Notice to Industry
Number 28
Date of Issue: 24 January 2006
Electricity: Residual Current Devices (RCD’s)
Occupational Safety and Health Regulation 1996
Regulation 3.60 ‘Protection against earth leakage
current when portable equipment in use’
All work places after 31 March 1998 are
required to comply with WorkSafe
Regulation 3.60 “Protection against
earth leakage when portable equipment
in use.” This includes vessels that are
wired with an unearthed system and
fitted with a monitoring device to detect
earth faults. In this wiring system the
RCD will provide an extra level of safety
under a second fault situation.
Regulation 3.60 is contained in
“Guidance Note ELECTRICITY:
Residual Current Devices”, and is
available from WorkSafe.
WorkSafe Regulation 3.60 does not
apply to a workplace at which the
supply of electricity :–
a) does not exceed 32 volts
alternating current
b) is direct current
c) is provided through an isolating
transformer complying with
AS/NZS 3108; or;
d) is provided from the unearthed
outlet of a portable generator.
Clause (3) of Regulation 3.60 states
that a person having control of a
workplace must :(a) Ensure that each non-portable
residual current device installed
at the workplace is kept in a safe
working condition and tested on
a regular basis to ensure its
continued effective operation;
(b) Provide, where electricity is
supplied to portable equipment
through a fixed socket, protection
against earth leakage current by
means of :(i) a non-portable residual
current device installed at
the switchboard; or
(ii) a non-portable residual
current device built into a
fixed socket which, having
regard to the primary use of
the socket and its location, is
likely to be used by a person
operating portable
equipment; and
(c) ensure where a non-portable
residual current device has been
:–
(i) installed at the switchboard,
that a notice is displayed in a
prominent place at or near
the switch board indicating
that a non-portable residual
current device has been
installed at the switchboard;
or
(ii) built into a fixed socket, that
the socket can be identified
as providing protection
against earth leakage
current.
Department for Planning and Infrastructure
Commercial Vessel Safety Branch
1 Essex Street, PO Box 402, Fremantle, Western Australia 6959
Regulation 3.60 Protection against
earth leakage current when portable
equipment in use is designed to
minimize the risk of a person receiving
a harmful or fatal shock when using
portable electrical equipment.
It is intended that the RCD will provide
an extra level of safety, preventing
electrocution to persons using portable
equipment.
The RCD is complementary to the
standard protection devices installed on
vessels.
Owners that feel that their vessels do
not require RCD’s should apply to the
Worksafe Commissioner (Department
of Consumer & Employment Protection,
1260 Hay St, West Perth, WA 6005
Telephone 9327 8889) for an
exemption by putting together a
detailed submission for each vessel for
which they are seeking an exemption.
The application for an exemption
should contain the following
information:
1. Sufficient technical data
(electrical drawings) to enable an
informed assessment to be
made;
2. Such technical data is to be
supported by an explanation
from a competent person that
the installation can not support
the installation of RCD's
(Residual Current Devices);
3. Vessel details (vessel name,
length, material and M&H
number). If granted the
exemption will apply to that
vessel only; and,
4. Details of the operation
(passenger numbers,
geographical area of operation)
5. For what length of time the
vessel will be operating in WA
waters
Please contact the Commercial Vessel Safety Branch on telephone no: 9216 8240
for further information
David Pollard
A/Manager Commercial Vessel Safety Branch
Department for Planning and Infrastructure
Commercial Vessel Safety Branch
1 Essex Street, PO Box 402, Fremantle, Western Australia 6959