Sydney Laws and Certifications Related to Electrical Safety

Electricity can kill or seriously injure individuals and cause massive damage.

However, when dealing with or around electricity and electrical equipment, you should take simple precautions, especially following the electrical safety guidelines mandated by the government. That way, you can decrease the risk of injury to your staff and family.

Electrical safety is essential, and we all have a role to play. For several small activities, such as turning on a light switch, making toast and charging our phones, we use electricity. Still, we also use it to power vital items such as medical equipment, traffic control and street lights. We may take it for granted, but energy can destroy.

In using energy safely, we all have a responsibility. Each householder in NSW is legally obliged to keep their home safe. The same applies to company operators, who are responsible for the electrical protection of their workers and everyone else on site. To broaden this subject, here are the electrical safety laws and certifications that guide and help you understand the safety laws.

Sydney Laws Related to Electrical Safety

More than 2000 people have received electric shocks at NSW workplaces over the past four years. Six have been permanently disabled, and five have died. Nearly any job with electricity involved could end in tragedy. That is why it is important to protect your staff. Do not take shortcuts and never believe that an electrical system is always safe just because your workers are experienced. Here are the following rules fall under the electrical protocols of the New South Wales government that will maintain the electrical safety of Sydney.

General Electrical Safety 

Any electrical work could injure someone. Shock, arc flashes and arc blasts are the main threats, which can reach a temperature of 19,000 ° C, hotter than the sun’s surface. That is why general electrical safety in workplaces and energised electrical work are discussed in Part 4.7 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017.

• Assess the risks – Worker must monitor the hazards of any electrical job, electrical equipment or electrical construction. Firstly, talk about any possible electrical hazards in your workplace with your workers. That way, they can forecast possible harms in the process.   
• Disconnect unsafe electrical equipment – Disconnect any unsafe electrical system. Fix it or get rid of it if you find broken equipment. 
• Regularly inspect and test electrical equipment – Use only electrical equipment that has been inspected and tagged. To perform the role, the qualified person must have the expertise and skills gained through training, qualification or experience. They must also have the proper equipment for testing.
• De-energise equipment – No one is permitted to execute work on energised equipment most of the time. A test to every circuit and every conductor shall be done before touching it. Never presume that the equipment is de-energised.
• Restrict access – -Do not allow access to places where work is performed on energy equipment.
• Keep records – Keep records of any tests you conduct on your energy-efficient electrical equipment, statements of the safe work method until the work is completed and risk assessments for at least 28 days after the work are completed. Keep reports for at least two years of any electrical shock or a serious injury incident.

Residual Current Devices

RCDs are electrical safety devices intended to turn off the electricity supply automatically when electricity leaking to the ground is detected at dangerous levels. They provide high levels of personal electric shock safety. Occupational accidents and deaths can be avoided by the use of residual current devices that are properly installed and maintained.

Equipment Standard

All electrical devices must meet the safety criteria in AS / NZS 3820 Essential safety requirements for electrical equipment with low voltage. This standard lays down the electrical safety principles and requires compliance for each class of product with the relevant Australian / New Zealand safety standard.

Certification Related to Electrical Safety

NSW Fair Trading currently plays a role in electrical licensing in NSW. All electricians working in NSW are required to hold a valid electrical licence, irrespective of the value of the work or whether it is residential, commercial or industrial. There are severe penalties for failure to hold a valid electrical licence.

Certificate of Compliance Electrical Work

Essentially, a Certificate of Electrical Compliance informs the consumer that the electrical work carried out meets the required state safety requirements. This certificate can only be given by a licensed electrical contractor and an electrician.

This ensures the quality of the work accomplished. It is very important to provide your client with this certificate as soon as possible. Penalties can go up to $550,000 for failure to comply with Australian safety legislation for failing to provide this certificate.

Contractor Licence

This enables you to contract and promote and to do work. Only the types of work stated on your license card can be done. It is possible to grant contractor licenses to individuals and businesses and partnerships. You may apply for a 1, 3 or 5-year contractor license from 1 July 2020 onwards.

Qualified Supervisor Certificate 

This enables you to oversee and do the job listed on your certificate. Qualified supervisor certificates are for individuals and not as a company or a group. The credential of a trained supervisor does not authorise you to contract for jobs. You may apply to have a Qualified Supervisor Certificate issued for 1, 3 or 5 years from 1 July 2020 onwards.

Endorsed Contractor Licence

This is granted to people who apply for a license from a contractor and who also have the credentials and experience necessary to be a licensed supervisor. To indicate that they are equal to a Licensed Supervisor Certificate, endorsed contractor license cards have ‘contractor license (Q)’ written on them.

Conclusion

When operating on electricity, it is necessary to take safety precautions. Safety must not be compromised-before touching any live wire; certain protocols need to be followed first. You will keep your electrical equipment, family and property away from harm and danger with electrical safety guidelines. You and your family will be insured from personal injury and electrocution.

At Sydney North Shore Electricians, our reliable and trusted level 2 electricians are always following the Sydney laws and certifications toward electrical safety to ensure your home’s safety.

With our highest quality of electrical services, expertise and mastery in all electrical works, you may leave all electrical matters in our hands and turn your attention to other things that would benefit you, your family and business.

Furthermore, wherever you are in Sydney, working with your local electricians means faster response time. Call us at (02) 8378 2828 for an appointment or book online.