Creating a safer state with electricity and gas

Stay alive, never work live

Never work live on switchboards or electrical installations. Even when you’re under the pump, there’s no excuse for cutting corners. Don’t risk electrocution or serious injury—you may not get a second chance.

Be a bright sparkie, always:

° Plan and discuss the job

° Disconnect the electrical supply before starting work

° Confirm isolations are correct and test with suitable instruments

° Confirm connections are correct

° Test completed work for compliance with the wiring rules (AS/NZS 3000).

Be a bright sparkie, never:

° Try to save time by eliminating procedures and a risk assessment

° Allow customers to leave the electricity supply on

° Work on energised equipment

° Overlook isolating and proving all equipment and control circuits are safely isolated.

Stay alive, never work live.

If you can’t reach an agreement, you have the right to refuse to work live.

Don’t be pressured into working liveBefore starting work, speak to the customer and agree on a suitable time to disconnect the electricity supply.

If you can’t reach an agreement, you have the right to refuse to work live. Victoria’s Electricity Safety Act requires that contractors and electricians do not expose themselves to unnecessary risks. It states that contractors and electricians must disconnect the power supply or take adequate precautions to prevent electric shock or other injury.

Check www.esv.vic.gov.au or call (03) 9203 9700 for more information.

Quick contacts

You must issue a Certificate of Electrical Safety for every job, no matter how small.

Tip

For further information go to www.esv.vic.gov.au or phone ESV on (03) 9203 9700.

Published by Energy Safe VictoriaLevel 5 Building 2 4 Riverside Quay Southbank VIC 3006

(Version 05/2014)