sec.18Meaning of electrical work

### sec.18 Meaning of electrical work Electrical work means— connecting electricity supply wiring to electrical equipment or disconnecting electricity supply wiring from electrical equipment; or manufacturing, constructing, installing, removing, adding, testing, replacing, repairing, altering or maintaining electrical equipment or an electrical installation. installing low voltage electrical wiring in a building installing electrical equipment into an installation coupler or interconnecter replacing a low voltage electrical component of a washing machine maintaining an electricity entity’s overhead distribution system Electrical work does not include the following— work that involves connecting electrical equipment to an electricity supply by means of a flexible cord plug and socket outlet; work on a non-electrical component of electrical equipment, if the person carrying out the work is not exposed to an electrical hazard; painting electrical equipment covers repairing hydraulic components of an electrical motor replacing a drive belt on a washing machine replacing electrical equipment or a component of electrical equipment if that task can be safely performed by a person who does not have expertise in carrying out electrical work; replacing a fuse replacing a light bulb in a light fitting assembling, making, modifying or repairing electrical equipment in a workplace under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 that is prescribed under a regulation for this paragraph, if that is the principal manufacturing process at the workplace, and arrangements are in place, and are detailed in written form, for ensuring that— the work is done safely and competently; and the equipment is tested to ensure compliance with relevant standards; building or repairing ducts, conduits or troughs (channels) where electrical wiring will be or is installed, if— the channels are not intended to be earthed; and wiring installed in the channels is not energised; and the work is done under the supervision of a person licensed to perform electrical installation work; locating or mounting electrical equipment, or fixing electrical equipment in place, if this task is not performed in relation to the connection of electrical equipment to an electricity supply; assisting a licensed electrical worker to carry out electrical work, on electrical equipment under the direct supervision of the electrical worker, if the assistance does not involve physical contact with any energised electrical equipment; carrying out electrical work, other than work on energised electrical equipment, in order to meet eligibility requirements in relation to becoming a licensed electrical worker and only if the work is prescribed under a regulation for this paragraph; building, under the supervision of an electricity entity, an overhead electric line on structures that do not already carry an energised overhead electric line; laying, cutting or sealing underground cables that are part of the works of an electricity entity before the initial connection of the cables to an electricity source; recovering underground cables that are part of the works of an electricity entity after disconnection from an electricity source; altering, repairing, maintaining or recovering an overhead electric line that is part of the works of an electricity entity, if the work is performed under the entity's supervision and— if the line is not on supports supporting another electric line—the line has been isolated from an electricity source so that the closure of a switch can not energise the section of the line where work is being done; or if the line is on supports supporting another electric line—both lines have been isolated from an electricity source so that the closure of a switch can not energise the section of the line where the work is being done or an adjacent section of the other line; erecting structures for the support of electrical equipment; electric poles and towers locating, mounting or fixing in place electrical equipment, other than— making or terminating electrical connections to the equipment; or installing supply conductors that will connect the equipment to a supply of electricity; maintaining the structural parts of the electrical traction system on a railway, other than overhead electric lines, that forms part of the works of an electrical entity, if the work is structural work performed under a safe system of work; connecting an item of prescribed electrical equipment to existing equipment if— that task can be safely performed by a person who does not have expertise in carrying out electrical work; and after they are connected, the item of prescribed electrical equipment and the existing equipment remain— controlling, generating, supplying, transforming or transmitting electricity at extra low voltage; or operating by electricity at extra low voltage; and the prescribed electrical equipment is not located in an area in which the atmosphere presents a risk to health and safety from fire or explosion; and the prescribed electrical equipment is not, and is not part of, a cathodic protection system; disconnecting an item of prescribed electrical equipment from existing equipment if— that task can be safely performed by a person who does not have expertise in carrying out electrical work; and before they were disconnected, the item of prescribed electrical equipment and the existing equipment were— controlling, generating, supplying, transforming or transmitting electricity at extra low voltage; or operated by electricity at extra low voltage; and the prescribed electrical equipment is not located in an area in which the atmosphere presents a risk to health and safety from fire or explosion; and the prescribed electrical equipment is not, and is not part of, a cathodic protection system. In this section— existing equipment means 1 or more items of— prescribed electrical equipment; or extra low voltage equipment. extra low voltage equipment means any apparatus, appliance, cable, conductor, fitting, insulator, material, meter or wire, other than prescribed electrical equipment, that is— used for controlling, generating, supplying, transforming or transmitting electricity at extra low