Restrictions on working live

The Electricity (Licensing) Amendment Regulations (No. 2) does not permit electrical work to be performed on or near an exposed energised part of an electrical installation that can be de-energised. Work on energised parts of an installation may occur in accordance with Regulation 55 of the Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991. This change to regulations has been active since 14 May 2018.

What does this mean?

Safety advises that:

• Live work should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.
• If unavoidable a Safe Work Method Statement is required along with a task/site-specific risk assessment.
• Controls need to be implemented to prevent inadvertent contact with any live equipment that can be reached by a person or anything in contact with a person working in the area or a conductive object that could be dropped onto a live part.

Note: Regulation r.153 of the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 has been added so that all trades or workers accessing residential energised roof spaces must ensure the building’s electrical installation is de-energised by a person competent to do so.

Access our FREE Working Live Pack

Contact Safety today to access your FREE Working Live Pack that assists compliance with the new restrictions. The pack includes:

1. Electricity (Licensing) Regulations Amendment  (No2) 2017
2. Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 
3. WA Code of Practice - 'Persons working on or near energised electrical installations'
4. WA Guidelines - 'Working in roof spaces'
5. List of 19 High Risk Work Activities requiring Safe Work Method Statements
6. Generic Safe Work Method Statement - 'Working on or near energised LV electrical installations'
7. Job Safety Analysis Template
8. Toolbox Talk - 'Persons working on or near energised LV electrical installations'

Phone Safety on (08) 6241 6100 or email safety@ecawa.org.au to access your Working Live Pack and for further information on how to ensure that you comply with these important regulations.