esv.vic.gov.au
In this issue
Features
4
From the Editor
19
New barbecue safty campaign
launched—do you know the
drill? The gloves are on—
for electrical licensing
assessments
Latest news Electrical
06 Electrical Installation work audit
results for 2017
08 One hundred years of electricity
supply
09 The Block
10 Gas cylinder valve change to cut
leaks
11 ESV Zero Tolerance strategy
11 Type B gas appliance audits begin
12 EESS empowering consumers of
electrical goods
12 Revised AS 3814 published
14 The emergency of H 2 as an energy
source
15 Testing the technical skills of our
plumbing apprentices
15 Electrical safety hazards guide
published
16 ESV Gas Safety Officers traveling
the distance to keep Victoria safe
17 Company fined $300,000 after
apprentice electrocuted 18 30 year anniversary of mandatory
RCDs a good reminder to test
18 ESVConnect update
20 Your electrical questions answered
Gas
22 Revisions to AS 4575 Gas
Appliances—Quality of Servicing
23 Empowering Victorians to manage
open flued gas heaters
Breaches
24 Identified non-compliance
breaches
26 Prosecutions and infringements
Managing Editor Jonathan Granger
Editor Mirna Bukic Design Aer Design
Printed by Southern Colour
Contributors Paul Fearon, David Granger, Andrew Burgdorf,
David Bibby, Jason Treseder, Simon O’Leary, Paul Harris,
Michael Weber, Tyler Mason, Adam Murdoch Laurie Devitt,
Enzo Alfonsetti, Sue Sizer, Rob Oldfield Copyright All material appearing in EnergySafe is copyright.
Reproduction in whole or in part is not permissible without
the written permission of Energy Safe Victoria, depending
on the source of the article.
Authorised and published by Energy Safe Victoria
Level 5, 4 Riverside Quay, Southbank, VIC 3006
P 03 9203 9700
E [email protected] Liability Howsoever arising as a consequence of use
or reliance upon any advice, representations, statement,
opinion or conclusion expressed herein is expressly
denied by Energy Safe Victoria and all persons
involved in the preparation of this publication.
Cover Gas heater serviced by a qualified gasfitter testing
for carbon monoxide. Image: Elizabeth Bull.
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Barbecue season is upon us. While this is
a great time of year for a lot of Victorians,
it’s worth keeping in mind that CFA and
MFB respond to as many as 100 house
fires throughout the summer, caused by
barbecue gas bottles. These fires are
easily avoidable. By simply checking the
gas connection and the condition of the
bottle, people can avoid gas leaks and
the devastating fires that can follow.
This is the message of ESV’s new Know
The Drill Before You Grill campaign. It’s
an important message that I hope you all
share whenever you go to a barbecue.
The campaign comes just as Standards
Australia looks at mandating the use
of the ‘quick connect coupling’ on gas
cylinders. Already used in the US and
New Zealand, the coupling prevents gas
escaping if the cylinder is not connected
but still turned on. The issue came to
prominence in November when the
Victorian Coroner released findings into
a man who was killed after an explosion
in his van caused by open gas cylinders.
Further on the campaign front;
ESV is also developing a new carbon
monoxide awareness campaign. After
a recommendation from the Victorian
Coroner, ESV is updating the CO is a
Silent Killer message with a new campaign
that empowers people to manage their
open flued gas heater. We should be
ready to launch by May 2019.
RCDs are still in the news. It’s their
30th birthday. Three decades since
they were made mandatory in domestic
installations. You can help celebrate the
milestone by testing your RCD and getting
friends and family to do the same.
In this edition we also publish the results
of our annual audit of non-prescribed
electrical installation work. Find out
what the top 10 defects were and what
postcodes they come from.
Happy Christmas and have a wonderful
New Year.
Jonathan Granger
[email protected]
ISSN: 2209-3818 (Print)
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