Electron Issue 122
Keeping you up to date with the latest regulatory changes, exam reports, technical issues, consultation results and other issues affecting electrical workers - published 10 October
Presiding Member's update
Kia Ora
This month’s Electron contains key information about changes to the licensing framework for electrical workers. Please take the time to read it. The changes will not take effect until September next year, but this article gives you a bit more information about what’s to come.
August saw a changing of the guard, with 4 new members being appointed by the Minister for Housing and Construction. The new members replace Jane Davel, Monica Kershaw, Mike Macklin and Martin Perry. I want to thank each of them for their contributions and service. Jane most recently served as the Deputy, and she led the charge on communications and governance. Monica’s knowledge and experience as a tertiary education provider were invaluable to the Board, as was her depth and breadth of technical knowledge. Martin also brought a wealth of electrical worker knowledge and experience, along with an understanding of works.
A special mention has to be made of Mike Macklin. Mike had a long and very productive tenure on the Board. In addition to serving as Deputy, Mike represented the Board on Standards Committees and at the Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council. Mike’s deep technical knowledge will be missed.
I would also like to welcome the new members. You will find brief articles about them in the Electron and will come to know them as they serve their terms.
Russell Keys
Presiding Member
Registrar update
Kia ora koutou
Welcome to another edition of Electron.
I hope you’re enjoying the start of daylight savings and enjoying the extra hour of sunlight in the evenings.
On the 1st of September we published 2 gazette notices for the new registration and licensing framework that will be coming into force in 2024, Stepped Licensing. This newsletter has an article which gives a bit more information about what this is and what you can expect to see over the coming months. I’d encourage you to keep an eye on your emails, future Electron’s and the EWRB website as these will be the main channels for updates.
We have also welcomed 4 new board members to the Electrical Workers Registration Board. You can read a bit about our new members in this edition.
Take care, work safely, and thank you for taking the time to read this edition of Electron.
If you have any comments or suggestions for future Electron editions, please let me know by emailing registrations@ewrb.govt.nz.
Duncan Connor
Registrar of Electrical Workers
Standard of the Month: AS/NZS 3000:2018
Please note: AS/NZS2018 is the latest standard and is considered best practice although the AS/NZS2007 standard is currently cited in legislation and is the minimum standard that must be followed.
This standard sets out requirements for the design, construction, and verification of electrical installations, including the selection and installation of electrical equipment forming part of such electrical installations.
These requirements are intended to protect people, livestock, and property from electric shock, fire and physical injury hazards that may arise from an electrical installation that is used with reasonable care and with due regard to the intended purpose of the electrical installation. In addition, guidance is provided so that the electrical installation will function correctly for the purpose intended. It also considers mitigating the foreseeable adverse effects of disruption to supply.
AS/NZS 3000:2018 is 1 of over 90 other standards available for all licenced electrical workers to access from the Boards portal:
Electrical Workers Registration Board portal(external link)
You can also read more about electrical testing and what tests are required through the EWRB toolbox.
Introduction to new Board Members
We have recently welcome 4 new board member to the EWRB. You can read their profiles below:
Sarah Cameron
Sarah is a registered electrician and is employed as a meter technician as she nears the completion of her bachelor's degree.
Her background encompasses various facets, including participation in commercial projects, teaching pre-trade courses, involvement in electronics assembly and engagement in switchboard construction.
Erin Mogford
Erin is a senior lawyer and a director of a small family-owned electrical business. Erin has worked for many years in commercial and property law and joins the Board with extensive experience in providing collaborative and considered advice.
Thomas Wiseman
Thomas is a registered electrical inspector with more than 10 years’ experience within the electrical industry across a range of activities. He has also completed additional study in hazardous areas and instrumentation/control.
Thomas’ experience includes general electrical contracting, hazardous areas, major hazard facilities maintenance, and committee work review training requirements for electrical and gas workers.
Thomas is a director of 2 businesses, a large instrumentation/electrical business, and hydrogen solutions business.
John Hutton
John is a registered electrical inspector with more than 42 years’ experience within the electrical industry across a range of activities. John's experience includes general electrical contracting, apprentice training and assessment, technical help for electrical workers, committee work for various electrical standards and review of training requirements for electrical workers.
Upcoming changes for electrical worker licensing
A new stepped licensing pathway for registered electrical workers comes into force in September 2024. This provides a new way that electrical workers can move through their career. There are a few things that you need to be aware of now before these upcoming changes come into effect.
Read the full news item:
Annual Electrical and Gas Accident Report
The WorkSafe Energy Safety team recently published their 2022 annual report, analysing trends and highlighting risks in electrical and gas accidents.
This report examines accidents involving members of the public for 2022, and gives an overview of the 30-year period from 1993 to 2022.
Energy Safety (ES) investigates accidents and records a basic set of data on all reported accidents, regardless of the scale of the investigation. To identify trends and risk areas, this report examines data collected since 1993 on non-worker/workplace notifiable electrical accidents (other than fires) and both notifiable and non-notifiable gas accidents.
During 2022, 3 notifiable and 22 non-notifiable accidents in New Zealand were reported to WorkSafe’s Energy Safety team comprising of:
- 2 notifiable and 12 non-notifiable LPG accidents which altogether resulted in no fatality but injuries to 2 people.
- 1 notifiable and 10 non-notifiable natural gas accidents, which altogether resulted in no fatality but injury to 1 person.
- no electrical notifiable accidents (non-fire) were reported during 2022. This is the first time this has happened in the last 30 years.
Electrical and gas accidents 2022 annual report(external link) — WorkSafe New Zealand
Prosecutions
EWRB v Aidas Janulis
Read the full notice – EWRB v Aidas Janulis
EWRB v Igor Ivanovic
Read the full notice – EWRB v Igor Ivanovic
As an Electrical worker you should be on the lookout for illegal prescribed electrical work (work carried out by unauthorised people) so that you can bring it to the Board’s attention. The Board has a policy of prosecuting wherever it can but can only prosecute illegal work that it knows about. Reporting illegal work protects your licence and the safety of the public.
Disciplinary hearings
In this month’s disciplinary articles, there are several cases where electrical workers failed to apply specific electrical standards that applied to their prescribed electrical work.
Find out more about these hearings
The Board’s “Tool Box” has an article entitled Which Standards apply and where can I find them? Applying the correct standard is imperative, and failure to apply it is a disciplinary offence, as was the case in some of the matters that follow. You can read the “Tool Box” article here: