 
9. Electricians and Electrical Safety - Survey ResultsThe following information has been made available by the Energy Safety Service. Achieving the highest standards of electrical safety rests largely on understanding the attitudes, knowledge and behaviours of all those who have an interest - whether suppliers, installers, or consumers of the product. Over the last three years, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs' Energy Safety Service (ESS) has commissioned research among consumers and relevant industry organisations to better understand their perceptions of safety. Little was known formally, however, about the views of electricians on electrical safety compliance in domestic (residential) settings. Consequently, a need for research information from a survey among licensed electricians was identified. Two hundred registered electricians were surveyed by telephone in March and April 2002 and the main findings are summarised in this article. The survey findings were presented to the Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB) on 11 September. Some results of the survey were troubling, and indicate that ESS needs to improve electrical worker education in areas detailed below. The outcomes of the survey will be reviewed and suitable measures taken to address issues identified. Accident and Hazard Notification Accident Reporting Section 16 of the Electricity Act 1992 and Regulation 50 of the Electricity Regulations 1997 are specific about the notification to the Ministry, of serious electrical accidents and serious danger to life or property. The legislation is also specific that a person commits an offence if they do not report an accident or serious hazard. - Just six percent (6%) identified the ESS as the organisation to contact in the event of a serious electrical accident.
- Four percent (4%) would contact the ESS if an electrical appliance, installation, or fitting was discovered that was dangerous to people or property.
The ESS will be looking at ways to improve its profile with electrical workers, reminding them of the obligation to report serious accidents and incidents. Respondents were asked what they would do if they were not sure if the installation of a new appliance or fitting conformed to regulations or, instead, might be unsafe. Although there was a wide range of responses: - Seventeen percent (17%) would do nothing if they were unsure it conformed to regulations.
- Forty-seven percent (47%) would do nothing if they thought it might be unsafe.
Clearly, greater attention is needed to ensure electrical workers are made aware of, and understand their reporting responsibilities on accidents and unsafe installations, appliances and fittings. Worker practices Respondents were asked to indicate the types of electrical work for which a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) should (or should not) be issued according to the Electricity Regulations 1997, from ten examples selected. - Only six percent (6%) of respondents correctly identified all work types in the list for which a CoC need not be issued.
- Forty-one percent (41%) correctly identified work in the list for which a CoC should be issued.
Findings indicated a poor level of understanding about the circumstances for issuing CoCs. Greater attention will need to be given to improving understanding amongst electricians. Electric Shocks To find out more about the safe work practices and experiences of the electricians, the respondents were asked to indicate the number of electric shocks they had received in the last 12 months and their causes. - Thirty nine percent (39%) experienced electric shocks in the last 12 months and 4% had experienced shocks more than ten times (the highest was 29 times!) in the last 12 months.
- Respondents reported the most common causes of electric shock in the last 12 months were 'not turning off the power supply before starting work' (39%), 'equipment failure' (23%) and 'not testing the line before working on it' (21%).
According to ESS accident records (for notifiable accident reports received), during the nine years from 1993 to 2001, four electricians were electrocuted and 47 were injured by 230 volts supply. Some received serious injuries. About 40% of accidents occurred because work was attempted without turning off the power supply. Another 30% resulted from not following normal safe work practices. Test Equipment Respondents were asked about the type of test equipment they have access to and the circumstances under which they use that equipment. - Ninety-nine percent (99%) own or have access to an insulation resistance tester; 65% own or have access to an RCD tester; and 58% own or have access to a fault loop impedance tester.
- Only forty five percent (45%) carried out an insulating resistance test after new installations and twenty nine percent (29%) after additions or modifications to installations.
Electrical standards (NZS 3000 and NZECP11) specify various testing requirements after a new, modified or repaired installation. Testing must be better recognised and adopted as an essential safety practice. Conclusion The ESS appreciates the valuable time and honest opinions given by the respondents. Both the EWRB and the ESS will be considering the findings and developing suitable responses for driving improvements to safe electrical practices in the industry. The full survey report covers areas in greater depth than presented in this article. This is available on the ESS website
http://www.ess.govt.nz.
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