Audit update
2008-09 audit campaign
The Electrical Safety Office’s 2008–09 audit compliance campaign is well underway. This year the office is implementing 20 audit projects which support the Electrical Safety Plan for Queensland.
Findings from the 2007–08 compliance campaign have been collated and detailed results are available on the department’s internet site.
Spotlight on employers (non-electrical contractors) who employ electrical workers
This audit project targeted employers, other than electrical contractors, who employ electrical workers, including electrical apprentices. Typical employers were those associated with production workplaces, hospital or hotel and resort industries.
Areas requiring improvement included:
- understanding and implementing live work provisions
- employees awareness of a safe system of work for live work
- certificate of test awareness
- obligation awareness
- use of safe systems for working around live electrical parts
- employees awareness of a safe system for working around electrical parts
- availability of records and suitability of safety equipment and testing instruments
- availability of a system for testing electrical equipment
- understanding of electrical installation testing
- understanding requirements to ensure electrical installation complies with the wiring rules
- availability and distribution of relevant information e.g. legislation, codes of practice, safety alerts, wiring rules.
Spotlight on the rural industry audit project
This project involved visiting a selection of rural properties across the State. The audit focused on two areas, risk management practices associated with working near overhead powerlines and awareness and implementation of the recent introduction Code of Practice Electrical Equipment Rural Industry.
Areas requiring improvement included:
- addressing risks with overhead lines
- Rural Code of Practice awareness
- obligation holders to conduct visual inspection of fixed electrical equipment
- electrical safety obligation awareness
- procedures to ensure action is taken with defective electrical equipment
- electrical equipment being fit for use
- obligation holder to conduct visual inspection of handheld electrical equipment
- procedures in place when unsafe equipment suspected
- addressing stated electrical risk factors.