Part IX Part IX
RULE 7 RULE 7
RULE FOR THE SAFE USE OF PORTABLE AND SEMI-PORTABLE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
1. This Rule shall be known as “The Portable and Semi-portable
Inserted by Order in Council published Industrial Gazette 8 February 1964,
Electrical Equipment Rule”.
p. 176.
66 r. 7, cc. 2 , 3 RULES
This Rule shaIl apply to all portable and semi-portable electrical equipment and associated plugs, appliance plugs, cord extension sockels, extension leads, flexible cords and flexible cables which are designed for electrical operation at low or medium voltage and used in factories, shops and places where work of m a n u f a c t u ~ n ~ , repair, maintenance, o r construction is being carried out.
Amended by Order in Council published Industrial Gazette 8 February 1964, p. 176.
~ E ~ r ~ r T ~ O N ~
3. For the purpose of this Rule the folllowing definitions shall
“Portable Electrical Equipment” shall mean a motor operated tool or other equipment normally used in industrial application having a marked current rating not exceeding ten amperes or ten amperes per phase for connection to low or medium voltage circuits and that from the nature of its use requires to be moved, or is so designed that it can be readily moved, while it is in use and is designed for connection to fixed wiring by means of a flexible cord and plug.
“’Semi-portable Electrical Equipment” shall mean a motor operated tool or other equipment normally used in industrial application having a marked current rating not exceeding ten amperes or ten amperes per phase for Connection to low or medium voltage circuits other than portable equipment as defined in this Rule that from the nature of its use requires to be moved or is capable of being moved to a new position while it is in use or between periods when it is in use and is designed for connection to fixed wiring by means of flexible cord or flexible cable and plug.
“Sensitive Current Balance Earth Leakage Protection Equip- ment” shall mean a device which complies with the standards determined by the State Electricity Commission of Queensland and which will disconnect the supply of electricity in the event of a leakage current to earth.
‘‘Isolating Si’ransformer” shall mean a single phase, air-cooled transformer having a rated input current of not more than 10 amperes, suitable for connection on the input side to low voltage circuits and intended to provide a low voltage supply, effectively isolated from the source of supply and from earth, at a nominal voltage ratio of unity for the operation of one piece of electrical equipment and which complies with the requirements sf S.A.A.
Approval and Test Spec~fi~ation No. C167-1962 Ap. and any amendnient thereto,
“‘Certified Electrician” shall mean, for the purpose of this Rule, a person issued with a Certificate by the Electrical Workers and Contractors Board constituted under “The EZeclricaZ Wurfcers and Contractors Act ~f 1962,” such Certificate enabling the person issued therewith to carry out the class or classes of electrical work as are required by this Rule.
“Double Insulation” shall mean two separate layers of suit- able insulating material of the required thickness interposed hetween live parts and exposed metal which consplies with the test requirements specified in S.A.A. Approval and Test Specifica-
tion No. C100-clause 103 or a single layer of suitable ~ ~ s ~ l a t ~ n ~ material which has been accepted as equivalent to double insulation
and complies with the aforementioned test requircments.
apply-
RULES f . 9, cc. 4-7 67
“Low Voltage” shall mean normally exceeding 32, volts alternating current or 1 4.5 volts direct current, but not exceeding 250 volts in either case.
“‘Medium Voltage” shall mean normally exceeding 250 volts but not exceeding 650 volts.
“Approved” shall mean approved by the State Electricity Commission of Queensland constituted under “The State Electricity Commissiopt Acts, 1937 to 1962.”
“Earth Monitoring Device” shall mean a device which com- plies with standards determined by the State Electricity Cornmission of Queensland and which monitors an earthing connection to an item of equipment in such a manner as to disconnect the supply to the equipment in the event of a break in the earthing connection or if the resistance of the earthing connection rises above 3
predetermined level.
“Electric Authority” shall mean an Electric Authority, constituted under “The Electric Light and Power ACES, 1896 to 1962,” or the Southern Electric Authority of Queensland con- stituted under “The Soutlzern Electric A uihority of Queemland Acts, 1952 to 1858,” as applicable.
Amended by Orders in Council published Industrial Gazette 25 January 1964, DUTIES OF &XXJBIER
p. 132; 8 February 1964, p. 176.
4, The occupier of any factory or shop or place shall maintain a register of all portable and semi-portable electrical equipment, used or capable of being used at such factory or shop or place, on Record Cards in the form prescribed in Schedule 1 to this Rule or in such other .manner as may be approved by an Inspector.
Amended by Order in Council published Industrial Gazette 8 February 1954, p. 176.
!5* This register shall be available at any time for examination by an Xnspectcsr.
Amended by Order in Council published Industrial Gazette 8 February 1964, p. 176.
