Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00407:body:0:p4
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00407
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 8131–11143

burns. The injuries are often suffered because arcing
      or explosion or both occur when high fault currents are present
    * electric shock from 'step-and-touch' potentials
    * toxic gases causing illness or death. Burning and arcing associated with electrical equipment may release various gases and contaminants
    * fire resulting from an electrical fault.
Even the briefest contact with electricity at 50 volts for alternating current (V a.c.) or 120 volts
for direct current (V d.c.) can have serious consequences to a person's health and safety.
High voltage shocks involving more than 1000 V a.c. or 1500 V d.c. can cause contact burns
and damage to internal organs.
Electric shocks from faulty electrical equipment may also lead to related injuries, including falls from ladders, scaffolds or other elevated work platforms. Other injuries or illnesses may include muscle spasms, palpitations, nausea, vomiting, collapse and unconsciousness.
Workers using electricity may not be the only ones at risk—faulty electrical equipment and poor electrical installations can lead to fires that may also cause death or injury to others.
Key terms used in this Code are defined at Appendix A.

1.2              Who must manage electrical risks?
A person conducting a business or undertaking has the primary duty under the WHS Act
to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that workers and other persons at the workplace
are not exposed to electrical risks arising from the business or undertaking. This duty requires eliminating electrical risks or, if that is not reasonably practicable, minimising the risks so far
as is reasonably practicable.
The WHS Regulations include more specific requirements for managing electrical risks at the workplace. For example, all persons conducting a business or undertaking have duties to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that electrical equipment and installations at the workplace
are without risks to health and safety of persons.
Persons conducting a business or undertaking with management or control of a workplace have
a duty to ensure effective residual current devices (RCDs) are used in certain high-risk environments as defined in the regulations.
Persons conducting a business or undertaking carrying out electrical work must comply with
the prohibition on electrical work on energised electrical equipment subject to certain exceptions. These persons may also have duties under local electrical safety laws.
Persons conducting a business or undertaking should ensure electrical installation work is carried out by qualified persons and testing and compliance requirements are met.

Designers, manufacturers, importers, suppliers, and installers of electrical equipment and installations that could be used for work must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that they are without risks to health and safety. Designers and manufacturers of electrical equipment or installations must ensure they are designed and manufactured so that