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Thread: OHS Act and hazardous areas

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    OHS Act and hazardous areas

    Hi guys,
    Here is a summary of the above.

    OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT 85 OF 1993

    ELECTRICAL MACHINERY REGULATIONS

    8. Electrical machinery in hazardous locations
    (1) No person may use electrical machinery in locations where there is danger of fire or explosion owing to the presence, occurrence or development of explosive or flammable articles, or where explosive articles are manufactured, handled or stored, unless such electrical machinery, with regard to its construction relating to the classification of the hazardous locations in which it is used, meets the requirements of a safety standard incorporated for this purpose in these regulations under section 36 of the Act.

    (2) Every user referred to in sub regulation (1) shall be in possession of a certificate in a form acceptable to the chief inspector which has been issued by an approved inspection authority, in which it is certified that the electrical machinery referred to in terms of sub regulation (1) has been manufactured and tested for the groups of dangerous articles in terms of the safety standard which has been incorporated in these regulations for this purpose under section 36 of the Act: Provided that in lieu of such certificate an inspector may approve permanent labelling on such machinery which contains all the relevant information.

    (3) When diverse items of electrical machinery such as motors, cables and control apparatus are used together to form an electrical installation, the user shall ensure that the selection, arrangement, installation, protection, maintenance and working thereof results in no less a degree of safety than when the individual items of such machinery are used separately.

    (4) The user shall use electrical machinery to which this regulation applies only under such conditions and in such surroundings as are prescribed in the safety standard referred to in sub regulation 2.

    (5) No person shall effect repairs or adjustments to or otherwise work on electrical machinery under conditions envisaged by sub regulation (1) unless such machinery has been rendered dead and effective means have been taken to ensure that such machinery remains dead.

    (6) Wherever there is the possibility of the formation of static electricity under working conditions, the user shall earth all metallic structures, machine parts, pneumatic conveyor ducts and pipelines conveying flammable articles and the like, or take such other measures as may be necessary to effectively prevent the formation of electric sparks.

    (7) The user shall cause all electric machinery to which this regulation applies to be examined and tested at intervals not exceeding two years by a person who is competent to express an opinion on the safety thereof.
    The person carrying out the examination referred to in sub regulation (7) shall enter, sign and date the results of each such examination in a record book which shall be kept by the user for this purpose: Provided that where such machinery is subject to adverse climatic or physical conditions the frequency of such examinations shall be increased to intervals of not longer than one year or such shorter periods as circumstances may necessitate.

    SUMMARY

    1. Only explosion protected electrical apparatus may be used in a hazardous area.
    2. Each and every piece of explosion protected electrical equipment shall be certified.
    3. Electrical apparatus grouped together to form an installation shall be properly selected, installed and maintained.
    4. Explosion protected electrical apparatus does not need to be used in a safe area.
    5. Electrical apparatus shall be electrically isolated prior to any repair or adjustments being done.
    6. All parts will be effectively earthed.
    7. A competent person shall inspect each item of electrical apparatus regularly, and the results recorded.

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    Dave A (25-Aug-10), harveya (19-Sep-10)

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