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Building and Energy has developed this Code of Practice for Persons working on or near energised electrical installations.
Information on the Code
Code of Practice for Persons working on or near energised electrical installations
NOTE: This new Code of Practice replaces the document “Code of Practice - Safe Low Voltage Work Practices by Electricians” published by the Director of Energy Safety in 2008.
Frequently asked questions about the Code of Practice for Persons working on or near energised electrical installations.
14 May 2018.
The term does not refer to any specific distance. If a live part can be reached by a person’s hand or by anything in contact with a person working in the area, or a conducting object could be dropped on to a live part, that person is ‘near’.
The responsibility is collective: the electrician(s) doing the work, the employing electrical contractor and the person controlling the workplace or access to it have a shared responsibility.
You must refuse to carry out the work unless it can be shown to meet the live work criteria set out in Regulation 55(3) of the Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991.
Justifications for proceeding with live work are:
AND
No. Live work is permissible if a Safe Work Method Statement has been completed, a risk assessment has been carried out, the risks can be reduced to as low as reasonably practicable, you understand how the work is to proceed and you agree it can be done safely. If you don’t feel competent to do the work, don’t do it.
No. Live work is permitted only if the justifications set out in Regulation 55 are followed to the letter. De-energised work is cheaper and easier for the electrical contractor, helping to hold costs down.
A roof space is immediately under the roof. If there is a ceiling, it is the space between it and the roof but does not include any habitable rooms in this space.
Yes, and lock and tag it too. You can use battery-powered lights and tools and complete your testing and verification at the main switchboard.
When used in this Code the term has the same meaning as appears in Regulation 1.3 of the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996:
“competent person, in relation to the doing of anything, means a person who has acquired through training, qualification or experience, or a combination of those things, the knowledge and skills required to do that thing competently.”
A Safe Work Method Statement must comply with Regulation 3.143 of the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations and Section 5.4 of the Code of Practice sets out the requirements too and includes an example in Appendix A. Electrical contractors must keep a copy for two years.
Yes, provided it does comply with WorkSafe regulations and is modified appropriately to cover the electrical work involved.
No. A Job Risk Assessment identifies and lists the hazards and risks associated with a work task. A Safe Work Method Statement defines how the identified risks will be managed so that the work can be carried out safely.
Yes, if you are judged to be competent by the person controlling the workplace and you are familiar and experienced with the work tasks involved.
Yes. Typical job risks and safe work methods will be included in most Job Risk Assessment and Safe Work Method Statements but these documents should be copied and the copy amended to cover the specific job site and work tasks concerned. The copy must be retained as a record for two years. You must never work on or near any part of installations energised at more than 1,000V. The new regulations apply to low voltage work only.
All tools, measurement instruments and items of personal protective equipment must be checked, verified as sound and tagged before every episode of live work. When in doubt don’t use it – replace it.
Safety observers, competent to perform the work in hand, must be present unless the risk assessment confirms the work task poses no serious risks.
You must leave the unfinished work in a safe condition by terminating, shrouding and securing conductors and other live parts. Leave barriers, warning signs, locks and tags in place. Make sure the incoming shift understands the work is not finished.
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