On 1 January 2014 the amended Electrical Safety Act 2002 will come into effect.
The amendments do not significantly change the requirements for electrical safety in Queensland as many of the changes adopted will be familiar as terms and concepts from the harmonised Work Health and Safety Act (2011).
Some of the key changes include:
- The term ‘duty’ now replaces ‘obligation’.
- Duties are subject to ‘so far as is reasonably practicable’ (by reference to the meaning of ‘electrically safe’ and ‘free from electrical risk’). This is consistent with the current concept of ‘as low as is reasonable achievable’.
- Executive officers now have a new proactive duty, consistent with the duty imposed under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
- New meaning of ‘worker’ and ‘other person’ – including contractors or subcontractors, employees of a contractor or subcontractor, employees of labour hire companies assigned to work in the person’s business or undertaking, outworkers, apprentices or trainees, work experience students and volunteers.
- Electrical safety enforceable undertakings requirements are now consistent with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
- A new statutory notice, non-disturbance notice will be available to allow inspectors to secure an incident scene.
The new Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 also commences on 1 January 2014 and replaces the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002. The new Regulation includes changes relating to live electrical work, licensing, working around overhead and underground electric lines, electrical installations and incident notification.
Full details of the new Electrical Safety Act and Regulation, and a document comparing the current and the proposed legislation can be found here. Changes are also touted for the relevant model Codes of Practice.
Please contact QRMC for more information.
