5 WHS PROCEDURE P23-01 Page 1 of 9 Issue: 2 1. Intent The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory (TSA-AUE) is committed to the provision of a safe, healthy and injury free environment within the mission / ministry for all persons and operations under its control. To do this TSA-AUE recognizes the need to ensure electrical equipment is tested, tagged and cabinets, switchboards and fuse boxes which contain exposed live circuits are secured and that access to them is only permitted by appropriately qualified personnel. 2. Purpose To provide direction, guidance and assistance: in achieving electrical safety within TSA-AUE workplaces / locations. It provides information on how to comply with the most relevant aspects of the relevant legislative requirements and standards; it is not intended to cover technical and complex electrical safety issues but provides an overview of the following: Electrical inspection and testing Use and testing of Residual Current Devices 3. Definitions Contractor: Cord Extension Set (extension lead): Department: Electrical Installation: Electric Portable Outlet Device (EPOD) (power board) Hazard: Officer: A person or company engaged under a contract for service to carry out work for and on behalf of TSA-AUE. An assembly of a plug intended for connection to a mains outlet socket, a sheathed flexible cord and a cord extension socket. An entity within TSA-AUE organization with specific responsibilities to carry out the various functions and activities of, although ultimate control remains under TSA-AUE leadership. The term is used to describe any wiring or equipment that uses electricity, including all electrical wiring, accessories, fittings, consuming devices, controls or protective gear, or other equipment associated with wiring, situated at a workplace A device, other than a cord extension set, having a single plug intended for connection to a mains outlet socket, a sheathed flexible cord and an assembly of one or more outlet sockets. A source or a situation with a potential for harm in terms of human injury or ill-health, damage to property, damage to the environment, or a combination of these. A person who is specifically commissioned for ministry within TSA. This ministry ranges from evangelical to pastoral duties as well as community service and administrative responsibilities.
Page 2 of 9 Issue: 2 Residual Current Device (RCD): A safety device intended to isolate electrical supply to protected circuits, socket-outlets or electrical equipment in the event of a current flow to earth which exceeds a predetermined value (as typically happens in instances of electric shock). RCD s are classified in Australian Standard AS3190 according to their rated residual current as follows: Type I Safety switch : not exceeding 10mA; and Type 2 Safety switch : exceeding 10mA and less than 30mA Risk: (In relation to any potential injury or harm) The likelihood and consequence of that injury or harm occurring. 4. Methodology Residual Current Devices One of the primary protections against serious personal electrical incidents is the use of a properly installed Residual Current Device (RCD) commonly referred to as a safety switch. Where electricity is supplied through a socket outlet, the risk associated with that supply must be minimised by the use of an RCD. An RCD works by detecting a current leakage (often called an earth leakage ). When the RCD detects this current leakage, it turns the power off almost immediately and whilst a person may still receive an electric shock, the duration is very short, reducing the risk of serious injury. The type of electrical installation will determine what type of RCD protection is required these would include: New installations - non-portable RCD protection Existing installations - portable or non-portable RCD protection Modifications to existing installations - non-portable RCD protection All RCD s used shall be Type II RCDs that have a residual current rating greater than 10 milliamps but not exceeding 30 milliamps and a tripping time within 300 milliseconds. Any RCDs triggered into operation should initiate an investigation undertaken by a licenced electrician to establish the root causes prior to any re-energisation of the plant or equipment. What equipment needs RCD protection Depending on the type of installation, RCD protection may be provided by either a portable or fixed (non-portable) RCD. Examples of equipment that needs RCD protection: Hand held electrical plant ( power tools) i.e. drills saws etc;
Page 3 of 9 Issue: 2 Electrical plant that is moved in operation i.e. industrial cleaners, jack hammers etc, this also includes the use of extension cords. Plant regularly moved between operations thus where the actual piece of plant or supply cord could be damaged. i.e. portable bench saws electric cement mixers electric welders and extension cords. Where the working environment / location could impact electrical safety. i.e. working in wet areas, pumps, portable urns / kettles and extension cords. Equipment generally not considered to require RCD protection Whilst not all equipment requires RCD protection, to maximise workplace safety it is recommended that RCDs be fitted wherever possible. Equipment generally not considered to require RCD protection includes equipment that is plugged in to a socket outlet but is not intended to be: Moved while in operation. Moved frequently from place to place. Used in a heavy use environment. This type of equipment could include desk-top equipment such as computers, printers, monitors, clocks, desk lamps. Other plant found in mission / ministry or operations such as photocopiers, refrigerators and wall mounted air-conditioners etc. Fixed RCD protection When fixed (non-portable) RCDs are installed, all the socket outlets are usually protected automatically. It should be noted that where or when modifications have been made to an old or existing installation, it is possible that only the modified circuits will be protected by the RCD. To overcome the risks of working with partially protected installations and ensure maximum protection, risk assessments should consider providing RCD protection to the entire installation. Where it is not obvious whether RCD protection is required, a risk assessment should be conducted. 5. Procedure TSA-AUE shall ensure that prior to any work commencing a risk assessment will be conducted to identify potential hazards associated with the work or in the work area. Officers / workers will be involved with this process to gain their input to identifying hazards and selecting appropriate risk controls. TSA-AUE officers / management shall ensure Safe Work Procedures are developed and implemented that will ensure: All electrical equipment maintenance and installation is only undertaken by competent workers/others and only where they are authorised to work; Each exposed part of electrical equipment is to be treated as if it is energised until it is isolated and it is proven not to be energised;