6. The occupier o€ any factory or shop or place shall cause all port- able and semi-portable electrical equipment together with all flexible cords, flexible cables, extension leads and connections, isolating trans- formers and earth monitoring devices to be maintained in a safe and satisfactory condition at all times and to be inspected and tested at intervals not exceeding four months by a Certified Electrician.
Amended by Order in Council published Industrial Gazette 8 February 1964, p. 176.
7. The occupier of any factory or shop or place shall cause action as hereunder to be taken following inspection as required by clause 6:-
( a ) The Certified Electrician having carried out the tests required by clause 8 shall enter the resdts of such inspection and test in the register for such equipment item indicating the daie on which such inspection was made and shall sign the entry:
( b ) The Certified Electrician making the inspection and test shall, having ensured that the equipment is in a safe and satisfactory condition, securely attach to every item of portable and semi-portable electrical equipment, iso!ating transformer, earth monitoring device and every flexible
68 r. 7, ce. 8, 9 RULES
extension lead a tag of metal of a design approved by the Chief Inspector. Such tag shall have stamped upon it the date on which the next inspection is due to be carried out and the number of the Certificate of the Certified Electrician.
Amended by Orders in Council published Industrial Gazetfe 8 February 1964, p. 176; 9 September 1967, p. 33.
TESTING
.
In carrying out the four month~y inspection the Certified Electrician shall-A. Check each item of portable or semi-portable equipment for- ( a ) Damage to the body of the machine;
( b ) Darnage to or loosening of the connections;
(c) Continuity of the earthing circuit between the exposed metal of the equipment, if any, and the earth terminal of the plug;
the resistance so measured shall not exceed 1 ohm;
( d ) Insulation resistance between Jive conductors and exposed metal. The resistance so measured. shall be not less than 0.5 megohm;
( e ) Any other defective feature which could be conducive to the creation of hazardous conditions in normal service.
B. Check each flexible connection or extension lead for-
( a ) Damage or deterioration of insulating sheathing;
( b ) Damage to plug, appliance plug, or cord extension socket;
(c) Correct connection of flexible cord to plug, appliance plug, ( d ) Continuity of conductors;
( e ) Insulation resistance between live conductors and between live conductors and earthing conductor. The resistance so measured in the latter test shall be not less than 0.5 megohm;
((1
Any other defective feature which could be conducive to the creation of hazardous conditions in normal service.Amended by Order in Council published Industrial Gazette 8 February 1964,
and/or cord extension socket;
p. 176.
., ( a ) Portable and
semi- ort table
electrical equipment shall be dismantled to a sufficient extent to allow for thorough electrical inspection and test at the end of each twenty-four months period or such lesser period as may be required by an Inspector.( b ) The continuity of the earthing circuit between the connection of the main earthing conductor to the earthing medium on the installation and the earth terminal of all power outlets from which such portable or semi- portable electrical equipment, as aforesaid, i s used or may be used, shall be measured at the end of each twenty-four months period and the resistance so measured shall not exceed 2 ohms.
(c) Provided that the first such inspection as required by this clause shall be carried out within a period of four months from the date of operation of this Rule.
Amended by Order in Council published Industrial Gazette 8 February 1964, p. 176.
RULES T, 'TP CC. 10-13 69 U S E O F EQUIPMENT
.
Where portable or semi-portable electrical equipment having a marked current rating not exceeding ten amperes OT ten amperes per phase, is being used an occupier shall cause to be used-( a ) In the case of single phase equipment, an isolating transformer suitable for connection 011 low voltage circuits excepting- (i) Where portable or semi-portable electrical equipment
incorporates double insulation;
(ii) Where the portable or semi-partable electrical equipment is connected to an earth monitoring device;
(iii) Where the portable or semi-portable electrical equipment is permanently connected to the fixed wiring of an electrical installation in a factory or shop or place effectively earthed and maintained to the satisfaction of the Electric Authority, and is maintained and tested in accordance with this Rule.
(iv) Where the portable or semi-portable electrical equipment is connected to a sensitive current balance earth leakage pro- tection equipment.
( b ) In the case of two or three phase equipment suitable for connection to medium voltage circuits an earth monitoring device or a sensitive current balance earth leakage protection equipment, except where such portable or semi-portable electrical equipment is permanently connected to the fixed wiring of an electrical installation in a factory or shop or place effectively earthed and maintained to the satisfaction of the Electric Authority and is maintained and tested in accordance with this Rule.
Amended by Olrders in Council published Industrial Gazette 25 January 1964, p. 132; 8 February 1964, p. 176.
1111. Notwithstanding the requirements of clause' 10 of this Rule if the Chief Inspector is satisfied that the occupier of any factory or shop carries out a satisfactory maintenance procedure whereby all units of portable or semi-portable electrical equipment and any associated flexible connection and/or extension leads are regularly inspected and tested by a Certified Electrician in accordance with clause 8 of this Rule at least every two months and that the permanent installation is tested at least once in every six months for the purpose of ensuring that the continuity of the earthing conductor to all power outlets is maintained within the permissible limit of 2 ohms, the Chief Inspector may approve in writing that the provisions of clause IO of this Rule shall not apply.
Amended by Orders in Council published Industrial Gazette 8 February 1964, p. 176; 9 September 1967, p. 33.
12. Plugs, appliance plugs, cord extension sockets, flexible cords and flexible cables shall have a rating not less than the marked current rating of the equipment and shall be of a type currently approved, and insofar as flexible cords are concerned, of a type as defined in the S.A.A. Wiring Rules for a particular application.
Amended by Order in Council published Industrial Gazette 8 February 1964, p. 176.
13. Isolating transformers shall be manufactured in accordance with the requirements of S.A.A. Approval and Test Specification No.
Cl67-1962Ap. and any amendment thereto and of a type currently approved and suitable for the particular application as regards current rating.
Amended by Order in Council published Industrial Gazette 8 February 1964, p. 176.
70 r. 7, CC, 14-21 RULES
14. An extension lead shall not be used unless it is fitted with a plug of a type currently approved on one end arid a cord extension socket of a type currently approved on the other.
h i e n d e d by Order in Council published Industrial Gazette 8 February 1964, p. 176.
The method of connection of the flexible cord to the equipment ( a ) ~ e r m a n ~ n ~ ~ y connected to the equipment with the earthing conductor connected to the exposed metal, if any, of the ent, except that with double insulated equipment an ( b ) By means of an appliance plug and a ~ ~ ~ ~ a n c e inlet socket currently approved and having a rating not less than that of the equipment.
In both ( a ) and ( h ) the other end of the flexible cord shall be terminated in a plug, with the earthing conductor where such i s required, correctly connected to the earthing terminal.
conductor shall not be fitted;
Amended by Order in Council published Industrial Gazette 8 February 1964, p. 176.
6. A person shall not connect to any isolating transformer any electrical e q u i p ~ e n t having a marked current rating in excess of that of the isolating transformer.
Amended by Older in Council published Industrial Gazette 8 February 1964, p. 176.
8 4 , A person shall not connect more than one unit of electrical equipment to any individual output socket of an isolating transformer.
Amended by Order in Councii publishe~d Industrial Gazette 8 February 1964, p. 176.
A tag, as required in clause 7 ( b ) , shall not be affixed to the n t enumerated therein unless the equipment is in a safe and satisfac- tory condition and defective features noted as a result of the inspection referred to in clause 8 have been rectified.
Amended by Orders in Council published Industrial Gazette 8 February 1964, p. 176; 9 September 1967, p. 33.
19, No person other than a Certified Electrician shall affix a tag as required by clause 7 ( b ) to any 3f the e q u i ~ ~ e n ~ enuinerated in ciause 7 ( 0 ) .
Amended by Orders in Council published Xridustrial Gazette 8 February 1964, p. 176; 9 September 1967, p. 33
An inspector may seize and at his discretion destroy or at the cost of the owner thereof repair and return to the owner any item of port- able or semi-portable electrical equipment, any plug, cord extension socket, any extension lead, any flexible cord and any flexible cable, which, he considers, constitutes a risk to the safety of any person who may use equipment, irrespective of whether or not such equipment is being use the time being.
Amended by Order in Council publi.sbed Inchistrial Gazette 8 February 1964, p. 176.
ule, any document or booklet p u r p ~ r ~ ~ ~ g to be ~ ~ b l ~ ~ h e d by or under the authority of rhe Standards Association of Australia shall, unless the contrary is proved, be
21. In any proceedings for a breach of this
RXJ LE§ 1.7, cc. 22-24, Seh. 71
deemed to have been publislied by the Standards Association of Australia and i s evidence of the matters appearing on and in suck ~ Q C U ~ I C X - I ~ or booklet.
Arnended by Order in Council published Industrial Gazette 8 February 1964, p. 176.
a In any proceedings for a breach of this Rule, any declaration of approval OF disa iider the hand of thc: Secretary, State ~ l ~ c t r i c i t y nd sliall be taken as pima facie evidence of such approval or disapproval.
p. 176.
Amended by Order in Council published Yridustrial Gazette 8 February 9964,
P E N A L T Y
shall than
23. Any occupier or other person who commits a breach of this Rule be guilty of an ot-fence and shall be liable to a penalty of not less
$10 nor more than $280.
Amcnded by Order in Council published I n d u 5 t ~ i ~ l Gazette 8 February 1964, Decimal currency references substituted pursuant to section 7 of Decimal p. 176.
Currency Act of 1945.
24. This Rule shall 1
Amended by Order in Council pzjblished Industrial Gazette 8 February 1964, p. 176.