As the Australian Government’s statutory agency focusing on workplace health and safety, Safe Work Australia is very specific and strict about its guidelines for electrical work. Companies need to comply with the agency’s standards to attain a certification to operate. At the same time, all professionals involved in building construction and maintenance – such as engineers and commercial electrical work experts in Melbourne – must also follow the set code of practice.
But what exactly are the main contents for most of Safe Work Australia’s electrical safety releases? Specifically, the meat of the agency’s standards revolves around four core aspects. These are the following:
1. The IACR Risk Management Flow
Considering the serious danger of electrical inefficiencies in the workplace, Safe Work AU highlights the use of the IACR process of managing risks. This refers to the following:
- Identify the risk
- Assess the hazard
- Control the risk
- Review the control
The IACR process is the guiding principle in evaluating and managing a building’s electrical work.
2. Specific Risks and Hazard Control
Safe Work AU also identifies specific electrical risks in commercial offices and the best ways to handle them. This covers the handling of residual current devices (RCDs), testing equipment and inspecting the building’s connections.
3. Trade Equipment and Tools for Optimum Safety
The agency also suggests a checklist of trade equipment and tools electricians should use to uphold their safety and that of the building occupants. At the very least, electricians must have the following tools and equipment when doing commercial electrical work:
- Scaffolds, ladders and other related instruments
- Testing and inspection equipment
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- First aid
- Insulating mats and barriers
4. Contractor Certification and Credentials
Safe Work Australia also advices the public to hire only licensed and tenured commercial electrical work experts in Melbourne and other local areas. This is to ensure projects would go as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Remember, experts know the regulations and codes of practice by heart, providing their clients with quality output. Specifically, it’s wise to hire contractors with certifications from the country’s most prestigious industry organisations such as the National Electrical Communications Association (NECA) and Master Electricians Association to name a few.
In most of its guidelines and releases, Safe Work Australia focuses on these four key aspects as a way to provide a solid framework for stakeholders, especially the building owners, occupants and building maintenance personnel.
As the leading commercial electrical work experts in Melbourne, EDC Solutions also follows the same quality standards for all its workflow, equipment and employee qualifications. Our top-of- the line materials and qualified electricians are our edges in the industry. If you’re now thinking of working with us for any of your electrical projects, make sure to dial 1300 EDC SOL (1300 332 765) to have a chat with us.
