Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00407:body:0:p16
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00407
Segment Type: other
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Character Range: 40672–43584

the required information. In that case, the rest of the required information must be recorded elsewhere and kept for the relevant period of time.
If a tag is not used you should ensure that tested electrical equipment is marked or labelled
so that records of testing can clearly identify the relevant equipment.

3.3              Inspecting and testing equipment – construction and demolition sites

Regulation 163 A person conducting a business or undertaking that includes the carrying out of construction work must comply with AS/NZS 3012:2010 Electrical installations – Construction and demolition sites.
AS/NZS 3012:2010 applies as if any term that is defined in that Standard and that is also defined
in the WHS Act or Regulations has the same meaning as it has in the WHS Act or Regulations.
If there is any inconsistency between the Standard and Part 4.7 of the WHS Regulations then
it is sufficient that the person complies with AS/NZS 3012:2010.

3.4              Residual current devices (RCDs)
The risk of electric shock often results from people making contact with unprotected energised parts of electrical equipment and earth. Contact with energised parts may occur by touching:
    * bare conductors
    * internal parts of electrical equipment
    * external parts of electrical equipment that have become energised because of an internal fault
    * metallic or other conductive equipment that has inadvertently become live.
Contact with earth occurs through normal body contact with the ground or earthed metal parts.
Serious injuries and fatalities may be prevented by the use of properly installed and maintained residual current devices RCDs, commonly referred to as 'safety switches'. An RCD is an electrical safety device designed to immediately switch off the supply of electricity when electricity 'leaking' to earth is detected at harmful levels. RCDs offer high levels of personal protection from electric shock.
RCDs work by continuously comparing the current flow in both the active (supply) and neutral (return) conductors of an electrical circuit. If the current flow becomes sufficiently unbalanced, some of the current in the active conductor is not returning through the neutral conductor and
is leaking to earth. RCDs are designed to quickly disconnect the electricity supply when they sense harmful leakage, typically 30 milliamps or less. This ensures an electrical leak is detected and the electricity supply is disconnected before it can cause serious injury or damage.
While RCDs significantly reduce the risk of electric shock they do not provide protection in all circumstances. For example, an RCD will not trigger off electricity supply if a person contacts both active and neutral conductors while handling faulty plugs or electrical equipment and electricity flows through the person's body, unless there is also a current flow to earth.

When RCDs must be provided