Latest news
Winter 2020
energysafe issue 58
ESV is committed to meeting
all its statutory obligations
to keep Victorians safe
By Jonathan Granger, Head of Communications and Marketing
ESV is committed to meeting all its statutory obligations to keep Victorians safe.
Over the past couple of months,
ESV has been working to remain agile
in response to coronavirus (COVID-19),
to ensure our regulatory responsibilities
have not only been met, but in some
cases expanded and improved.
Along with welcoming Victoria’s new
Director of Energy Safety, Marnie
Williams, a major review into electrical
inspection has been announced and
a dedicated team have commenced
work to transition the organisation into
a new three person commission.
We’ve been doing some things
differently with some initiatives being
adopted for the long term, even as
restrictions slowly ease in Victoria. You
may already be aware of some of these
changes, but please do take the time to
see how regulatory service delivery has
been adapted to meet current needs.
Here are just some of the actions
ESV has taken across the business
in order for us to continue to deliver
regulatory services for Victorians.
Changes to ESV operations
For safety reasons we have closed our
offices at Southbank and Glen Waverley,
with all ESV staff now working from
home. This means that there has been
no reduction in ESV’s capacity to meet
its regulatory obligations. Recruitment
and staff support has continued as
business as normal for the organisation.
Importantly though, and on a
continuing basis until a cure or vaccine
to coronavirus (COVID-19) is found and
implemented, ESV will not be carrying
out physical inspections unless physical
distancing protocols are met by all
parties. Inspectors are required to have
a supply of hand sanitiser and use it
before and after each inspection.
04
For electrical workers and
electrical safety:
ESV has established a Conditional
Supervised Workers Licence for
electrical apprentices who have not
been able to complete the SWP
assessment as part of supporting
arrangements for apprentices
completing their contract of training
while public health restrictions are in
place for all non-essential activities.
ESVConnect has been expanded and
improved during this period, reflecting
the increased use of digital regulatory
tools by industry.
Licensing and COES for electrical
workers have maintained operations
as normal, online and by phone.
Confirmation emails have replaced
physical licence cards, paper COES
are being dispatched from a remote
locations to individuals and wholesalers,
and compliances audits of COES
have continued uninterrupted.
While the technical and online helplines
for Electrical Installation Safety (EIS)
have continued as normal, the EIS team
have continued to carry out inspections.
This includes the expanded inspection
programs for solar/PV installations.
ESV continues to address investigations,
issues and complaints relating to
electrical equipment. All equipment
efficiency registration work continues
as normal. Online audits for safety
have increased.
Maintaining the momentum of the
testing regime for Rapid Earth Fault
Current (REFCLs), ESV continues its
work on the oversight of the roll out
and commissioning process.
Vegetation management and line
clearance inspections have been
conducted and electricity distribution
businesses have continued work to keep
powerlines safe and free of vegetation.
Work on electrolysis mitigation has
continued with all contact with asset
owners and contractors being made via
email, phone and Skype. An electronic
version of the mapping system (eMap)
has been developed to assist with a
visual display of the condition of all
assets under test.
For gas workers and industry:
ESV has been working closely with
the VBA and industry to keep guidelines
up-to-date and support online training
and webinar sessions.
Work with Type A gas appliance and
component safety continues as normal
within the present safety guidelines
and with inspectors meeting physical
distancing. Some functions have been
migrated online via remote inspections
(using cameras and other devices)
and computer desktop reviews.
All inspections of Type B and complex
installations are now being carried out
remotely (following a successful trial and
positive feedback from gasfitters). Site
visits for investigations are continuing
as required. Gas Operations are in the
process of commencing audits of the
remote inspections.
ESV continues to provide first responder
support to emergency services for any
incidents relating to Gas and pipeline
safety. Gas inspectors continue to
operate all hours and practice physical
distancing. Gas Safety officers have
been called out to several suspected
cases of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Most pipelines are in low-population
areas, buried under streets and in
paddocks in areas where physical
distancing can be met. This means
ESV’s work inspecting repairs
maintenance, replacement and project
work continues unchanged.
If you have feedback or would like to
suggest further improvements to the
way we do things, please reach out.
It would be great to hear from you.