrical
Equipment |
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University Policies and Standard
Specifications
Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Policy and Procedures |
