Over the eleven year period spanning January 2003 to December 2013, Safe Work Australia data indicates that 61 construction workers lost their lives due to contact with electricity – accounting for 15% of all construction worker fatalities during that period.
According to John Giles, facilitator of the AS/NZS 3000 – The Wiring Rules course run by Engineering Education Australia (EEA), there are a number of problems in regards to electricity which commonly lead to injury and death.
In cases where no isolation devices have been provided, he says there is a temptation to perform work whilst wiring is in a live state – a situation that can create hazards in cases where the equipment is faulty or where the screwdriver slips and accidentally creates a short circuit.
Giles explains that another problem revolves around a lack of understanding about how to implement earthing systems to eliminate shocks. This can lead to hazards whereby plumbers, for instance, face risk of injury when performing work on water meters at a residence which has not been wired or earthed correctly.
Meanwhile, Giles says challenges are emerging with new technology and materials. Downlights, for example, can generate significant amounts of heat and ignite local thermal insulation whilst problems have also been found with products imported from overseas such as building wire, GPO’s and switches.
A well-known example is the infinity cable scenario. In this case, cable supplied from China which went into around 40,000 homes and businesses around Australia was found to contain insulation which can degrade prematurely and cause electric shock or fire.
According to Giles, the key to avoiding accidents revolves around following the AS/NZS 3000 rules, which are mandated via legislation in every state. Nevertheless, he says a significant number of designers and engineers operate according to a misconception that the rules apply only to licensed electricians and not to them, which is not the case.
Moreover, the rules are continually being revised and both the changes and principles which underlie them are often misunderstood. The current fifth edition, for example, is substantially different from the previous version.
Designers and engineers can learn about the latest version of the standard through the Wiring Rules course, which is conducted specifically for designers of electrical installations.
Through the course, participants will gain a sound understanding of core concepts outlined in the standard and will learn about a range of implementation methods which they can use to ensure that the designs they specify are safe and meet the requirements of the standard.
Details about the course can be found here.