Guidelines for Ensuring Regulatory Compliance in Hazardous Areas

 



According to the WA Health and Safety at Work Act 2020, plant owners and employers must prioritize the safety of workers and provide secure working premises. This involves adhering to specific guidelines:

  1. Properly identify and document hazardous areas as per AS/NZS 60079.10.
  2. Ensure correct installation, testing, inspection, and maintenance of Electrical Equipment in Hazardous Areas (EEHA) following IEC/AS/NZS 60079.14 and 17.
  3. Employ competent individuals for hazardous area work.

As a person responsible for EEHA safety at your site, following these steps is crucial to ensure safety and regulatory compliance.


1. Hazardous Area Classification (HAC):

To ensure safe operation in explosive atmospheres, hazardous areas undergo classification, guiding the selection of equipment and installations. The initial step involves a competent person conducting a HAC study, identifying areas prone to continuous or abnormal explosive atmospheres during regular operation.

HAC is essential for sites dealing with flammable gases, liquids, or combustible dusts. The study might recommend declassifying certain areas, a valid outcome indicating successful risk reduction by PMV. The HAC report contains detailed methodology and zone justifications, marked on the site layout plan and elevation. PMV strives to provide practical measures to minimize or eliminate hazardous areas for clients' safety.


2. Selection, erection, and inspection of Electrical Equipment in Hazardous Area (EEHA) :

For any electrical equipment intended for installation in a classified hazardous area (HA), certification in terms of Zone or EPL, Equipment Group, and Temperature Class from the HAC is essential. A competent designer must handle equipment selection and installation design specific to hazardous area installations.

Moreover, the installation of equipment requires a skilled installer experienced in working with Ex equipment. Before putting Ex equipment into operation, a detailed initial inspection following AS/NZS 60079.14 must be conducted by a competent inspector.

AS/NZS 60079.14 outlines the competency requirements, and interestingly, it does not mandate independence among the designer, installer, and inspector. Therefore, one person can perform all these roles if they possess the necessary expertise.


3. Verification Dossier:

According to AS/NZS 60079.14:2017 Clause 4.2, it is mandatory for all sites to maintain a dossier confirming the compliance of electrical equipment and installations in hazardous areas. This dossier, known as the Hazardous Area Verification Dossier (HAVD), must contain information related to hazardous area classification and details of the selected electrical equipment and installations.

The HAVD should be regularly updated throughout the life of the installation and can be stored on-site. It must be accessible to anyone requiring it for inspections, maintenance, or repairs. Any modifications to the Hazardous Area Classification (HAC) or the installation itself must be promptly recorded and updated in the HAVD.


4. Maintenance and periodic inspections:

To comply with AS/NZS 60079.17, proper maintenance of the equipment is crucial. Fixed electrical equipment requires periodic inspection by a competent person at least every 4 years, while portable equipment must undergo an annual inspection.

In certain jurisdictions, besides the initial inspection per AS/NZS 60079.14, regulatory inspections or audits are mandatory. These inspections must be conducted by an independent individual with no involvement in the equipment's design or installation.


Victoria 

For Victoria, installation of equipment which operates at LV or above in a hazardous area is prescribed work and must be inspected by a Class “H” licenced electrical inspector.  

Queensland 

For Queensland, any installation of electrical equipment in a hazardous area must be inspected by a hazardous area installation auditor appointed by the Electrical Safety Office. 

Tasmania 

For Tasmania, any installation of electrical equipment in a hazardous area must be notified to the appointed Electrical Safety Inspection Service on behalf of the Department of Justice. 

PMV Engineering can assist you with all these steps, to ensure a safe and compliant installation. 

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