• Be cautious of electric shocks 
• Check RCDs are New Zealand compliant 
• Update: Lyon Electrical unsafe cable investigation 
• NZ success at APEC meeting

When an electric shock occurs, and if you feel an uncontrolled muscular spasm, it is crucial to get checked by a doctor. If you are in your workplace report the issue immediately so it can be investigated. 

All shocks (except static ones) interfere with the heart’s normal function and the effects can continue for several hours afterwards. You should ensure you have completely removed yourself from the environment that caused the electric shock as the next shock could be fatal.

The intensity of an electric shock is often limited, and may not be fatal, because the current is limited by your clothing, skin or the floor. If you do feel a muscular spasm it should always be treated very seriously. 

Generally, appliances and electrical installations (building wiring) are wired to ensure the risk of electric shock is low under normal operation and also under faulty conditions. Even a low intensity shock that feels like a “tingle” is a warning that something is wrong and should not be disregarded. It means that the equipment or wiring should be checked out. A subsequent shock may be more serious.

Remember, if an RCD (residual current device or safety switch) trips when you receive an electric shock (or if it trips as a regular occurrence) it means something is wrong with the building wiring, or an appliance, and you should not reset the RCD until an electrician has checked for defects.

We've recently been carrying out audits on RCDs and these audits uncovered a trend that warrants a reminder to our industry.

In New Zealand, an RCD is a declared high risk article and a declared medium risk article. As specified in the standard listed in Schedule 4 of the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010, RCDs require a label with the correct voltage for New Zealand.

The supply or sale of an RCD is not lawful if it’s labelled with a voltage (including the voltage range) other than the New Zealand 230 V or 400 V. If an RCD is not labelled accordingly, then the manufacturer has identified that the RCD is not suitable for New Zealand’s power supply, and its sale or offer for sale is unlawful as it may not carry out its safety function.

We've concluded the investigation into the importation and use of Lyon Electrical’s unsafe building wiring cable (BWC).  We are now ensuring any remaining cable is removed from the market and service.

We've found no evidence to date that demonstrates that the company or its director acted fraudulently or recklessly in the importation and sale of the faulty BWC, so we're not charging Lyon Electrical. 

We’ve had exceptional cooperation from the industry in locating the BWC and where it was installed to ensure it is removed. In most cases we identified the cable before it was installed or while construction was underway.

WorkSafe is confident that the industry understands the issues arising from the faulty BWC, including how to identify it and what to do if it is located in stocks or current installation.

The gazette notices issued in March prohibit: 

• The manufacture, importation, sale (including an offer to sell) and installation (not including use) of the electrical fitting, being TPS (tough plastic sheathed) cable marked with Certificate No.EESS-150102-0 with immediate effect –
  https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2018-au1501
• The use of the electrical fitting, being TPS (tough plastic sheathed) cable marked with Certificate No.EESS-150102-0 –
  https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2018-au1502. 

When sourcing building wiring cable or any other electrical components, our advice is to:

• Be diligent about the source and credentials of products
• Always ask for compliance documentation
• Beware of bargain prices
• Source products through a reputable wholesaler

We're also looking into options for establishing a more intensive regime for some products where compliance is critical. This includes consideration of whether we can make use of existing regulations to intensify the intervention or whether a regulatory change will be required. 

The results of a New Zealand study on the top electrical or electronic consumer goods of concern for APEC electricity safety regulators was one of a number of topics presented at the recent APEC Joint Regulatory Advisory Committee on Electrical and Electronic Equipment (JRAC).

The JRAC meeting held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea was chaired by WorkSafe Energy Safety reps Mark Wogan and Peter Morfee in August. New Zealand will also chair the meeting next year which will be held in Chile. 

The international member economies that participated at this year's meeting, included Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong China, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, The Philippines, and Vietnam. 

The electrical study mentioned above, was one of two significant outcomes at the JRAC meeting. It looks for common trends of international product concern. Top product examples include plugs, sockets, battery operated appliances like children's toys and domestic appliances like washing machines and dishwashers. New Zealand will now be seeking APEC approval to do more work about the controlled products in each member economy.

Another significant outcome was Chinese Taipei presenting and proposing a study project on the safety of toys with Li-Po (lithium polymer) batteries and chargers. This project is being considered for APEC-approval and will look at the Regulatory System and Standards applied to children's toys in the APEC economies. New Zealand shares the same market as everyone else so the outcome of a study like this will benefit consumers and safety outcomes in New Zealand.