OM00032 – Electrical Safety Policy

Electrical Safety Policy

Objective: To reduce the risk of electrocution, electric shock or fires associated with the use of the electrical plant, equipment, appliances fixtures or fittings.

Scope: This policy applies to the risk from electric shock or electrocution to all workers, including contractors and visitors of A2Z Services workplace.

Policy: Electric shock can be received by either direct or indirect contact with an energised item, tracking through or across a medium (such as water), or by arching. Electrical burning and arching from equipment can also release toxic gases and air contaminants. Injuries from electricity can include muscular contraction (leading to falls if working at height, collisions if operating plant vehicles etc.), burns, cellular damage and death.

A2Z Services commits to protect workers and others from the risk of injury from the use of electricity, and from working in the vicinity of electricity. A2Z Services will put in place mechanisms to identify electrical hazards and risks arising from:

• The design, construction, installation, maintenance or testing of electrical installations or equipment;
• Changes or modifications to electrical installations or equipment;
• Missing, inactive or inadequate electrical protection;
• Electrical equipment use (how, when, why and where);
• The user of electrical equipment and the training and competency levels of users;
• The age and condition of electrical installations or equipment;
• Overhead and underground electrical services;
• Electromagnetic fields;
• Static electricity.

Relevant information concerning electrical safety will be communicated to all duty holders at the workplace and other duty holders (such as other PCBU) where required.

All work on or near live or energised electrical installations and equipment requires a documented hazard identification and risk assessment.

SWMS must be prepared and are in use for any work carried out on or near energised electrical installations.

Only licensed electricians may work on energised electrical equipment and only under strictly enforced SWMS and utilising suitable PPE and equipment.

Electrical Safety Procedure

Responsibilities:

At A2Z Services the PCBU is responsible for ensuring that:

• Ensure that any work involving the risk of electric shock or electrocution is identified and risk assessments completed and implemented as required and in compliance with the WHS/Electrical Legislation;
• Minimise the risk of electric shock or electrocution by ensuring that appropriate procedures and supporting mechanisms/systems are in place in respect of electrical hazards and risks at work;
• Ensure that an appropriate emergency response and procedure are in place for incidents involving electricity;
• Consult with workers and other relevant persons in regard to electrical hazards, risks and control measures;
• Ensure that all workers are trained, competent and fully supervised at all times when there is a risk of electric shock or electrocution while working or at the workplace;
• Monitor and review electrical safety policies, procedures and emergency response as required.

The WHS Manager/Supervisor is responsible to ensure:

• All electrically powered plant, equipment, appliances and tools that are purchased and brought onto the workplace are checked for electrical compliance and/or tested and tagged as per the Australian Standard;
• Residual Current Devices (RCD) are installed where required and portable RCD are used as and regularly tested;
• Registered, competent individuals are used to conduct electrical installation, commissioning, maintenance and repair tasks at the workplaces;
• All workers are adequately trained to visually check electrical installations, plant, equipment, appliances and tools prior to use;
• There is an effective Lock Out & Tag Out (LOTO) system in place to remove faulty or damaged electrical equipment from use, and all workers are aware of the LOTO system;
• Adequate records are kept in regard to electrical hazards, risks and all electrical items at the workplace;
• Regular monitoring and review of electrical safety procedures is completed;
• Any incidents involving electricity will be notified to the state regulator as required by the WHS Legislation.

Workers are responsible to:

• Maintain current training and competency levels for the use of electrical items;
• Visually check all electrical plant and equipment, including portable equipment and tools, prior to use;
• Use the correct plant, equipment, appliance or tool for the task;
• Never misuse electrical plant, equipment, appliance or tools;
• Follow SOP, risk assessments and LOTO procedures;
• Report any new electrical hazards at the workplace (isolate power source immediately if possible to do so safely);
• Maintain records as required;
• Comply with reasonable directions given to them in respect of electrical safety.

A2Z Services will ensure electrical hazards are identified and any work conducted on, or near electrical installations will be subject to a detailed risk assessment.

Where A2Z Services has management control, all electrical installations at the workplace (including switchboards and temporary electrical installations) will be installed by licensed electricians.

A2Z Services representative (Insert name of responsible person) will ensure compliance with electrical safety.  The Electrical Safety Checklist (OF0028) and Electrical Equipment Register (OR0021) will be completed by (Insert name of responsible person) before work begins in line with agreed audit timeframes.

• Any incidents involving electric shock will be notified to the State Regulator as required by the current Regulations;
• Visually check all electrical plant and equipment, including portable equipment and tools, before use;
• Report any new electrical hazards at the workplace (isolate power source immediately if possible to do so safely);
• Registered, electricians are used to conduct electrical installation, commissioning, maintenance and repair tasks at the workplaces;
• Comply with reasonable directions given to them in respect of electrical safety;
• RCD are installed where required, and portable RCD are used and regularly tested.

De-Energised Electrical Work:

• Electrical work is not to be carried out on electrical equipment while the equipment is energised, subject to the prescribed exceptions as listed in the relevant State Legislation;
• Before any electrical work is carried out on electrical equipment, the equipment must be de-energised and verified by a competent person that it is safe to work on;
• The worker carrying out the testing must understand the testing procedures and be competent in the

use of the testing method. Panel voltmeters should not be the only method of testing to be used to determine whether an electrical part is de-energised. Additionally, each high-voltage exposed part of the equipment must be earthed after being de-energised;

• Anyone carrying out electrical work must ensure that electrical equipment that has been de-energised to allow for electrical work to be carried out cannot be inadvertently energised;
• Refer to Lock Out/Tag-Out section for support information;
• Where safe work procedures have been developed for electrical work or energised electrical work, that work must be carried out following the safe work procedure.

Electrical Equipment

All electrical equipment must be visually inspected before use and tested/tagged as per legislative requirements.A2Z Services will ensure that all sub-contractors will bring only compliant electrical leads/equipment onto the workplace.  See Electrical Equipment Register for all electrical equipment.

Electrical Inspections

Regular inspections will be undertaken by a A2Z Services representative at regular intervals to ensure all electrical leads and equipment are within test date, supplied with a compliant tag, in good condition and used/handled safely.

The scope of the inspections will include verification that electrical leads and extension leads are not placed in areas that may pose tripping hazards, on or near water or chemicals (or other deteriorating agents), not exposed to mechanical damage (from power tools) and suitable lead-stands are provided to keep leads off the ground.

The Electrical Safety Checklist (OF0028) and Electrical Equipment Register (OR0021) will be completed by (Insert name of responsible person) before work begins in line with agreed audit timeframes.

Forms and Registers

Document Number	Document Name
OF0028	Electrical Safety Checklist
OR0021	Electrical Equipment Register

Amendment Record

Issue#: 1 Issue Date: 13/7/2022

Rev#	Date	Section#	Para.#	Description of Change	Prepared By	Approved By
1
2
3

Disclaimer: This documentcontains material to assist in meeting environmental management, Work Health and Safety and Quality obligations under the International Standard ISO AS/NZS ISO 9001:2016,14001:2016 and other legislative bodies. This document contains material sourced from Safe Work Australia. Any such material remains subject to copyright © Commonwealth of Australia. https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/copyright. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information at the time of publication, it is provided as guidance only and does not provide legal advice on meeting your obligations. This document and its contents are © A2Z services 2018 and or the originating source authors and no permission is given for its duplication or copying, in part or in its entirety, for use outside its original purposes as stated within the company.