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• 1. Introduction
• 2. The Electrical Safety Act 2002
• 3. The Electrical Safety Regulation 2002
• 4. Risk management
• 5. Operating cranes and plant near overhead electric lines
  • 5.1 Scope
  • 5.2 Regulation requirement on exclusion zone for electric lines
  • 5.3 Exclusion zone
  • 5.4 Risk management process for a crane working near electric lines
  • 5.5 Working in the safety observer zone
• 6. Work near low voltage overhead electric lines
  • 6.1 Scope
  • 6.2 The no-touch and exclusion zones
  • 6.3 Hazard identification
  • 6.4 Risk assessment
  • 6.5 Examining the low voltage overhead line for visual defects
  • 6.6 Deciding on control measures
• 7. Clearing vegetation near overhead electric lines
• 8. Agricultural work near overhead electric lines
  • 8.1 Scope
  • 8.2 Regulation on exclusion zones
  • 8.3 Hazard identification
  • 8.4 Risk assessment
  • 8.5 Deciding on control measures
  • 8.6 Particular circumstances
• 9. Transportation of high loads near electric lines
  • 9.1 Scope
  • 9.2 Meaning of terms
  • 9.3 What is a high load?
  • 9.4 Legislative requirements
  • 9.5 Travel requirements
  • 9.6 Responsibilities
• 10. Repair of electrical equipment
• 11. Work near electrical hazards in buildings and near underground electrical cables
• Appendix A - Meaning of terms used in this code
• Appendix B - Exclusion zones in millimetres

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3. The Electrical Safety Regulation 2002

(Part 4 – Working around electrical parts)

3.1 Purpose
3.2 Requirements for working around electrical parts
3.3 Work involving direct contact with electrical part
3.4 Work within person’s exclusion zone for electrical part
3.5 Consultation with persons in control of electrical lines

3.1 Purpose

1. This part prescribes a way of discharging the electrical safety obligation of an employer or self-employed person to ensure that the person’s business or undertaking is conducted in a way that is electrically safe.
2. In particular, this part prescribes requirements about persons performing work in contact with, or near to, electrical parts.

3.2 Requirements for working around electrical parts

1. An employer or self-employed person must ensure that work performed in the conduct of the person’s business or undertaking does not involve, except in accordance with the requirements of this division:
1. a person coming into direct contact with an electrical part; or
2. any operating plant or vehicle coming into direct contact with an electrical part; or
3. a person coming within the exclusion zone for the person for an electrical part; or
4. any operating plant or vehicle coming within the exclusion zone for the operating plant or vehicle for an electrical part.
Maximum penalty – 40 penalty units.
2. Subsection (1)(a) does not apply to a person if:
1. the person is an authorised person or instructed person for the electrical part; and
2. the electrical part is a low voltage overhead insulated electric line.
3. Subsection (1)(b) and (d) does not apply to operating plant if:
1. the operating plant is being operated by an authorised person or instructed person for the electrical part;
2. a safety observer is being used; and
3. the electrical part is a low voltage overhead insulated electric line.

3.3 Work involving direct contact with electrical part

1. Work may be performed involving a person coming into direct contact with an electrical part only if the electrical part is:
1. isolated from all sources of electricity;
2. tested to ensure it is, or otherwise confirmed to be, isolated from all sources of electricity; and
3. if the electrical part is a high voltage electrical part – earthed.
2. Subsection (1)(b) does not apply as a requirement if:
1. the electrical part cannot be directly contacted to prove isolation from all sources of electricity;
2. there is in place an earthing switch that is able to control the operation of the electrical part and is designed to operate safely if the electrical part has not been isolated from all sources of electricity; and
3. the work is being performed in the business or undertaking of an employer, and the employer has given written instructions to the person performing the work that, if complied with, will be effective to isolate the electrical part from all sources of electricity.

3.4 Work within person’s exclusion zone for electrical part

1. Work may be performed involving a person, operating plant or a vehicle coming within the exclusion zone for the person for an electrical part, other than by coming into direct contact with the electrical part, if the electrical part is:
1. isolated from all sources of electricity;
2. tested to ensure it is, or otherwise confirmed to be, isolated from all sources of electricity; and
3. if the electrical part is a high voltage electrical part – earthed.
2. However, if it is not practicable for subsection (1)(b) to be complied with, the work may nevertheless be performed if:
1. the work can be performed safely; and
2. if the work is being performed in the business or undertaking of an employer – the employer has given written instructions, either generally or directed at the particular circumstances, about the work to be performed and the precautions to be complied with; and
3. at least 1 of the following applies:
1. suitable barriers or earthed metal shields are installed between the person, operating plant or vehicle and the electrical part;
2. the work is testing, and the electrical part, or an item of electrical equipment of which the electrical part is a component, is designed in a way requiring the work to be performed while the person, operating plant or vehicle is within the exclusion zone for the person, operating plant or vehicle for the electrical part;
3. the work is earthing of the electrical part, or an item of electrical equipment of which the electrical part is a component, and is performed after the electrical part or item of electrical equipment has been isolated and proved to be de-energised.

3.5 Consultation with persons in control of electrical lines requirement to consult

1. This section applies if:
1. work is to be performed in the conduct of the business or undertaking of an employer or self-employed person; and
2. despite the requirements of section 3.3, there is a reasonable likelihood the performance of the work could involve:
1. a person coming into direct contact with an overhead electric line; or
2. operating plant or a vehicle coming into direct contact with an overhead electric line; or
3. a person coming within the exclusion zone for the person for an overhead electric line; or
4. operating plant or a vehicle coming within the exclusion zone for the operating plant or vehicle for an overhead electric line.
2. The employer or self-employed person must give the person in control of the overhead electric line written notice of the employer or self-employed person’s intention to perform the work.

Maximum penalty – 40 penalty units.

3. The person in control of the overhead electric line must, within 7 days after receiving the written notice under subsection (2), give the employer or self-employed person a safety advice about the performance of the work.

Maximum penalty – 40 penalty units.

4. The employer or self-employed person must not allow the work to be started before the employer or self-employed person has received the safety advice from the person in control of the overhead electric line, unless the employer or self-employed person has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty – 40 penalty units.

5. In this section:

   "safety advice" about the performance of work in the conduct of the business or undertaking of an employer or self-employed person, means a written notice advising how, as well as complying with this regulation, the employer or self-employed person can best ensure the electrical safety of persons and property in the performance of the work.

   Examples of what might be included in a safety advice:
   • Advice recommending de-energising the overhead electric line while the work is being performed, and explaining how this can be arranged
   • Advice recommending relocating the overhead electric line or replacing the overhead electric line with an underground cable, and explaining how this can be arranged
   • Advice recommending erecting physical barriers to enclose the overhead electric line, and explaining how this can be arranged.

A penalty unit has a dollar value determined by the Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General. At the date of publication, the value of a penalty unit was $100. Under the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992, if a corporation is found guilty of an offence, the Court may impose a maximum fine of an amount equal to 5 times the maximum fine for an individual.

Last updated July 16, 2009

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