OHS guidelines for electricians
18 December, 2008WorkSafe Victoria has released a list of the most common injuries and hazards for people working in the electrical trades, along with suggested solutions to minimise these risks.
New regulations on testing and tagging on construction sites
18 December, 2008Changes to West Australian regulations regarding the testing and tagging of portable electrical equipment and RCDs on construction sites will come into effect on 1 January 2009, which will allow the testing to be done by a competent person or a licensed electrician.
Leighton HQ project achieves 6 Star green rating
08 December, 2008A major office and retail project in Brisbane has been awarded a 6-Star Green Star rating by the Green Building Council of Australia, recognising it as a world leader in environmentally sustainable office design.
Overseas Skills Recognition program addresses skills shortages
01 December, 2008To assist in dealing with local skills shortages, the ACT government hosted the National Conference on Overseas Skills that addressed overseas qualifications, offshore assessment arrangements, skills shortages and skilled migration.
Spiral-bound Wiring Rules
01 December, 2008The Wiring Rules — AS/NZS 3000: 2007, Electrical installations is available for purchase in a handy spiral-bound format, making it easier for electrical contractors and inspectors to use while on a job site.
Testing for standby power consumption
24 November, 2008 by John Thompson*External power supplies are subject to minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) as specified by AS/NZS 4665. The standard calls for maximum permissible standby power consumption levels, and reflect the increasing attention to rising greenhouse gases and energy costs.
Updated electrical standards to ensure boating safety
24 November, 2008With the release of the 2007 Wiring Rules, several other associated electrical standards have been updated to coincide with these new requirements. As part of this updating, the Australia/New Zealand standard for marinas and watercraft has been revised to be consistent with the new Wiring Rules.
US faces serious brownouts or blackouts risks in 2009
28 October, 2008A report warns that unless a sensible approach to proposed new electrical infrastructure projects is taken, the US may face severe power outages as early as 2009.
NICTA plants digital seed for future cities
24 October, 2008An IT-based building industry community has been established by the federal government to use data technologies to lead the way to more ecologically sound cities, with energy efficiency as one of its key objectives.
Framework for assessing light pollution
08 October, 2008Too much night-time illumination can cause problems for stargazing, animal health and may even compromise sleep. So how do you balance public and private interests for night-time lighting?
Powerline Smart Grid developments
26 September, 2008The Universal Powerline Association (UPA) has issued two market requirement documents for Powerline communication-based Smart Grid and C&C (command and control) applications to improve interoperability and meet regulatory requirements.
Contractor fined for obstructing safety investigator
04 September, 2008A licensed electrical contractor was recently fined $1200 after an Electrical Safety Office inspector was obstructed from investigating wiring defects in a home in August 2007.
Standards Australia issues caution on earthing practices
12 August, 2008Standards Australia has issued a notice to alert tradespersons of a safety hazard involving the previous practice of using continuous, metallic water reticulation systems as an earthing medium rather than using the currently required method of earthing using an earth electrode.
Electricity industry accused of carbon-trading rip-off
08 August, 2008According to environment lobbyist group Total Environment Centre (TEC), Australia’s carbon-intensive electricity industry is proposing to rip off consumers despite government support for free pollution permits and other compensation to coal-fired generators.
Road safety lighting standard released
09 July, 2008SAI Global has announced a new standard to help lighting designers, engineers and manufacturers design, manufacture and install road lighting for the increased safety of pedestrians and vehicles.
