Restrictions around electrical parts
Under the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 (PDF File, 1.02 MB) an employer or self-employed person must ensure that work performed in the conduct of their business does not involve:
- a person or any operating plant or vehicle coming into direct contact with an electrical part
- a person or any operating plant or vehicle entering the exclusion zone for an electrical part.
For more information please refer to the Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2010 - Working Near Exposed Live Parts (PDF File, 789.0 KB)
Work involving direct contact with electrical parts
A person may work in direct contact with electrical parts only if the electrical part:
- is isolated from all sources of electricity
- is tested to ensure its isolation from all sources of electricity
- is earthed if it is of high voltage.
Work may be done by a person operating plant or vehicle coming within the exclusion zone for an electrical part only if the electrical part:
- is isolated from all sources of electricity
- is tested to ensure its isolation from all sources of electricity
- is earthed if it is of high voltage.
Form more information on working around electrical parts, refer to the Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2010 - Working Near Exposed Live Parts (PDF File, 789.0 KB) and the Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2010 - Electrical Work (PDF File, 740.7 KB)
Consultation with owners of electric lines
An employer or self-employed person conducting their business must give written notice to the person in control of electric lines of their intention to perform work that could involve:
- a person or any operating plant or vehicle coming into contact with an overhead electric line
- a person or any operating plant or vehicle entering the exclusion zone for an overhead electric line.
The person in control of electric lines must give safety advice about the performance of work to the employer or self-employed person within seven days of their notification. Work must not commence until the safety advice has been received.
For more information on working around electrical parts, refer to Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2010 - Working Near Exposed Live Parts (PDF File, 789.0 KB) and the Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2010 - Electrical Work (PDF File, 740.7 KB).
A code of practice provides practical guidance in a specific area.
By doing what the code says or using a method that is just as safe or safer you will meet your electrical safety obligations in that area.