voltage; or operated by electricity at extra low voltage. s 18 amd 2004 No. 45 s 118 sub 2011 No. 18 s 336 amd 2024 No. 44 s 8 (sec.18-ssec.1) Electrical work means— connecting electricity supply wiring to electrical equipment or disconnecting electricity supply wiring from electrical equipment; or manufacturing, constructing, installing, removing, adding, testing, replacing, repairing, altering or maintaining electrical equipment or an electrical installation. installing low voltage electrical wiring in a building installing electrical equipment into an installation coupler or interconnecter replacing a low voltage electrical component of a washing machine maintaining an electricity entity’s overhead distribution system (sec.18-ssec.2) Electrical work does not include the following— work that involves connecting electrical equipment to an electricity supply by means of a flexible cord plug and socket outlet; work on a non-electrical component of electrical equipment, if the person carrying out the work is not exposed to an electrical hazard; painting electrical equipment covers repairing hydraulic components of an electrical motor replacing a drive belt on a washing machine replacing electrical equipment or a component of electrical equipment if that task can be safely performed by a person who does not have expertise in carrying out electrical work; replacing a fuse replacing a light bulb in a light fitting assembling, making, modifying or repairing electrical equipment in a workplace under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 that is prescribed under a regulation for this paragraph, if that is the principal manufacturing process at the workplace, and arrangements are in place, and are detailed in written form, for ensuring that— the work is done safely and competently; and the equipment is tested to ensure compliance with relevant standards; building or repairing ducts, conduits or troughs (channels) where electrical wiring will be or is installed, if— the channels are not intended to be earthed; and wiring installed in the channels is not energised; and the work is done under the supervision of a person licensed to perform electrical installation work; locating or mounting electrical equipment, or fixing electrical equipment in place, if this task is not performed in relation to the connection of electrical equipment to an electricity supply; assisting a licensed electrical worker to carry out electrical work, on electrical equipment under the direct supervision of the electrical worker, if the assistance does not involve physical contact with any energised electrical equipment; carrying out electrical work, other than work on energised electrical equipment, in order to meet eligibility requirements in relation to becoming a licensed electrical worker and only if the work is prescribed under a regulation for this paragraph; building, under the supervision of an electricity entity, an overhead electric line on structures that do not already carry an energised overhead electric line; laying, cutting or sealing underground cables that are part of the works of an electricity entity before the initial connection of the cables to an electricity source; recovering underground cables that are part of the works of an electricity entity after disconnection from an electricity source; altering, repairing, maintaining or recovering an overhead electric line that is part of the works of an electricity entity, if the work is performed under the entity's supervision and— if the line is not on supports supporting another electric line—the line has been isolated from an electricity source so that the closure of a switch can not energise the section of the line where work is being done; or if the line is on supports supporting another electric line—both lines have been isolated from an electricity source so that the closure of a switch can not energise the section of the line where the work is being done or an adjacent section of the other line; erecting structures for the support of electrical equipment; electric poles and towers locating, mounting or fixing in place electrical equipment, other than— making or terminating electrical connections to the equipment; or installing supply conductors that will connect the equipment to a supply of electricity; maintaining the structural parts of the electrical traction system on a railway, other than overhead electric lines, that forms part of the works of an electrical entity, if the work is structural work performed under a safe system of work; connecting an item of prescribed electrical equipment to existing equipment if— that task can be safely performed by a person who does not have expertise in carrying out electrical work; and after they are connected, the item of prescribed electrical equipment and the existing equipment remain— controlling, generating, supplying, transforming or transmitting electricity at extra low voltage; or operating by electricity at extra low voltage; and the prescribed electrical equipment is not located in an area in which the atmosphere presents a risk to health and safety from fire or explosion; and the prescribed electrical equipment is not, and is not part of, a cathodic protection system; disconnecting an item of prescribed electrical equipment from existing equipment if— that task can be safely performed by a person who does not have expertise in carrying out electrical work; and before they were disconnected, the item of prescribed electrical equipment and the existing equipment were— controlling, generating, supplying, transforming or transmitting electricity at extra low voltage; or operated by electricity at extra low voltage; and the prescribed electrical equipment is not located in an area in which the atmosphere presents a risk to health and safety from fire or explosion; and the prescribed electrical equipment is not, and is not part of, a cathodic protection system. (sec.18-ssec.3) In this section— existing equipment means 1 or more items of— prescribed electrical equipment; or extra low voltage equipment. extra low voltage equipment means any apparatus, appliance, cable, conductor, fitting, insulator, material, meter or wire, other than prescribed electrical equipment, that