Electrical Engineering: Legislation, regulations and codes

Electrical Codes of Practice (ECPs) are issued by WorkSafe under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1992. Their purpose includes the setting of standards and requirements for those involved in working with electricity and any electrical installations or appliances. These standards and requirements include training and qualifications, design and construction, operation and supply, and safety around people and property.

This organization is part of WorkSafe but focuses on gas and electricity safety. It contains legislation, regulations, compliance guides, requirements for electrical appliances and fittings and more.

This is guidance for engineers on the new Health and Safety changes.

SiteSafe is a non-profit organization aiming to make the construction industry safer. This website links to the Site Specific Safety (SSSP) which is an agreement between businesses working on a specific site that determines how health and safety will be managed. When used correctly, it ensures that relevant site information is regularly updated and safety is monitored, and will help all businesses involved comply with New Zealand's Health and Safety at Work Act (2015).

Outlines what this legislation means for employees and employers.

Looks at the Building Act, Fair Trading Act and Consumer Guarantees act.

The Code sets out the duties and responsibilities that apply to industry participants and the Authority.

From the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) website.

The purposes of the Electricity Act are to:
Provide for the regulation, supply, and use of electricity in New Zealand;
To protect the safety of the public in connection to electricity;
To promote the prevention of damage to property in connection with electricity;
To provide for the regulation of fittings and electrical appliances that may be, exported pursuant to an international trade instrument;
To provide for the regulation of electrical workers in New Zealand.

These regulations do the following:
Gather together and state the rules about electrical safety, and what is deemed to be electrically safe and electrically unsafe;
Deal with the design, construction and use of works, installations, fittings, and appliances;
Deal with the importation and sale of fittings and appliances;
Provide for installations to be designed and installed under AS/NZS 3000;
Define requirements relating to safety management systems;
Set out in schedules all the standards applicable to the regulations, with a focus on the adoption of international Standards;
Provide for offences including infringement offences.

IPENZ who represent engineers in NZ have created a new Code of Ethical Conduct which came into force on 1 July 2016. This Code sets out professional engineers’ duty to the public and to each other.