Page 4 of 9 Issue: 2 All enclosures housing electrical equipment such as substations and switchboards are to be fitted with locks and signs to prevent access by unauthorised persons, and where necessary they must be sealed against dust and weather; In areas with potentially explosive atmospheres, only intrinsically safe electrical equipment is to be used or fitted; All electrical work is to comply with the AS/NZS 3000 Wiring Rules; Privately owned electrical equipment is not to be brought onto TSA-AUE locations unless it has been appropriately tested and is fitted with a current test tag; No person shall attempt entry to any electrical installation or component of electrical installation, nor tamper with any electrical equipment, unless authorised; Visual inspections of electrical equipment to identify potential electrical hazards shall be undertaken regularly prior to the use of the equipment and as part of planned workplace inspections; Any equipment showing an electrical fault shall be tagged as unserviceable and removed from service to a place designated for repairing the equipment, or the equipment removed from site for the purpose of destroying it; Double adaptors and piggyback plugs shall not be used; Electrical leads used remain undamaged and their use is restricted by avoiding running leads across the floor or ground, through doorways and over sharp edges, in damp or wet conditions unless they are specially designed for those conditions; Contractor electrical equipment brought onto any TSA-AUE site must have been inspected and tested by an electrical tradesperson in accordance with AS/NZS 3760 and has the current test tag attached. This equipment is to be inspected and tested in accordance with requirements as specified in F23-01 Electrical Testing & Inspection Intervals Matrix; and All electrical equipment hired by TSA-AUE shall be inspected, tested and tagged in accordance with AS/NZS 3760 by the owner of the equipment before each hiring. The hired equipment is to be inspected and tested by an electrical tradesperson in accordance with requirements and should have been conducted within the last three months. Electromagnetic Hazards TSA-AUE shall identify any electromagnetic hazards present at their worksites and inform all workers and other persons at the worksite of those hazards and the medical conditions that may be affected. Such information shall be provided as part of consultation or communication forums and via inductions. Purchasing Electrical Equipment TSA-AUE officers / management shall ensure all electrical equipment purchased is approved for use in Australia and all portable electrical equipment is double insulated where possible. TSA-AUE shall ensure purchasing procedures incorporate the requirement for an authorised person to verify that the equipment is approved for use in Australia prior to final approval for the purchase.
Page 5 of 9 Issue: 2 TSA-AUE must ensure whenever practicable that safety is encompassed or engineered into original design rather than reliance being placed on retrofitting. New electrical equipment purchased does not require inspection or testing prior to its introduction into service, however, it must be inspected and tested at the next scheduled inspection. Working with Electrical Equipment TSA-AUE shall ensure that only licensed electrical workers / or others are permitted to carry out electrical work. All electrical work is to comply with the requirements of AS/NZS3000. TSA-AUE officers / management shall ensure all contractors employed to undertake electrical work are competent and licensed to undertake the work. Appropriate isolations are to be affected before work commences. All isolations should be proven before work commences as required in TSA-AUE Isolation procedures. Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment and RCD s Procedure Routine maintenance and testing shall be conducted to ensure the continued safety of electrical equipment in the mission / ministry. TSA-AUE shall follow the Australian Standard AS/NZS 3760 In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment and AS/NZS 3190: Approval and test specification - Residual current devices to achieve the continued safety of electrical equipment and RCD s. Only a fully qualified and appropriate licensed electrician or competent person is to carry out testing and tagging. A competent person is a person who has successfully completed a structured training course and been deemed competent in the use of a pass-fail type portable appliance tester and the visual inspection of electrical equipment. For items such as extension cords the polarity of the wiring should also be checked to ensure that the active and neutral wires have not been transposed. TSA-AUE shall ensure that equipment which passes the test must be suitably tagged, identifying the name of the person who carried out the testing, the date of the testing, the outcome of the testing and the date on which the next testing must be carried out. Tags should be non-metallic and non-reusable and consideration given to colour coded to assist in identifying equipment that is due for inspection. Equipment identified as being faulty during testing should be withdrawn from service and clearly marked as faulty until repairs are completed. Ongoing, regular testing of RCD s shall be undertaken by the persons using the electrical equipment connected to the relevant RCD by pressing the trip test button to ensure the RCD remains effective. All test and tag activities shall be recorded on a register that contains as a minimum the following information:- A description of the item tested.
