Are you installing large electrical equipment?

A tragic incident occurred when a worker received a fatal electric shock while working on a ducted air-conditioning unit in a ceiling space. One major contributing factor was the lack of safe access to a control board they were working on at the time of the incident with limited room to move in the ceiling space. Additionally, refrigeration pipes were run in front of the equipment where the control panel was located further interfering with access.

This highlights the need to ensure electrical equipment has adequate and safe access or working space around the final installation. This is also a requirement AS3000 Cl 1.7.2 Installation work practice (c) Adequate and safe access or working space is provided to equipment requiring operation or maintenance. As such, consideration should also be given to non-electrical elements that might affect access.

Take time during the design of the installation for this type of electrical equipment to consider how people will safely access any control equipment to perform maintenance or fault finding work.

Additionally, safety switches on all circuits is a key safety message of the Electrical Safety Office.

Refresh your understanding of the Wiring Rules in this regard, particularly:

1.7.2 Installation work practice

In order to address the requirement of Clause 1.7.1, electrical equipment shall be installed in accordance with safe and sound work practices, including the following:

1. Appropriate construction and operating characteristics of the equipment to protect against the mechanical, environmental or other external influences, including condensation, to which it is likely to be exposed at the intended point of installation. The means of protection, which shall not be impaired in the process of installation, may be integral to the equipment or an additional enclosure provided as part of the electrical installation.
2. Installation instructions provided by the equipment supplier.
3. Adequate and safe access or working space is provided to equipment requiring operation or maintenance.
4. Adequate strength and durability of fixings, fastenings and supports.
5. Particular needs of the user/operator.
6. Installation wiring conductors shall be clearly identified to indicate their intended function as active, neutral, main earthing, protective earthing (PE) or equipotential bonding (EPB) conductors. Conductors with a green or green/yellow (G/Y) combination core insulation colour or sleeving colour are strictly reserved for identifying the main earthing conductor, protective earthing (PE) conductor, or the equipotential bonding (EPB) conductor. Live conductors shall not be insulated or sheathed with green, yellow or green/yellow combination colours in installation wiring.
7. The polarization of socket-outlets shall be in accordance with the product specification and shall be consistent throughout the installation.
8. Semi-enclosed rewireable fuses shall not be installed.
9. Condensation issues—a breathing/pressure equalization valve shall be installed to assist with changes in humidity and drainage of moisture.
10. Electrical equipment shall be installed to manufacturer’s instructions to ensure that the marked IP rating is maintained.

Emergency support

If your life is in danger, call emergency services on 000 or go to your local hospital emergency department.

• Lifeline Australia – 13 11 14
• Mental Health access line – 1300 642 255 a confidential mental health telephone triage service that provides the first point of contact to public mental health services to Queenslanders. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and links callers to the nearest Queensland Public Mental Health service.
• Beyond Blue – 1300 22 46 36
• 13 YARN – 13 92 76 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• Workers’ Psychological Support Service – assists Queensland workers who have experienced a work-related psychological injury.