New South Wales Consolidated Regulations

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY REGULATION 2001 - REG 41

41 Electricity-particular risk control measures

(1) A controller of premises must ensure that:

(a) any electrical installation at the premises:

(i) is safe at the time it is made available for use by an employer, or

(ii) if not safe, is disconnected from the electricity supply and secured and the employer is informed that it is not safe, and

(b) electrical installations containing live electrical components (such as control panels, switchrooms, switchyards and substations) are suitably secured to prevent inadvertent access, and

(c) persons entering an area in which such electrical installations are situated are appropriately trained in issues such as safe entry, emergency procedures and safe use of electrical plant and equipment.

(2) A controller of premises must ensure that:

(a) any electrical article provided for use at, or in connection with any electrical installation at, a place of work is safe at the time the place of work is made available for use by an employer, or

(b) if not safe, the article is disconnected from the electricity supply and secured and the employer is informed that it is not safe.

(3) A controller of premises must ensure that any such electrical installation or electrical article that is connected to the electricity supply is, to the extent that the owner retains control over the installation or article, maintained in a safe condition.

(4) A controller of premises must ensure that persons working in, or undertaking maintenance on, the premises (apart from those undertaking electrical work) are prevented from coming within an unsafe distance from any overhead electrical power lines or live electrical installations unless a risk assessment determines otherwise.

(5) A controller of premises must obtain documentation of any significant modifications made to electrical circuits at the premises from the person doing the work and ensure that the documentation is maintained and kept readily accessible for persons undertaking further electrical work.

Maximum penalty: Level 4.