E2. Electrical Equipment, Classes of Work, Inspection, Testing and Tagging

E2.1 Introduction
E2.2 Standard
E2.3 Definitions
E2.4 Procedures   
    E2.4.1 Inspection, testing and tagging
    E2.4.2 Construction work
    E2.4.3 Manufacturing work
    E2.4.4 Service Work or Office Work
    E2.4.5 Hiring/lending
    E2.4.6 Amusement Work
    E2.4.7 Double Adaptors and Piggyback Plugs
    E2.4.8 Training
    E2.4.9 Personal Electrical Equipment

E2.1 Introduction

E2.2 Standard

The Queensland Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995, requires employers to provide for the health and safety of their employees.
  
The University has an obligation under its "Duty of Care" to provide as far as is practicable:

• A safe place of work.
• Safe systems of work.
• Safe tools and equipment.

To meet this obligation, all electrical equipment used in the various Classes of Work, will comply with the requirements of the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995, Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008, Electrical Safety Act 2002, Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 and relevant Australian Standards.

E2.3 Definitions

The Electrical Safety Regulation 2002, Part 5, defines the different classes of work for the inspection, testing and tagging of electrical equipment in the workplace. 

Class of work refers to the following:

"class 1 work" means:

(a) construction-type work; or
(b) work done in conjunction with construction-type work.

"class 2 work" means the work of assembly, fabrication, installation, maintenance, manufacturing, refurbishment or repair, but does not include work that is class 1 work.

"class 3 work" means work that is not class 1 work, class 2 work or class 4 work.

"class 4 work" means office work.

The following areas at USQ have been identified and defined as per these requirements. This list is not exhaustive and it remains the responsibility of persons in control of workplaces to ensure the correct classification of that workplace.  USQSafe can be contacted for guidance on this matter.

• Construction Work 

For Construction Work please refer to Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 Section 14 usually conducted by Facilities Management or Contractors.

Also please refer to the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 Section 83 Definitions for div 5.

• Manufacturing Work

Faculty of Arts
1. Q2 Block, Arts Workshop

Facilities Management
1. O2 Block, Workshop

Distance and e-Learning Centre
1. Electronics Workshop
2. Studio Workshop

Faculty of Engineering and Surveying
1. Z Block, Z209 Energy Systems Workshop
2. Z Block, Z217 Electronics Workshop
3. Z1 Block, Concrete Testing Workshop
4. Z4 Block, Engineering Workshop
5. P1 Block, Agricultural Field Station
6. P3 Block, Workshop
7. P4 Block, Workshop

Fibre Composites Design and Development Facility
1. P2 Block, Workshop
         
Faculty of Sciences
1. U Block, Sciences Workshop
2. W Block, W419 Psychology Workshop

Please refer to the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 Section 83 Definitions for div 5.

• Service Work or Office Work

All other University work areas.

Please refer to the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 Section 83 Definitions for div 5.

• Specified Electrical Equipment

Please refer to the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 Section 83 Definitions for div 5.

• Hiring and Lending

For the purposes of these procedures, any electrical item that is loaned from the University must meet the same standard as items that are hired. 

Please refer to the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 Section 100.

• Amusement Work

Please refer to the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 Section 83 Definitions for div 5.

E2.4 Procedures

E2.4.1 Inspection, testing and tagging

Testing and tagging is to be conducted in accordance with the references and the requirements in the following paragraphs.  Where there is a confliction, the higher standard is to be met.

E2.4.2  Construction work

Usually applicable to Facilities Management and/or Contractors Only.

Please refer to the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 Section 87 and AS/NZS 3012 (Electrical Installations - Construction and demolition sites).

E2.4.3  Manufacturing work

All Specified Electrical Equipment used in the defined Manufacturing Work areas, must be inspected, tested and tagged and connected to a Type 1 or Type 2 Residual Current Device, (RCD).

Inspection, testing and tagging of double insulated equipment must be conducted every 12 months and non double insulated equipment must be conducted every six months.

Portable Safety Switches - are to be tested daily by the operator or before every use, whichever is the longer, and by Facilities Management at intervals of not greater than 12 months. (Note: From 1 March 2008 portable RCDs are no longer allowed in manufacturing work.)

Permanent Safety Switches - are to be tested by the operator every six months and by Facilities Management at intervals of not greater than 12 months. 

Please refer to the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 Sections 88 to 93 and Standard AS/NZS 3760.

E2.4.4  Service work or office work

All Specified Electrical Equipment used in Service Work or Office Work areas must be connected to a Type 1 or Type 2 Residual Current Device, (RCD).  There is no requirement to test and tag electrical items in these areas if they are connected to an RCD.  There are still a few areas within the University that are not protected by RCDs and their tagging and testing schedule is managed by Facilities Management.

Portable Safety Switches - are to be tested every three months by the operator and by Facilities Management at intervals of not greater than 12 months.

Inspection, Testing and Tagging of Specified Electrical Equipment of all Classes of Work must comply with the requirements of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 Section 92 to 94 and AS/NZS 3760.

E2.4.5 Hiring/lending

Electrical equipment which is hired or loaned from the University must meet the following requirements:

• either be inspected and tested before each hiring or have a safety switch that cannot be disconnected, deactivated or removed during the item's operation and
• be inspected, tested and tagged every six (6) months.

For USQ compliance with this Regulation, the inspection, testing and tagging, must be carried out by a Competent Person and will be the responsibility of the Faculty/Department.

Records of all inspections of electrical equipment hired or loaned, must be kept by the appropriate Faculty or Department and a copy forwarded to Facilities Management.

E2.4.6 Amusement work

Prior commencement to the performance of amusement work at a workplace refer to the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 Section 83 Definitions for div 5 to verify the activity as ‘Amusement work'. If the work is to be carried out on an amusement device refer to the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 Section 94a to 94e and AS/NZS 3760.

E2.4.7 Double adaptors and piggyback plugs

The use of piggy back plugs or double adaptors is prohibited within the University except in performance theatres for the function of powering performance requirements where the following applies:

• double adaptors must not be used:
• the use of piggyback plugs is acceptable only when wired by competent, appropriately trained, certificated and authorised personnel;
• where manufacturing type work occurs such as installing a set both double adaptors and piggyback plugs are not to be used.

E2.4.8 Training

All employees who require training for conduct of the operator tests are requested to contact USQSafe or Building and Facilities staff. 

E2.4.9 Personal electrical equipment

The owner of personal electrical equipment must ensure that it is safe for use and, if required by regulation, have a valid test tag applied prior to it being brought onto university property or used for University purposes.

Electric fans must meet the Regulation requirement for guarding safety as well as for electrical safety (eg a child's small finger should not be able to fit through the holes in the guard if the child is able to access the fan).

Personal fan heaters must have a thermal cut-out switch and portable bar heaters are prohibited from use on University property.

Electrical items such as coffee makers, electric jugs, sandwich makers, toasters, microwave ovens etc. must be used in the kitchenette areas only as the fire detection system provides for such use.