as/nz wiring rules 3000:2007 (PDF) - Energy Safe Victoria

12letters tothe editorWorking in hazardous areasI refer to the most recent edition of theenergysafe magazine, page 24- MoreCommonly Asked Electricity Questions - c)relating to license requirements to work inhazardous areas.The response given is correct. However itcould have been more specific and addedthat Australian Standard AS4761:2003 -Competencies for working with electricalequipment in hazardous areas (EEHA)addresses the specific competencies requiredto perform hazardous area work and specificallythat Competencies UTE NES 010B, 012B,107B and 214B are the minimum knowledgebase required for installation and maintenanceactivities.“Keep up the goodwork with themagazine - it is reallyvery informative.”I raise this as my work is primarily relatedto design and supervision of installationsin Hazardous Areas and I hold all requiredcompetencies. I find that most electricianswho have not had formal training to theCompetencies stated do not have thenecessary skills and knowledge to performthe work to the required AS2381 installationstandards and many do not know how to fitoff a barrier gland which is fundamental.Perhaps in the interests of promotingcompliance with Australian Standards andencouraging those who would performhazardous area work to do so safely and tothe applicable standards, you could makemention of AS4761 in the next edition.Thank you for your attention.David LittleLegal requirements underthe O.H.&S. ActOn page 24 of the current issue of energysafean answer is given to a question aboutelectrical work in hazardous areas. Theanswer, in part, says ...’Many industriesrequire........ when working in hazardous areas’.Electricians, reading this, could assume that itis an optional requirement/a good idea etc.I think that some mention should havebeen made of the legal requirements underthe O.H.&S. act. There are two separaterequirements:1. Employers (including contractors andsub-contractors) must ensure that theiremployees have proven competence.2. Employees have a legal obligation not tocarry out work on equipment/installationsunless they are demonstrably competent.In practice, if an electrician carries out workin a hazardous area without having provencompetency, they leave themselves open toprosecution. For their protection could youadd something about this in your next edition?There is another legal pathway to enforcingthe use of competent workers.AS/NZS 3000, clause 7.7.2.4.2 mentionsHAW competencies and mandates the useof AS/NZS 2381.1. Clause 1.7 of this standardmandates the use of competent workers.It may even mention the competenciesdescribed in AS/NZS 4761.Keep up the good work with the magazine -it is really very informative.Peter Turnerwww.energysafe.vic.gov.au