What is AS/NZS 4836:2023

AS/NZS 4836:2023 (‘Safe working on or near low-voltage and extra-low voltage electrical installations and equipment’) is the latest Australian and New Zealand standard for electrical safety. It was first created in 2001 and then updated in 2023 by the committee EL-001 (Wiring Rules) for safe practices using electricity.

AS 4836 provides comprehensive guidelines and procedures for safe work on or near low-voltage and extra low-voltage (ELV) electrical installations and equipment. It outlines the minimum set of procedures, safety requirements, and recommendations for managing electricity hazards and risks.  AS/NZS 4836:2023 is widely adopted by professionals dealing with these electricity hazards, especially arc blast, electric shock, arc flash and electrocution.

In this article, we cover why AS/NZS 4836:2023 matters for electrical workers, what it covers, how to apply for or get the standard, and how organisations can implement it in the workplace.

AS/NZS 4836:2023 is important for any electricity worker or organisation dealing with low-voltage or extra low-voltage electrical installations and equipment. This standard is essential for three key reasons:

• Manages Electrical Hazards & Risks

Low-voltage and extra-low voltage systems can be just as deadly as high-voltage systems if not managed properly. AS/NZS 4836:2023 was created to address the real dangers electrical workers face, including arc flash, arc blast, electric shock and electrocution. 

In New South Wales alone, since 2020, there have been more than 1,000 incidents and nearly 600 injuries due to Electric Shock. Making it the second leading cause of fatalities in the construction industry.

• Compliance & Legal Implications

Australian workplace health and safety (WHS) laws require businesses to ensure the health and safety of workers. Compliance with AS/NZS 4836:2023 shows employers are taking measures to manage risk. By abiding by the standard, it shows employers are training staff correctly, putting in place actionable procedures and following industry best practices. The failure to implement this standard could expose a business to legal risk.

• Protecting Workers & the Public

Abiding by AS 4836 helps to create a culture of safety among electrical professionals. It emphasises sound risk assessment, the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and correct procedures around any work near live circuits that directly address one of the leading causes of electrical injuries. The standard helps to create flow on effects that benefit the public, as increasing the quality and efficiency of electrical work can reduce negative outcomes in the home or workplace.

By following the standards guidelines, workers and employers can significantly reduce the likelihood of electrical hazards, ensure WHS compliance, and protect workers, as well as the public.

AS/NZS 4836:2023 is a comprehensive standard that covers the principles of risk management and specific safe work procedures when dealing with low voltage and extra low voltage or electrical work.

Understanding its scope and structure will help navigate the standard effectively and ensure workers and employers understand the sections that are most relevant for their work.

AS 4836 is split into 12 main sections:

• Section 1—Scope & Application: The introductory section defines its scope and application, which includes electrical equipment, training, auditing and wiring in a range of different environments and settings (residential, commercial and industrial).

• Section 2—Principles of Risk Management: Outlines a systematic approach to identifying and controlling hazards before work begins.

• Section 3—Isolation. Fault-finding & Testing: A practical ‘how to’ for making equipment safe to work on and implementing correct testing procedures.

• Section 4—Risk Control For Specific Situations: Covers mitigating circumstances and special scenarios that could pose additional risk for electrical workers.

• Section 5—Work On  Or Near Elevated Electrical Equipment, Poles, Structures & Overhead Conductors: Covers safe work practices and hazard controls when working at heights.

• Section 6—Working Below Ground On Cables or Services: Provides location-based precautions for electricity work when undertaking underground electrical work.

• Section 7—Energisation of Electrical Installation or Equipment: Covers initial energisation before the work has started or de-energisation of equipment after the work is complete.

• Section 8—Safety Equipment and Tools: Guidance on the selection, inspection and use of electrical equipment, ladders and other tools when performing electrical work.

• Section 9—Test Equipment: Highlights testing requirements, procedures for proper unit testing and general use, selection and maintenance of electrical devices or supplies.

• Section 10—Supervision: Defines the level of supervision, when a supervisor should check equipment or oversee the electrical work.

• Section 11—Personal Protective Equipment: Reinforces the standards for helmets, gloves, eye protection, clothing and other important equipment.

• Section 12—Electrical Incidents: Explains what to do if an electrical incident occurs and the best practice to respond, such as proper first aid, emergency response and incident reporting.

AS/NZS 4836:2023 covers all aspects of safe low-voltage and extra-low voltage electrical work, from planning, testing, and execution. This makes it a comprehensive reference for electrical safety management at the workplace and is essential for all workers and organisations who deal with electrical work.

AS/NZS 4836:2023 is the third edition of the standard, replacing AS/NZS 4836:2011 (which replaced the original AS/NZS 4836:2001). The standard is consistently updated to respond to the ongoing changes to WHS expectations, electrical best practices and new technologies.

The latest update to the standard (AS/NZS 4836:2023) includes major updates to:

• Selection & use of PPE
• Working below ground
• Cutting cables
• Wiring enclosures
• Working with asbestos or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) hazards.
• Greater emphasis on risk management

Not only did the updates expand the scope for ELV and non-electrical workers, but it expanded roles and responsibilities. For the first time, the standard outlined the duties of supervisors, competent electrical workers and safety observers. 

With these changes, AS/NZS 4836:2023 provides a more modern, updated, expanded and detailed safety framework than the 2001 or 2011 editions. It’s important to ensure all workers and organisations are updated to these new changes, as the 2023 edition remains the current benchmark for electrical safety. 

Having the AS/NZS 4836:2023 standard is just the beginning, with the real challenge and benefit being the way it's implemented on the job. There are a few practical ways contractors, safety officers, electricians and workers can apply the AS 3836 standard:

• Conduct Risk Assessments: Refer back to the principles of risk management (section 2) by outlining a systematic approach to identifying and controlling hazards before work begins. Additionally, organisations should keep updated on ongoing risks and review these risk assessments when a job is complete.

• Update Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS): Review existing SWMS statements, job safety analyses and company safety manuals for electrical work. This creates and shows an ongoing commitment to implementing the best practices outlined in AS  4836.

• Ensure Correct PPE and Gear: Evaluate your current inventory of PPE and test equipment against the standards recommendations. It might require an upgrade to current PPE and investment in new or updated electrical gear.

• Implement Training Programs: Guide workers on practical demonstrations on proper fitting PPE, best practices for implementing the standards recommendations and other mandatory ongoing training to reinforce key standards.

• Apply Controls: Ensure proper controls are being applied that require different electrical procedures when working underground, above ground and in live work scenarios.

• Ongoing Audits: Being AS/NZS 4836:2023 compliant is about creating a culture of electrical safety and checking that the standard is being followed in the months or years following purchase. Set up ongoing maintenance or audit programs to check that the standard is being implemented correctly in the workplace.

Not yet compliant? The latest edition is available for purchase at Intertek Inform.

The latest official edition of AS/NZS 4836:2023 is available directly from Intertek Inform. Intertek Inform is a trusted source for official standards and technical publications across many industries. 

When users purchase AS/NZS 4836:2023 through Intertek Inform, users will benefit from:

• Genuine Standards: A trusted and authentic copy direct from Standards Australia.
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• Expert Support: Access to Intertek’s global network of specialists helps users or organisations stay compliant and inform holders of major changes.

Pricing for AS NZS 4836:2023 starts at $221 for a single-user PDF, with a hard copy starting at $245. Prices change depending on the number of users, with higher savings for multi-user PDFs.

Intertek Inform provides trusted, reliable, genuine and updated access to the important standards to get you and your employees safe and compliant.

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