Electrical safety obligations
As an electricity entity
As an employer or self-employed person
As a designer of electrical equipment and electrical installations
As a manufacturer of electrical equipment
As an importer of electrical equipment
As a supplier of electrical equipment
As an installer of electrical installations or electrical equipment
As a repairer of electrical installations or electrical equipment
As a person in control of electrical equipment
As a worker
Other people
As an electricity entity
Section 29 of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (PDF, 788 KB) states that an electricity entity must ensure its works are:
- electrically safe
- operated in a way that is electrically safe.
This includes inspection, testing and maintenance.
Works means the electrical equipment, and electric line associated with equipment, controlled or operated by the entity to generate, transform, transmit or supply electricity.
Example
- An overhead distribution system including transformers and switches.
As an employer or self-employed person
Section 30 of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (PDF, 788 KB) states that as an employer or self-employed person you must ensure your business or undertaking is conducted in an electrically safe way.
This means:
- all the electrical equipment you use is electrically safe
- ensuring the electrical safety of people affected by the work you
- property affected by the work you do is not at risk of being damaged or destroyed.
You also have an obligation to your employees. Section 209 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 (PDF, 1 MB) outlines specific obligations about supervising an apprentice or trainee. An apprentice or trainee with less than six months' training must not work:
- in the immediate vicinity of a live high voltage exposed part
- where there is a risk of coming into contact with a live low voltage exposed part.
An apprentice or trainee performing electrical work must always be appropriately supervised by a suitably licensed electrical worker. Read Section 209 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 for more information.
As a designer of electrical equipment and electrical installations
Section 31 of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (PDF, 788 KB) states that if you are a designer of electrical equipment and electrical installations you must ensure:
- your design is electrically safe
- that the design of the electrical equipment or installation is accompanied by information about its safe use when it leaves you
- compliance with any electrical safety notification issued by the chief executive (Department of Justice and Attorney-General) that applies to you.
As a manufacturer of electrical equipment
Section 32 of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (PDF, 788 KB) states that as a manufacturer of electrical equipment you must ensure:
- the processes for making the electrical equipment will ensure it is electrically safe
- the finished item of equipment is electrically safe
- compliance with any electrical safety notification issued by the chief executive (Department of Justice and Attorney-General) that applies to you.
This includes the requirement that you ensure the electrical equipment is tested and examined to ensure its electrical safety.
As an importer of electrical equipment
Section 33 of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (PDF, 788 KB) states that if you are an importer of electrical equipment you must ensure:
• your imported goods are electrically safe
• compliance with any electrical safety notification issued by the chief executive (Department of Justice and Attorney-General) that applies to you.
This includes the requirement that you ensure:
• the design is electrically safe
• the equipment is tested and examined to ensure its electrical safety.
As a supplier of electrical equipment
Section 34 of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (PDF, 788 KB) states that as a supplier of electrical equipment you must ensure:
- that when the equipment leaves you, it is accompanied by information about its safe electrical use
- compliance with any electrical safety notification issued by the chief executive (Department of Justice and Attorney-General) that applies to you.
As an installer of electrical installations or electrical equipment
Section 36 of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (PDF, 788 KB) states that if you are an installer of electrical equipment or installations you must ensure:
- the way the electrical equipment or installation is installed is electrically safe
- the processes followed to do the installation ensure the electrical equipment or the installation itself is electrically safe
- that once installed, the equipment or installation is electrically safe. This means you test and examine it.
As a repairer of electrical installations or electrical equipment
Section 37 of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (PDF, 788 KB) also states that as a repairer of electrical equipment or installations you must ensure:
- the way the electrical equipment or installation is repaired is electrically safe
- the processes followed to do the repairs ensure the repaired equipment or installation is electrically safe,
- that once repaired, the equipment or installation is electrically safe.
This includes the requirement that you ensure the repaired electrical equipment or installation is tested and examined to ensure its electrical safety.
As a person in control of electrical equipment
Section 38 of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (PDF, 788 KB) covers persons in control of electrical equipment. You must ensure the electrical equipment is electrically safe.
This does not apply if the electrical equipment:
- is located at the person's home
- forms part of the works of an electricity entity.
As a worker
Section 39 of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (PDF, 788 KB) covers workers. As a worker where electrical equipment is located, you must:
- do what your employer (or the person in control of the electrical equipment) tells you to do, to ensure the electrical safety of people and property around you
- use appropriate personal protective equipment provided by your employer
- use that personal protective equipment properly
- not wilfully interfere with or misuse anything provided for electrical safety at your workplace
- not wilfully place others – or yourself – at electrical risk.
Other people
Section 40 of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (PDF, 788 KB) states that any people, other than workers, at a place where electrical equipment is located must:
- follow electrical safety instructions given by the person in control of the electrical equipment
- not wilfully interfere with or misuse anything provided for electrical safety at that place
- not wilfully place other people at electrical risk.
Last updated July 13, 2009
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