Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) has published the 2022 edition of Victoria’s Code of Practice on Electrical Safety for Work on or Near High Voltage Electrical Apparatus.

Commonly known as the Blue Book, the document provides guidance on electrical industry safety standards for electrical generation, transmission and distribution systems, the tram and train electrical supply network and high voltage electrical installations. The document is updated every five years.

ESV consulted with industry, calling for feedback in June 2022, to ensure the new edition reflected current trends.

Owners and operators of electricity supply networks and high-voltage electrical installations are required to ensure their employees and contractors are appropriately trained and comply with the Blue Book.

This edition was drafted by the Electrical Safety Committee, made up of electricity and tram and train companies, Electrical Trade Union, National Electrical and Communications Association, WorkSafe and the Victorian Customer Electrical Safety Committee.

ESV chief executive Leanne Hughson says comments and suggested amendments were received during the consultation period, many of which were incorporated into the final Blue Book 2022: “It was important for us to get feedback from industry and other stakeholders to ensure the 2022 edition was relevant to current ways of working.”

Changes from the 2017 edition of the Blue Book include:

• ‌relevant definitions for common industry terms
• updated guidance for entry to enclosures.
• clearer requirements for the application of earthing devices
• clear requirements for written and verbal statements of the condition of apparatus or plant (SCAP).