Restrictions around electrical parts
Work involving direct contact with electrical parts
Consultation with owners of electric lines
Under the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 (PDF, 1 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 exemptions to this part, refer to part 3.2 of the Code of Practice - Working Near Exposed Live Parts.
For more information, read section 3 of the Code of Practice - Working Near Exposed Live Parts.
Work involving direct contact with electrical parts
A person may perform work involving 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; and
- is earthed if it is of high voltage.
Work may be performed 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; and
- is earthed if it is of high voltage.
For exemptions to this part, refer to part 3.4 of the Code of Practice - Working Near Exposed Live Parts.
Consultation with owners of electric lines
An employer or self-employed person in the conduct of a 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 provide safety advice about the performance of work to the employer or self-employed person within seven days of their notification, and work must not commence until the safety advice has been received.
Read section 3.5 of the Code of Practice - Working Near Exposed Live Parts on how to identify and manage exposure to risks of injury and property damage caused, directly or indirectly, by electricity.
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.
Last updated July 16, 2005