is— used for controlling, generating, supplying, transforming or transmitting electricity at extra low voltage; or operated by electricity at extra low voltage. - (a) connecting electricity supply wiring to electrical equipment or disconnecting electricity supply wiring from electrical equipment; or - (b) manufacturing, constructing, installing, removing, adding, testing, replacing, repairing, altering or maintaining electrical equipment or an electrical installation. - • installing low voltage electrical wiring in a building - • installing electrical equipment into an installation coupler or interconnecter - • replacing a low voltage electrical component of a washing machine - • maintaining an electricity entity’s overhead distribution system - (a) work that involves connecting electrical equipment to an electricity supply by means of a flexible cord plug and socket outlet; - (b) work on a non-electrical component of electrical equipment, if the person carrying out the work is not exposed to an electrical hazard; Examples for paragraph (b) — • painting electrical equipment covers • repairing hydraulic components of an electrical motor • replacing a drive belt on a washing machine - • painting electrical equipment covers - • repairing hydraulic components of an electrical motor - • replacing a drive belt on a washing machine - (c) replacing electrical equipment or a component of electrical equipment if that task can be safely performed by a person who does not have expertise in carrying out electrical work; Examples for paragraph (c) — • replacing a fuse • replacing a light bulb in a light fitting - • replacing a fuse - • replacing a light bulb in a light fitting - (d) assembling, making, modifying or repairing electrical equipment in a workplace under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 that is prescribed under a regulation for this paragraph, if that is the principal manufacturing process at the workplace, and arrangements are in place, and are detailed in written form, for ensuring that— (i) the work is done safely and competently; and (ii) the equipment is tested to ensure compliance with relevant standards; - (i) the work is done safely and competently; and - (ii) the equipment is tested to ensure compliance with relevant standards; - (e) building or repairing ducts, conduits or troughs (channels) where electrical wiring will be or is installed, if— (i) the channels are not intended to be earthed; and (ii) wiring installed in the channels is not energised; and (iii) the work is done under the supervision of a person licensed to perform electrical installation work; - (i) the channels are not intended to be earthed; and - (ii) wiring installed in the channels is not energised; and - (iii) the work is done under the supervision of a person licensed to perform electrical installation work; - (f) locating or mounting electrical equipment, or fixing electrical equipment in place, if this task is not performed in relation to the connection of electrical equipment to an electricity supply; - (g) assisting a licensed electrical worker to carry out electrical work, on electrical equipment under the direct supervision of the electrical worker, if the assistance does not involve physical contact with any energised electrical equipment; - (h) carrying out electrical work, other than work on energised electrical equipment, in order to meet eligibility requirements in relation to becoming a licensed electrical worker and only if the work is prescribed under a regulation for this paragraph; - (i) building, under the supervision of an electricity entity, an overhead electric line on structures that do not already carry an energised overhead electric line; - (j) laying, cutting or sealing underground cables that are part of the works of an electricity entity before the initial connection of the cables to an electricity source; - (k) recovering underground cables that are part of the works of an electricity entity after disconnection from an electricity source; - (l) altering, repairing, maintaining or recovering an overhead electric line that is part of the works of an electricity entity, if the work is performed under the entity's supervision and— (i) if the line is not on supports supporting another electric line—the line has been isolated from an electricity source so that the closure of a switch can not energise the section of the line where work is being done; or (ii) if the line is on supports supporting another electric line—both lines have been isolated from an electricity source so that the closure of a switch can not energise the section of the line where the work is being done or an adjacent section of the other line; - (i) if the line is not on supports supporting another electric line—the line has been isolated from an electricity source so that the closure of a switch can not energise the section of the line where work is being done; or - (ii) if the line is on supports supporting another electric line—both lines have been isolated from an electricity source so that the closure of a switch can not energise the section of the line where the work is being done or an adjacent section of the other line; - (m) erecting structures for the support of electrical equipment; Examples of structures— • electric poles and towers - • electric poles and towers - (n) locating, mounting or fixing in place electrical equipment, other than— (i) making or terminating electrical connections to the equipment; or (ii) installing supply conductors that will connect the equipment to a supply of electricity; - (i) making or terminating electrical connections to the equipment; or - (ii) installing supply conductors that will connect the equipment to a supply of electricity; - (o) maintaining the structural parts of the electrical traction system on a railway, other than overhead electric lines, that forms part of the works of an electrical entity, if the work is structural work performed under a safe system of work; - (p) connecting an item of prescribed electrical equipment to existing equipment if— (i) that task can be safely performed by a person who does not have expertise in carrying out electrical work; and (ii) after they are connected, the item of prescribed electrical