Electrical Safety

WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY

ELECTRICAL SAFETY POLICY AND PROCEDURES

MODULE 7

Doc No. BSL\HR\L00009

Issue 02

Revis 02

Date: January 2011

All Electrical Workers engaged at Bundaberg Sugar

are to maintain their obligations under the Electrical

Safety Act and are to:

• Perform safe electrical installations and repairs

on electrical equipment;

• Follow the proper procedures for testing of

electrical equipment;

SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Complete and maintain the necessary records,

and competency testing;

• Complete and maintain necessary training and

their Queensland Electrical Workers Licence.

SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Workplace Health and Safety Act (Qld)

• Workplace Health and Safety Regulation (Qld)

• Electrical Safety Act (Qld)

• Electrical Safety Regulation (Qld)

• Code of Practice - Electrical Work (Qld)

• Code of Practice - Working near Exposed Live

Parts (Qld)

ELECTRICAL LEGISLATION AND STANDARDS

Other information includes –

• AS/NZS Australian/New Zealand Standards

• Company Policy and Procedures

ELECTRICAL LEGISLATION AND STANDARDS

Annually, an electrical safety plan is required for each

site.

The plan details:

• Electrical safety targets & goals

• Strategies & monthly actions to achieve targets

• Training

• Toolbox meetings

• Other legislative requirements

SAFETY PLANS

Or

Designed to provide ongoing monitoring and review

of safety practices and conditions.

These audits require the following:

• All work site personnel are to be observant of

unsafe acts and conditions which are to reported

to the Supervisor.

PRODUCT & PROCESS AUDITS

Or

• Supervisors and Managers are to undertake

regular electrical safety audits.

• Electrical Supervisors are to undertake product

and process audits of electrical workers

PRODUCT & PROCESS AUDITS

o

CONSULTATION & TRAINING

Consultation

• With Supervisor

• Toolbox Meeting

• Safety Committee Meetings

• Safety Support

o

CONSULTATION & TRAINING

Training Provided To Electrical Workers

• Induction

• Electrical Worker Competency

• First Aid

• Low Voltage Rescue (Completed every 6 months)

Safety Observers

• Must successfully complete the Low Voltage Rescue

training 6 months prior to work in such role.

Code of Conduct Contractors Final 22 05 13.mp4

RISK MANAGEMENT

The company’s safety program states employees

should use risk management practices as one

method of meeting electrical safety obligations.

Employees should complete a specific risk

assessment to control hazards and reduce risk prior

to working on a significant uncontrolled electrical

safety risk.

Work should not commence until all hazards are

satisfactorily controlled.

LIVE WORK

• No work shall be performed in direct contact with

live electrical conductors or exposed live parts.

• Indirect work contact only performed if no alternative

method is available.

• Work on or near exposed energised conductors

must have a risk assessment completed before

commencing work.

• Safe Work Permits may be used.

INCIDENT REPORTING

Refer to "Reporting of Serious Electrical incidents

and/or Dangerous Electrical Events", Doc No.

BSL\HS\P00015.

• All incidents involving electricity must be reported

using company procedures.

• In the event of a serious incident or dangerous

electrical event the Electrical Distribution Entity and

Electrical Safety Office shall be notified.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

• Employees engaged in electrical work must wear the

appropriate personal protective equipment.

• No conductive jewellery should be worn in the

vicinity of exposed live parts.

• Insulated gloves for low voltage work are available at

all sites, and should be worn when required by risk

assessment or work procedure, before use check for

compliancy.

TESTING

• Testing of electrical installations within Bundaberg

Sugar sites must comply with the requirements of

the Australian standards.

• No electrical equipment is to be connected to

supply without the appropriate tests being

completed.

TESTING

• Written test procedures are to be followed for all

electrical testing and appropriate records kept.

• All test equipment must be maintained in

accordance with the Electrical Test Instrument

Status procedure.

• No electrical work on high voltage equipment

requiring contact with exposed parts or within the

exclusion zone unless equipment is isolated.

• Use high voltages access permits.

HIGH VOLTAGE WORK

• Only persons competent and trained in high

voltage work and high voltage switching and

access procedures should be involved.

• Electrical installations on high voltage equipment

must be inspected and approved by an accredited

high voltage auditor before connection to supply.

HIGH VOLTAGE WORK

ELECTRICAL LICENCE

• Electrical work can only be carried out by a worker

who is the holder of a current Queensland electrical

work licence.

• The company holds an electrical contractor licence

with the appropriate authority and will require a

licensed electrical worker, employed by the

company, to be an endorsee on that licence.

• The Electrical Safety Regulation requires that

persons, operating plant and vehicles maintain

specific minimum distances from exposed live parts

and conductors at all times.

• Site Superintendents and Electrical Supervisors are

to ensure that effective procedures and systems are

in place to ensure the company meets its

compliance with electrical safety obligations for

working near live parts and exclusion zones.

EXCLUSION ZONES

• All single phase outlets and 3 phase outlets to be

protected by either permanently installed Residual

Current Devices (RCD) or portable RCD’S which

the Electrical Supervisor is to ensure are tested

and tagged at least annually by a competent

person.

• No work using portable tools or appliances is to be

completed unless the equipment is protected by a

tested safety switch (Type 2).

SAFETY SWITCHES TEST & TAG

The following records must be maintained.

• Maintain equipment and test and tag registers for all

electrical equipment on site

• Written test procedures are to be completed for all

electrical testing and the appropriate records kept

• Risk Assessments

• Safe Work Permits

• Training

RECORDS

TRAINING ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – Electrical Safety Policies and Procedures

DO NOT WRITE ON THIS QUESTION SHEET. Please complete the questions by providing your answers on the answer sheet provided.

Question 1 - No work shall be performed in direct contact with live electrical conductors or exposed live parts? TRUE FALSE Question 2 - Electrical Workers have specific obligations under the Electrical Safety Act as repairers and installers of electrical equipment. All electrical workers employed by Bundaberg Sugar are to: A Follow the proper procedures for testing of electrical equipment to ensure it is electrically safe after completion of work. B Where necessary complete and maintain the necessary records, reports and drawings. C Maintain a current Queensland Electrical Workers Licence in the appropriate discipline. D All of the above. Question 3 - Which strategy does not form part of the site management electrical safety plan? A Principal safety objectives and strategies. B Monthly activities to achieve safety targets. C Electrical safety targets. D Able to work overtime when requested. Question 4 - The company requires only 3 phase outlets to be protected by either permanently installed Residual Current Devices (RCD) or portable RCD’S. TRUE FALSE Question 5 - Electrical workers and safety observers must wear the appropriate clothing and personal protective equipment which includes … A Electrical workers wear long clothing that covers arms and legs, has flame retardant properties and has no metallic threads or exposed conductive material and safety observers only require clothing with flame retardant properties. B Long clothing that covers arms and legs, has flame retardant properties and has no metallic threads or exposed conductive material. C Long clothing that covers arms and legs. D Does not matter what is worn as long as there is a Safety Observer present.

Question 6 - Toolbox meetings are to be held at least every ___________ . A week. B 2 weeks. C 4 weeks. D 6 weeks. Question 7 - Work that requires indirect contact is to be performed by a ________________ . A Contractor. B Licensed electrical worker or authorised apprentice. C Supervisor. D Safety observer. Question 8 - In the event of a serious electrical incident or dangerous electrical event a written notice of the incident or event is supplied to the Electrical Safety Office on an approved form. TRUE FALSE Question 9 - Bundaberg Sugar Ltd employees are to use a safe system of work that may include the use of Safe Work Permit. Which is not a requirement of a safe system of work? A a risk assessment must be completed for the work and appropriate controls implemented to reduce risk to an acceptable level. B low voltage insulated gloves must be worn by the person performing the live work. C Reporting all electric shocks. D the person performing the work must be a qualified electrical worker and be competent in the work to be performed. Question 10 - A Safety Observer must be competent in rescue and resuscitation procedures. TRUE FALSE