Site Safe Electrical Safety on Construction Sites 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does RCD stand for in the context of electrical safety on NZ construction sites?
- Residual Current Device (Correct answer)
- Rated Circuit Disconnector
- Regulated Current Detector
- Relay Circuit Device
Correct answer: Residual Current Device
RCD stands for Residual Current Device, which detects imbalances in electrical current and cuts power within milliseconds to prevent electrocution.
Question 2: How often must portable electrical tools be tested and tagged on a NZ construction site?
- Every 12 months
- Every 3 months (Correct answer)
- Every 6 months
- Every month
Correct answer: Every 3 months
On construction sites in NZ, portable electrical equipment must be tested and tagged every 3 months (quarterly) due to the high-risk environment.
Question 3: What is the minimum safe approach distance for non-electrical workers near overhead power lines up to 33kV in NZ?
- 1 metre
- 2 metres
- 4 metres (Correct answer)
- 6 metres
Correct answer: 4 metres
WorkSafe NZ requires a minimum approach distance of 4 metres from overhead power lines up to 33kV for non-electrical workers to account for line sag and movement.
Question 4: Who is legally permitted to perform electrical work on a NZ construction site?
- Any trained site worker
- A Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW) (Correct answer)
- The site foreman
- Any worker supervised by a manager
Correct answer: A Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW)
Only a Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW) is permitted to carry out electrical work in New Zealand under the Electricity Act 1992.
Question 5: What should you do immediately if you accidentally strike an underground cable while excavating?
- Continue working carefully around it
- Stop work, move everyone away, and call the network operator (Correct answer)
- Cover the damage with electrical tape and report later
- Check if power is still on before deciding next steps
Correct answer: Stop work, move everyone away, and call the network operator
If you strike an underground cable, you must immediately stop work, move everyone away from the area, and contact the network operator as the cable may remain live.
Question 6: What service must you contact before starting any excavation work to locate underground cables and services in NZ?
- WorkSafe NZ (0800 030 040)
- Dial Before You Dig (0800 248 344) (Correct answer)
- Your local council building department
- The site's principal contractor only
Correct answer: Dial Before You Dig (0800 248 344)
Before any excavation, you must contact Dial Before You Dig (0800 248 344) to obtain plans showing underground services including electrical cables.
Question 7: What is the primary purpose of using an RCD on a NZ construction site?
- To regulate voltage supply to equipment
- To prevent circuit overloading
- To detect earth faults and disconnect power within milliseconds (Correct answer)
- To test equipment compliance before use
Correct answer: To detect earth faults and disconnect power within milliseconds
An RCD detects any imbalance in current flow that could indicate a person receiving a shock, then disconnects power within milliseconds to prevent electrocution.
Site Safe Electrical Safety on Construction Sites 1
What does RCD stand for in the context of electrical safety on NZ construction sites?