Background

Under safety laws in New South Wales owners and operators of amusement devices have an obligation to make sure their devices and the operation of them are safe. This obligation means taking all reasonable steps to prevent accidents and injuries to persons operating and using amusement devices.

Recently an extensive safety audit has been undertaken by WorkCover NSW, which involved many device inspections over a considerable time period. As a result of these inspections, some common electrical safety inadequacies were observed.

Overhead Wires

Keep well clear of all overhead wires when setting up your device.

Unless you have authorisation from a competent person such as the local supply authority, maintain a minimum distance of at least 2 metres, but preferably 3 metres, between any part of the device during operation and set up and any overhead wire or lead. You may have set up your amusement device in the same location, at the same site in the past. It may be traditional but it does not make it safe. ‘Look up before setting up’.

Power Supplies

If you need to get electrical supply for your device from a site switchboard, you should be able to plug it into an electrical outlet which has an isolating switch, such as a power point, mounted on or near the switchboard. If this is not the case, or if your device uses a wired in connection, it must be connected by a licensed electrician. Do not attempt to connect your own cables or use ‘rats tails’ to connect a number of leads to a three phase power outlet.

Switchboards should be clearly labelled and the lid should be able to be closed without damage to leads plugged, or wired into it. The switchboard should be lockable, in good condition and free from moisture and other debris such as leaves and dirt. If you think it may be unsafe, talk to the owner of the equipment, Show Society representative, or owner of the site.

Electrical Leads

Joining of leads by plug and socket connections and use of double adaptors as part of your amusement device should be avoided. Plug and socket connections may become an electrical safety hazard at any time moisture or other material can come in contact with them.

If joins in leads cannot be avoided due to the design of the fittings or amusement device, then wiring should be modified, (one lead long enough for the job), or weatherproof power outlets should be installed. It is unacceptable to have plug and socket connections on the ground, where the public can access them or where water can get into them.

All leads and cables should be of the heavy-duty type and when required at ground level in accessible areas they must be buried or protected from damage by matting or covers, which do not cause a trip hazard. Where this is not possible, (on concrete or bitumen surfaces), leads and cables should be suspended at a height of at least 2.5m above the ground on stands or poles, if they are located where persons can walk, or at least 5.5m from the ground if located where vehicles can drive under them.

Tagging and testing

All leads and portable electrical equipment should be regularly inspected, tagged and tested by a competent person. Some Australian states require this by law. This information should be recorded in the logbook for the device. Tagging and testing work can be done by someone authorised by the owner of the amusement device, who is provided with and trained in the use of a portable appliance tester, or a licensed Electrician.

A guide as to the manner of testing and appropriate time intervals between testing, can be found in Australia / New Zealand Standard 3760 – In Service Safety Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment.

Information on Portable Appliance Testers can be found within WorkCover Health and Safety Note Catalogue No 323 – Use of Portable Appliance Testers (PATs) for testing of plug in electrical equipment in the workplace.

Safety Switches

Safety switches, (residual current devices or earth leakage devices), save lives. They are designed and intended to isolate electrical power quickly when there is an unforeseen electrical safety problem. Safety switches must be tested by the installed push button on a daily basis when the device is in use. This must be part of the daily checklist for the device and should be recorded in the logbook used for the device.

Unless specifically designed for extra low voltage use, you should use safety switches when your device has electrical equipment such as lighting installed on any riding device, when you use multiple plug devices, or when any plug, moving part or light used with the device is within reach of any person, (less than 2.5m from the ground or standing surface).

It is recommended in the strongest possible terms that the entire amusement device be protected with a safety switch, including the power lead supplying electricity to the device. Ask the person providing the electrical inspection required for yearly registration of your device, to check this for you. Also ask this person to do a calibration test of installed safety switches and again, record the results in the log book used for your device.

Electrical Wiring

All electrical wiring must be installed in a way which protects it from damage during operation, setting up, or transport one site to another. Any cables or leads which have visible damage to the insulation covering them, particularly if the coloured inner cables or bare copper conductors are visible, must be repaired immediately. These repairs must be done by a competent person and should be tagged and tested after repair. Details should be recorded in the logbook used for the device.

Ticket Boxes

Ticket boxes and other equipment with metal parts, can be an electrical safety hazard if they are not bolted to or part of the amusement device. Often by design or because of sloping ground etc., ticket boxes are supported on timber placed between their lower edge and ground surface. This eliminates the earth path necessary for the intended operation of electrical protection equipment.

If an electrical hazard develops with lighting or other electrical equipment within the ticket box under these conditions, safety switches and overloads may not operate and can leave the ticket box in a live condition. An electrical shock can then occur to any person who makes contact between the ticket box and metal structure.

The supply lead or cable to a ticket box which is not bolted to, or part of the amusement device, should have the earth conductor connected to its metal parts. This can easily be achieved by installing a caravan type plug fitting on the ticket box, or running an earth wire from installed equipment such as lighting to metal parts of the ticket box.

Another way of controlling this risk is to have only ‘double insulated equipment’ installed within, or on the ticket box. Festoon lighting and other decorative lighting outfits may not meet the requirements of being double insulated. It is strongly recommended that the advice of a licensed Electrician or a person competent in electrical practices be sought in these matters.

Lighting

All lighting must have covers, lenses and lamp holders in place and must be maintained to prevent moisture, (rain or dew), getting into the light fittings. Festoon lighting should be positioned with lights at least 150mm from any flammable material or metal surface. Festoon lighting should be installed out of reach, (2.5m from floor or ground), unless it is on a ceiling and the lamps are covered with a wire mesh or similar material which prevent accidental contact by persons.

Training

Many electrical safety hazards are visible and obvious. They can be identified during set up, daily inspection and operation of your amusement device. You must train operators and attendants to recognise hazards, arrange for immediate repair and record this information in the logbook used for the device. Risks such as broken or damaged light fittings cut or damaged conductors particularly where the coloured cables or bare copper conductors of leads and cables, are easily identified.

Plug and socket connections, spot lights with covers damaged or missing, lighting outfits removed for transport and ticket box lighting equipment are typical problem areas. Continual vigilance is the best way of avoiding accidents.

If there is an accident or a complaint about an electrical, or other problem with your device, train your staff to record all the details on the spot and take action immediately. Do not assume it’s all right; fix it immediately if required.

What happens if I don’t try and identify electrical safety problems

You run the risk of an accident which may affect the well being of yourself, your employees or persons using your device. Accidents damage the reputation of your industry, can be traumatic for all concerned and costly. WorkCover Inspectors also carry out random spot checks and investigations.

If you are not complying to the law you may risk the likelihood of an improvement notice requiring you to fix safety problems or a prohibition notice preventing operation of your device until safety problems are fixed. In addition to this, enforcement action may be instigated against you, such as an on the spot fine or prosecution in a court of law.

Further information

Australian Standard AS3533 – Amusement Rides and Devices Part 2 – Operation and Maintenance has advice in relation to safe erection of Amusement Devices and is available from Standards Australia offices in Sydney and Newcastle or their Sales Department on 1300 64 46 46

For information or general inquiries on Amusement Devices you can call your local WorkCover office listed in the telephone directory, or WorkCover Information Line on 13 10 50.

Issued February 1999                                                   Safety Guide No:4516