equipment and the existing equipment remain— (A) controlling, generating, supplying, transforming or transmitting electricity at extra low voltage; or (B) operating by electricity at extra low voltage; and (iii) the prescribed electrical equipment is not located in an area in which the atmosphere presents a risk to health and safety from fire or explosion; and (iv) the prescribed electrical equipment is not, and is not part of, a cathodic protection system; - (i) that task can be safely performed by a person who does not have expertise in carrying out electrical work; and - (ii) after they are connected, the item of prescribed electrical equipment and the existing equipment remain— (A) controlling, generating, supplying, transforming or transmitting electricity at extra low voltage; or (B) operating by electricity at extra low voltage; and - (A) controlling, generating, supplying, transforming or transmitting electricity at extra low voltage; or - (B) operating by electricity at extra low voltage; and - (iii) the prescribed electrical equipment is not located in an area in which the atmosphere presents a risk to health and safety from fire or explosion; and - (iv) the prescribed electrical equipment is not, and is not part of, a cathodic protection system; - (q) disconnecting an item of prescribed electrical equipment from existing equipment if— (i) that task can be safely performed by a person who does not have expertise in carrying out electrical work; and (ii) before they were disconnected, the item of prescribed electrical equipment and the existing equipment were— (A) controlling, generating, supplying, transforming or transmitting electricity at extra low voltage; or (B) operated by electricity at extra low voltage; and (iii) the prescribed electrical equipment is not located in an area in which the atmosphere presents a risk to health and safety from fire or explosion; and (iv) the prescribed electrical equipment is not, and is not part of, a cathodic protection system. - (i) that task can be safely performed by a person who does not have expertise in carrying out electrical work; and - (ii) before they were disconnected, the item of prescribed electrical equipment and the existing equipment were— (A) controlling, generating, supplying, transforming or transmitting electricity at extra low voltage; or (B) operated by electricity at extra low voltage; and - (A) controlling, generating, supplying, transforming or transmitting electricity at extra low voltage; or - (B) operated by electricity at extra low voltage; and - (iii) the prescribed electrical equipment is not located in an area in which the atmosphere presents a risk to health and safety from fire or explosion; and - (iv) the prescribed electrical equipment is not, and is not part of, a cathodic protection system. - • painting electrical equipment covers - • repairing hydraulic components of an electrical motor - • replacing a drive belt on a washing machine - • replacing a fuse - • replacing a light bulb in a light fitting - (i) the work is done safely and competently; and - (ii) the equipment is tested to ensure compliance with relevant standards; - (i) the channels are not intended to be earthed; and - (ii) wiring installed in the channels is not energised; and - (iii) the work is done under the supervision of a person licensed to perform electrical installation work; - (i) if the line is not on supports supporting another electric line—the line has been isolated from an electricity source so that the closure of a switch can not energise the section of the line where work is being done; or - (ii) if the line is on supports supporting another electric line—both lines have been isolated from an electricity source so that the closure of a switch can not energise the section of the line where the work is being done or an adjacent section of the other line; - • electric poles and towers - (i) making or terminating electrical connections to the equipment; or - (ii) installing supply conductors that will connect the equipment to a supply of electricity; - (i) that task can be safely performed by a person who does not have expertise in carrying out electrical work; and - (ii) after they are connected, the item of prescribed electrical equipment and the existing equipment remain— (A) controlling, generating, supplying, transforming or transmitting electricity at extra low voltage; or (B) operating by electricity at extra low voltage; and - (A) controlling, generating, supplying, transforming or transmitting electricity at extra low voltage; or - (B) operating by electricity at extra low voltage; and - (iii) the prescribed electrical equipment is not located in an area in which the atmosphere presents a risk to health and safety from fire or explosion; and - (iv) the prescribed electrical equipment is not, and is not part of, a cathodic protection system; - (A) controlling, generating, supplying, transforming or transmitting electricity at extra low voltage; or - (B) operating by electricity at extra low voltage; and - (i) that task can be safely performed by a person who does not have expertise in carrying out electrical work; and - (ii) before they were disconnected, the item of prescribed electrical equipment and the existing equipment were— (A) controlling, generating, supplying, transforming or transmitting electricity at extra low voltage; or (B) operated by electricity at extra low voltage; and - (A) controlling, generating, supplying, transforming or transmitting electricity at extra low voltage; or - (B) operated by electricity at extra low voltage; and - (iii) the prescribed electrical equipment is not located in an area in which the atmosphere presents a risk to health and safety from fire or explosion; and - (iv) the prescribed electrical equipment is not, and is not part of, a cathodic protection system. - (A) controlling, generating, supplying, transforming or transmitting electricity at extra low voltage; or - (B) operated by electricity at extra low voltage; and - (a) prescribed electrical equipment; or - (b) extra low voltage equipment. - (a) used for controlling, generating, supplying, transforming or transmitting electricity at extra low voltage; or - (b) operated by electricity at extra low voltage.