The WorkSafe Energy Safety team recently published its 2023 annual report, analysing trends and highlighting risks in electrical and gas accidents. 

Wiring in imported buildings – like tiny homes, container homes, or cabins – may not be electrically safe or meet New Zealand safety standards. This can lead to an increased risk of electric shock or fire.   

To help keep people safe, WorkSafe has published new guidance for importers and electrical workers about electrical safety in imported buildings.  

The guide explains what must be done to make imported buildings and imported parts of a building (for example a bathroom pod) electrically safe before they are connected to an electricity supply.  

WorkSafe wants to remind electrical workers that making a connection is prescribed electrical work (PEW) and has specific obligations under Regulation 74A of the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010. 

Recent investigations by WorkSafe’s Energy Safety team found that electrical workers making connections are not always verifying that a record of inspection (RoI) has been completed for any high-risk PEW carried out on the installation, or part installation, that is being connected.  

An aspect of high-risk work that is being omitted from RoIs is the inspection of the earthing system of 'outbuildings'. Electrical workers are reminded that the earthing system of any multiple earthed neutral (MEN) switchboard (not only those closest to the point of supply) is mains work. Therefore, this work is high-risk PEW, requiring inspection and an RoI. If an RoI has not been issued, then a connection cannot be completed. 

The WorkSafe Energy Safety team have identified a number of Electricity and Gas High-Risk Database entries not having the full or correct details of the electrician who carried out a high-risk PEW recorded. The requirements for recording information are prescribed in Regulation 74F of the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010. The particular details to be recorded, and the manner in which they must be recorded, are determined by WorkSafe.   

Details of high-risk PEW – including details of the Certificate of Compliance for the work – must be recorded in the Electricity and Gas High-Risk Database by the person who inspected the work within 20 working days of the inspection.   

The Database has been set up to enable the capture of all relevant information related to high-risk PEW, as required by legislation.   

This provides owners, consumers and other electrical workers with information that gives them confidence that PEW at that site is safe and compliant. It also enables WorkSafe's Energy Safety team to analyse the different categories of high-risk PEW being undertaken and to identify focus areas for audits to ensure that high-risk PEW is being conducted safely and to the required standard.

Photovoltaic (PV) solar systems are a rapidly growing industry in New Zealand, with the installation of both grid-connected and stand-alone systems.  

WorkSafe recommends using a registered electrician to install PV systems. This is because homeowners installing a PV system themselves without the proper experience or knowledge could cause fires and electric shocks. And some PV systems are not suitable for New Zealand and should not be installed.  

DIYers are limited to which PV systems they can install themselves lawfully by the voltage it uses. Systems that involve voltages exceeding 50V AC or 120V ripple-free DC require a registered electrician to install them. If parts of the PV system involve 230V terminations this also requires an electrician.  

The use of ECP51 (homeowner/occupier’s electrical wiring work in domestic installations) does not cover work on PV systems. More information on what ECP51 covers can be found in the electrical codes of practice.

For systems involving battery storage, consideration should be given to how these types of systems are installed, along with the location of the batteries. Some battery systems can produce flammable gases, so following the correct installation requirements is critical to prevent injuries and property damage.   

There are different standards for grid-connected and stand-alone PV systems. It is important to use the right standard/s for the PV system being installed: 

• Grid-connected:  
  • AS/NZS 5033 for the PV panels 
  • AS 4777.1 for the inverter installations 
  • AS/NZS 5139 for the batteries (best practice) 
• Stand-alone: AS/NZS 4509   

An important warning for anyone with a PV system is that if they have a problem with their PV system at any time to immediately turn the system off and contact their electrician. 

The Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill is before Parliament. One of its amendments introduces electricity safety instruments (ESIs) and gas safety instruments (GSIs) to the Electricity Safety Act and Gas Act, respectively.  

If the bill is passed, it will give the Minister for Energy the power to approve ESIs and GSIs developed by WorkSafe for purposes including to: 

• prescribe standards  
• set competency requirements  
• prescribe specific technical requirements currently set in electricity and gas codes of practice.  

If the bill is passed, the Electricity (Safety) Regulations and the Gas (Safety and Measurement) Regulations will need to be amended to include references to ESIs and GSIs in specific provisions, for example, in regulations that currently cite industry standards or codes of practice.  

ESIs and GSIs would provide a less time-consuming method to review existing requirements than amending regulations. They would be a more effective and efficient way to update references to industry standards and to keep pace with changing industry practice and new technologies. As with electricity and gas codes of practice, WorkSafe would be required to develop ESIs and GSIs in consultation with industry and other stakeholders.  

More information

The bill is on the New Zealand Legislation website – part 1 contains the amendments to the Electricity Act and part 3 contains the amendments to the Gas Act.  

The Parliament website has updates on the bill’s progress.

The Education and Workforce Committee is seeking submissions on the bill until 4 September. Information about making a submission can be found on the Parliament website.