Page 6 of 9 Issue: 2 The location of the item at the worksite. When the last test was conducted. When the next test is due. The results of the last test Hazard and risk assessment TSA-AUE shall ensure that hazards associated with the use of electricity are identified, risk assessed and eliminated or controlled. This process should be undertaken before: Connection and supply of electricity to a new electrical installation at a workplace. Modification, maintenance or repair of an existing supply of electricity to or at a workplace, or of an existing electrical installation at a workplace. Any electrical plant is installed and/or operated. Introduction of a work practice or procedure associated with electrical plant that may present a risk to health and safety. Once the hazards have been identified, the risk should be assessed. This should one of the following: include at least visual inspection Auditing Testing Technical or scientific evaluation An analysis of injury and near-miss data Discussions with designers, manufacturers, suppliers, importers, employers, workers or other relevant parties Quantitative hazard analysis. Risk Assessment and Control Reviews Risk assessments and their controls shall be reviewed every five years in consultation with relevant workers and / or their representatives or under any of the following circumstances:- There is evidence that the control measure(s) does not control the risks identified or are not understood or being implemented. There is a proposed change to the workplace or work environment, a system of work, work practice, process or procedure that may create new or different risks associated with the plant s controls in place. A new or relevant hazard is identified. New control measures have become available that will make the electrical work safer. New legislation is introduced or current legislation is revised that has an impact on the control(s) implemented. At the reasonable request of a relevant Health and Safety Representative.
Page 7 of 9 Issue: 2 Information from the relevant manufacturer or supplier regarding the electrical equipment hazards and recommended controls changes. As a result of an incident where the investigation indicates that the control(s) may be insufficient. Electrical cabinets All electrical cabinets, switchboards or fuse boxes which contain exposed live circuits shall be secured so as to prevent unauthorized access, shall have labels applied that indicate the electrical hazards contained within and that unauthorized access is prohibited. Authorised Personnel - Electrical Cabinets Access to electrical cabinets, switchboards and fuse boxes which contain exposed live circuits shall be restricted to persons who have been authorised by an Officer / Manager. Records of this authorisation for TSA-AUE officers / workers will be maintained in the records system. Signage Signage shall be displayed on all electrical cabinets, switchboards or fuse boxes which contain exposed live circuits, in accordance with the requirements of AS 1319 Danger Signs. Signage selected will be dependent on the context in which it is used, but shall be similar or the same as that shown below: Electrical cabinets, switchboards or fuse boxes, which through their design to protect people from electrical hazards, do not require signs. If the live circuits can be accessed without the use of tools then the panel or similar which must be removed to give access to the electrical hazard, must include an Electrical Hazard sign. Authorisation to perform a set task Access by people to electrical cabinets, switchboards or fuse boxes which contain exposed live circuits shall only be given while the electrical installation has been de-energised or in the event that the electrical installation remains energised a risk assessment has been completed and the hazards identified have been suitably addressed so as to eliminate the risk of inadvertent contact with energised conductors. Authorisation shall only be provided by the Officer / Manager. The completed risk assessment shall be held by the person authorising the task.
Page 8 of 9 Issue: 2 Keys / Tools to Unlock Secured electrical cabinets, switchboards or fuse boxes The keys or special tools used to access electrical cabinets, switchboards and fuse boxes which contain exposed live circuits shall only be distributed to authorised people. Electrical Incident Notification & Reporting Electric shock and electrocution injuries and incidents involving electricity or where a worker or any other person is exposed to a serious risk from an electric shock shall be notified to the regulator and to the electrical safety regulator. Electric Shock Precautionary Medical Assessment TSA-AUE shall arrange for any person that receives an electric shock to immediately attend a medical practitioner of their choice to be assessed and where necessary receive appropriate medical treatment. 6. Monitoring and Review Compliance with this procedure shall be reviewed and its effectiveness evaluated across TSA- AUE, in accordance with the WHS Planning, Monitoring and Review and Auditing Procedures. Key aspects of this procedure s implementation shall be monitored via:- Workplace inspections Electrical risk assessments Safe Work Procedures Management meeting minutes shall record the outcomes of any discussions relating to monitoring and review activities. 7. Auditable Records Auditable Record Responsibility Location Risk assessments Safe Work Procedures Pre-purchase assessments Test and tag register Incident reports Incident investigations Electrical incident notifications Medical records Training records
Page 9 of 9 Issue: 2 Contractor records WHS Committee / consultative forum meeting minutes Management Review Meeting minutes Internal References TSA-AUE WHS Hazard Management policy WHS 004 TSA-AUE WHS Hazard Management procedure WHSP4-01 TSA-AUE WHS Hazard Identification procedure WHSP4-02 TSA-AUE WHS Risk Assessment and Control Procedure WHSP4-03 TSA-AUE WHS Electrical safety policy WHS 023 TSA-AUE WHS Electrical Testing & Inspection Intervals Matrix F23-01