Regulations and Standards for Electrical Equipment Hire: Responsibilities and Guidelines

In the context of electrical equipment hire, WorCover Queensland emphasizes adherence to the regulations outlined in the Electrical Safety Act 2002 and the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013. These regulations encompass the obligations of the hire company and the prerequisites that equipment must meet before being utilized for hire purposes.

Requirements for Purchased Equipment Intended for Hire:

When acquiring electrical equipment for use as hire equipment, the same electrical safety requirements apply as those for selling such equipment. In the case of level 3 electrical equipment, it should possess a current certificate of conformity and be registered on the national database when procured for hire. It's crucial to note that hire equipment can continue to be utilized even after the certificate and registration expire.

Ongoing Requirements:

WorCover Queensland mandates that hire companies ensure electrical equipment undergoes inspection and testing by a competent person before each hiring, unless equipped with a non-disconnectable, non-deactivatable, or irremovable safety switch. This inspection and testing do not necessitate the disassembly of the equipment. Additionally, the hire company must guarantee that the electrical equipment is inspected, tested, and tagged every six months by a competent person.

For equipment hired for domestic use, the test and inspection requirement before each hiring applies to the hire company. However, the six-monthly test requirement does not apply unless the equipment has a permanently connected safety switch.

For equipment hired for commercial, industrial, or other business use, the inspection and test requirements, or the use of a permanently connected safety switch, apply to the hire company. The person in control of the business using the equipment will have additional requirements for inspection and testing based on the type of business activity.

Identification of Equipment:

Hire equipment that passes inspection and testing must be labeled with a durable tag indicating the next scheduled test date. Any equipment failing inspection and testing must be promptly withdrawn from hire and labeled as unsafe for use.

Penalties:The Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 outlines penalties for non-compliance with the requirements related to hiring, testing, and inspecting electrical equipment for hire.

For further information or queries, WorCover Queensland can be contacted at:

Phone:

• Within Australia: 1300 362 128
• International callers: +617 3006 6714

Calls are attended to between 8 am and 5:30 pm Monday to Friday. If you reach out beyond these hours, leave a message, and we will respond at our earliest convenience.