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Safety switch information for electrical contractors

CBOS is encouraging home owners and workplace managers to have safety switches installed at their properties by a licensed electrician if they haven’t already, and test them regularly. Click on the links below to find out more about the campaign and the compliance requirements for safety switches.

Compliance information

An Electrical Compliance Guide has been published on residual current devices (RCDs), also known as safety switches. The Compliance Guide provides guidance for electrical contractors and practitioners when selecting, purchasing and installing RCDs. For the purposes of the guide the term RCD incorporates RCBO.

Read the Compliance Guide (PDF, 396.3 KB)

The Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council (ERAC) has published a document on alterations and RCD’s. The purpose of the document is to provide a consistent approach across Australia and New Zealand to the interpretation and implementation of Clause 2.6.3.2.5 Alterations to installations and replacement of switchboards — Australia only.

Read the Alterations and RCD’s ERAC Guide  (PDF, 95.2 KB)

Talking to customers about safety switches

As you know, safety switches help to protect people from electric shocks, or serious injury or death from shocks, by disconnecting circuits when a leakage of current to earth is detected.

The Tasmanian Government is encouraging people to have safety switches installed by a licensed electrician if they haven’t already, and test them regularly.

As a licensed electrician, people may ask you to check whether their property has safety switches or to install them.

You have expertise in electrical safety and are the best person to talk to your customers about the importance of safety switches. You can do this by:

  • When you’re working at a property, check whether it has safety switches. If it doesn’t, or not all circuits are protected, encourage the owner to have safety switches installed on all circuits supplying socket outlets, lighting and electrical equipment. You can provide them with a copy of the safety switches brochure for homes (PDF, 1.1 MB) or safety switches brochure for workplaces (PDF, 1.2 MB) and direct them to our website for more information.
  • If you’re installing safety switches, make sure your customer knows what they are, why they’re important and how to test them. Encourage them to test their safety switches at least every three months.
  • Promote the importance of safety switches through your own advertising. There are posters and social media photos you can use under the link to promotional materials below.
  • Talk to your customers about electrical safety more broadly. Offer to check the safety and condition of their electrical installations, especially if their property is older. Remind them to always use a licensed electrician for electrical work.

Make sure that you’re up to date with the latest requirements for safety switches. There is a compliance guide available under the link to compliance information above.

Promotional materials

The content below is available for you to download and use to encourage installation of safety switches.

Posters/flyers

You can download and print these documents on A4 or A3 for display, or for handing to your customers as flyers.

Download poster - Homes - Safety switches awareness campaign (PDF, 1.5 MB)

Download poster - Workplaces - Safety switches awareness campaign (PDF, 1.3 MB)

Social media tiles

You can download these images and use them in social media posts.

Consider using the following text in the post: “Safety switches protect people from electric shocks. Consider getting safety switches installed at your property by a licensed electrician if you haven't already, and test them regularly. Learn more by going to www.cbos.tas.gov.au/safetyswitches"

You can also tag us on Facebook: @buildingintasmania

Download social media tile - Homes - Safety switches awareness campaign (JPG, 212.3 KB)

Download social media tile - Workplaces - Safety switches awareness campaign (JPG, 448.7 KB)

This webpage is based on information originally produced by the Electrical Safety Office, Queensland Government, and has been reproduced and published with their permission. It is a resource and reference for general information only. For more information, read ourDisclaimer and copyright notice.

Last updated: 11 Oct 2022

This page has been produced and published by the Consumer Building and Occupational Services Division of the Department of Justice. Although every care has been taken in production, no responsibility is accepted for the accuracy, completeness, or relevance to the user's purpose of the information. Those using it for whatever purpose are advised to verify it with the relevant government department, local government body or other source and to obtain any appropriate professional advice. The Crown, its officers, employees and agents do not accept liability however arising, including liability for negligence, for any loss resulting from the use of or reliance upon the information and/or reliance on its availability at any time.