1. What must be done to ensure electrical safety in schools? 2 ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

8. Schools Officers Equipment Schools Officers must have safety switch protection on the electrical equipment they use for work, whether they are working in their shed or around the school. Currently this may be via either a fixed safety switch or a portable safety switch. In the future, to meet legislative requirements, a fixed safety switch will need to be installed to protect circuits in the schools officer’s shed or workshop. The Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 requires that electrical equipment used in ‘manufacturing work’ be protected by a fixed safety switch by 1 March 2008. The legislation does not affect work undertaken by Schools Officers around the school so portable safety switches can still be used in classrooms and other areas. If there is fixed safety switch protection covering all the outlets in the school there is no requirement to continue using the portable safety switch. It is recognised that a fixed safety switch will not be installed in every schools officer’s shed or workshop prior to 1 March 2008. A portable safety switch MUST be used until confirmation that all circuits have fixed safety switches installed. Safety switch protection must be in operation at all times when the Schools Officer is using specified electrical equipment (e.g. electric bench grinder, drill or electric sander) in their shed or around the school. this may be via a fixed or portable safety switch and if there is not safety switch coverage over all circuits, the school is to provide a portable safety switch for the Schools Officer’s use. 1. If using a portable safety switch – press the “TEST” button before use each day to confirm it is operational. 2. Schools are sometimes visited or audited by Inspectors from the Electrical Safety Office or Workplace Health and Safety Queensland. The Principal or WHSO should seek advice and support from their Regional Senior H&S Consultant and/or Regional Facilities Account Manager if issues with safety switch installation are identified and these cannot be easily resolved at the school level. 9. Installation and Maintenance of Electrical Equipment Only a licensed electrician or electrical contractor can do electrical work at your school. This includes repairs of electrical equipment. A school can purchase but cannot install: electrical accessories e.g. light switches, plugs, power points, light fittings without a cord; or fixed wire electrical appliances e.g. ceiling fans, some light fittings, stoves, ovens, split system air conditioning. The following repair work must be undertaken by your electrician or electrical contractor: replacing plugs or leads repairing damaged wiring – e.g. do not dismantle electrical equipment replacing power points modifying electrical equipment repairing safety switches Organisational Health Unit November 2008 15
The following activities are not electrical work and do not have to be undertaken by a licensed electrician or electrical contractor: Some electrical equipment requires maintenance or servicing that is unrelated to its electrical components; for example changing blades or fittings on manual arts equipment. Be sure to turn off the power and, if possible, unplug the equipment prior to undertaking these activities. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for these activities. As with other general maintenance procedures, the power must be turned off prior to changing light bulbs, tubes and starters. If the switch is some distance, or out of sight, post a sign or tape the switch in some way to ensure it is not inadvertently switched on while the bulb is being changed. For electrical work involving computers please refer to the Safety Alert - Electrical Incident – Computer Work. 10. Record Keeping Records are essential to review how your own systems are working and to monitor compliance with departmental and legislative requirements. In the event of an electrical incident records will be checked to determine if these requirements were fulfilled. Without records it will be difficult to demonstrate that systems were in place to ensure compliance. Departmental Senior Audit Officers may also ask to check these records. The Australian/New Zealand Standard 3760 states that documentation must be kept for seven years. Keep records of the following; 1. Electrical Equipment - a register (list) of all electrical equipment For example: a spreadsheet that tracks the item and location School Management System (SMS) can be used to create a register 2. Specified electrical equipment – identify items and frequency of testing and tagging dates (if required) For example: Can be incorporated with list above Note: SMS does not have accurate time frames for testing and tagging; enter your own timeframes according to the information in this guide e.g. see Part 1: Schedule or Part 2: Quick Reference Table 3. Safety switches For example: Record push button tests of safety switch (e.g. initial and date) Record tests by competent person (e.g. date and contractor) The record can be as simple as a card in the switch board with date, name and signature As best practice – a record of the location of all safety switches and circuits they cover 4. Repair or maintenance work For example: A log or register where staff can identify repair work required for electrical equipment Details of service or maintenance work for specific items – an example form is available at: http://education.qld.gov.au/health/docs/healthsafety/blower-vacuum-elecal.doc . The first page of this example document could be modified to use with items of electrical equipment that require regular checks or servicing. 5. Any risk assessments related to the use of electrical equipment example: testing register on sticker in switch board Organisational Health Unit November 2008 16
Page 1 and 2: PART 3: MANUAL MANAGING ELECTRICAL
Page 3 and 4: 2. General procedures for all elect
Page 5 and 6: 2. Manufacturing Work: assembly, di
Page 7 and 8: Safety switches cannot protect a pe
Page 9: 5. Who pays for testing and tagging
Page 13: 14. How does electricity cause inju

1. What must be done to ensure electrical safety in schools? 2 ...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?