Auditing for Compliance

In order to monitor the safety and technical Standards of electrical installations, the Technical Regulator has established an auditing process. Electrical installations are audited as part of an ongoing random process or in response to complaints. The Technical Regulator employs ten Technical Standards and Safety Officers to assist in administering the requirements of the Electricity Act 1996 and the Electricity (General) Regulations 1997 .

In 2005-06 the OTR began an additional program of auditing electrical workers and contractors. These audits were to ensure compliance with regulations requiring copies of Electrical Certificates of Compliance to be retained by the electrician, calibration of electrical testing equipment, and maintenance of calibration records.

Additional audits were also carried out on selected areas of the electrical contracting industry where specific issues had been identified in relation to non compliance with electrical standards.

The OTR currently has four stages of electrical installation audits:

1. Complaints/Incidents: The investigation of electrical work that is allegedly non compliant, as well as electrical incidents or accidents that have been reported.
2. Stage 2 (Random): Audits of work performed by electrical workers/contractors who are selected at random from the data base.
3. Stage 3: Audits of electrical workers/contractors targeted for specific reasons (e.g. keeping copies of Certificates of Compliance, calibration of testing equipment.)
4. Stage 4: Audits of 'in house' electrical workers who perform electrical work directly for their employer and do not work for an electrical contractor.

The Technical Regulator has a policy to disconnect parts of premises that are found to have Priority 1 electrical breaches. This approach has proved to be the most effective way of ensuring that these breaches are rectified. An Electrical Certificate of Compliance, signed by a licensed electrical contractor, and verifying the electrical integrity of the installation, is then required to be supplied to the Technical Regulator before the electricity supply can be reconnected. Electrical breaches priority ratings are:

• Priority 1: Immediately dangerous
• Priority 2: Potentially dangerous, should a second fault occur
• Priority 3: Technical breach