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Electricity, Gas, and Dangerous Goods Rules 2003

TULAFONO A TOKELAU 2005

ELECTRICITY, GAS, AND DANGEROUS GOODS RULES 2003

1 Interpretation
2 Electrical and gas work
3 Approved persons
4 Compliance with requirements
5 Electricity supply
6 Uses of electricity
7 Inspection
8 Electric switch boxes
9 Dangerous goods safety standards
10 Offences

SCHEDULE Tokelau Standards of Practice

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1. Interpretation

In these Rules —

"dangerous goods" includes explosives, gases, inflammable liquids and solids, and corrosives;
"director" means the Director of the Tokelau Government responsible for public works;
"electrical work" means the installation of wires, material or apparatus to convey electricity, or the repair or alteration of any electrical installation, and includes the installation or repair or alteration of an electrical appliance that is connected or intended to be connected with the electricity supply;
"gas work" means the installation of pipes which convey gas to or within any land or premises, or the repair or alteration of any gas installation, and includes the installation or repair or alteration of a gas appliance that is connected or is intended to be connected to any gas supply;
"Inspector" means a person designated as such by the Director for the purpose of these Rules.

2. Electrical and gas work

(1) No person other than an approved person shall carry out electrical work.

(2) No person other than an approved person shall carry out gas work.

3. Approved persons

(1) The Director may approve a person to carry out —

(i) electrical work; or
(ii) gas work.

(2) A person who wishes to be an approved person for the purpose of these Rules must —

(i) apply to the Director;
(ii) furnish all particulars which the Director may require.

(3) Approval of a person under this rule will be given subject to such terms and conditions, including requirements as to insurance, as the Director thinks fit.

(4) Before any electrical work or gas work is carried out, an approved person must lodge with an Inspector a notice in writing, which gives full particulars of the work that will be done by the approved person.

4. Compliance with requirements

(1) Where electrical work is carried out, the approved person must —

(i) take all reasonable precautions to avoid danger to self, other persons, and property;
(ii) comply with the Tokelau Standards of Practice listed in the Schedule;
(iii) comply with such other requirements as the Inspector may specify.

(2) Where gas work is carried out the approved person must —

(i) take all reasonable precautions to avoid danger to self, other persons, and property;
(ii) comply with the Tokelau Standards of Practice listed in the Schedule;
(iii) comply with such other requirements as the Inspector may specify.

5. Electricity supply

An Inspector may refuse to approve the connection of any building to the public electricity supply or may order the disconnection of a building from the supply if —

(i) the building is not suitably constructed or is unsound;
(ii) the connection is likely to endanger the supply of electricity to, or the safety of, other buildings on the same circuit, or is likely to endanger the safety of the circuit;
(iii) insufficient generating capacity is available; or
(iv) there is equipment in the building which is unsafe.

6. Uses of electricity

No person shall —

(i) use any electrical appliance connected to the public electricity supply after having been warned not to do so by an Inspector; or
(ii) use any electricity from the public electricity supply in such a manner as to interfere with the efficiency of the supply.

7. Inspection

(1) An Inspector may at all reasonable times enter land and premises to inspect any electrical work or gas work.

(2) After inspection the Inspector may require an approved person to carry out any alteration or repair that is necessary.

(3) The cost of work done under paragraph (2) shall be recoverable from the owner or occupier of the land or premises as a debt due to the village.

8. Electric switch boxes

(1) Where electricity is transformed, converted, regulated, or otherwise controlled in electric switch boxes —

(i) all doors or covers must be secured so that they cannot be opened except by a key or special appliance;
(ii) the enclosed apparatus must be protected so that when the door or cover of the box is opened, it is not possible for the person who opens the door or cover to come into contact with metal that is electrically charged;
(iii) the box must be protected by frames or other devices so that no unauthorised person and no animal can come into contact with the box.

(2) A village electrician or approved person who installs or fails to maintain an electric switch box otherwise than in accordance with paragraph (1) commits an offence.

9. Dangerous goods safety standards

(1) Every person must comply with the Tokelau Standards of Practice listed in the Schedule when handling or using dangerous goods.

(2) Any person who smokes or allows naked lights or other ignition sources where dangerous goods are dispensed or stored commits an offence.

(3) No person shall —

(i) store dangerous goods in open or unlabelled containers; or
(ii) dispense petrol or lighting fuel in other than clean, metal containers.

10. Offences

(1) Any person who fails to comply with or contravenes any of these Rules commits an offence.

(2) Any person who commits an offence against these Rules is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding 3 penalty units, or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 3 months.

SCHEDULE

TOKELAU STANDARDS OF PRACTICE

1 Electrical work

Compliance with the New Zealand Electricity Regulations 1997, SR 1997/60 and amendments.

2 Gas work

Compliance with the New Zealand Gas Regulations 1993, SR 1993/76 and amendments.

3 Dangerous goods

(1) Dangerous goods must be stored in sealed containers. Each dangerous goods container shall have on it, in a prominent position, in Tokelauan and English, a label which states—

(i) the name of the dangerous goods;

(ii) the concentration of the dangerous goods;

(iii) the common name of the active ingredients or ingredients of the dangerous goods;

(iv) where appropriate, the symptoms of poisoning by the dangerous goods;

(v) the antidote or treatment to be given in the case of poisoning;

(vi) the method of use of the dangerous goods;

(vii) the precautions to be taken when the dangerous goods are handled or used;

(viii) the protective clothing to be worn when the dangerous goods are handled or used;

(ix) the measures necessary to ensure the safe disposal of the container.

(2) International symbols denoting hazards from dangerous goods should be used where possible.

(3) Dangerous goods must be stored in such a way as to avoid contact between the dangerous goods and children, animals, food, and any other items which come into contact with the mouth, nose, or eyes.

(4) Every care must be taken to avoid inhalation of the fumes of, or prolonged skin contact with, any dangerous goods.

(5) Dangerous goods must not be dispensed in other than clean, appropriately constructed containers

(6) All dangerous goods storage areas must have signs which display appropriate warnings: eg "Fuels-Highly flammable"; "No Smoking"; "No naked lights".

(7) Smoking, naked lights, or other ignition sources are not permitted where dangerous goods are dispensed or stored.

4 Reporting procedures

(1) A person who suffers injury in electrical or gas work or as a result of contact with electricity or gas or dangerous goods must report to the village health officer at the earliest possible opportunity.

(2) Any person who observes any injury which involves electricity, gas, or dangerous goods must report the matter to the village health officer, the Pulenuku, an Inspector, or a constable.