Electricity Act 2001 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 11 · Miscellaneous
94. Serious accidents to be reported and investigated
Feedback & supportWhen any accident causing or resulting in loss of life or hurt to any person or serious damage to property has occurred in connection with any electrical or supply installation, or any other installation, the owner of the premises concerned and the person granted a licence under Part 9 for the installation must —
supply installation
“supply installation” means the whole of any plant or apparatus in an installation owned or managed by a person for the provision of electricity (other than electricity used for the transmission of any communication or signal) solely for the person’s own use, including any machine supplying mechanical energy to a generator, with all necessary related plant, buildings and land, supply lines and consuming apparatuses, if any;
report the accident to the Authority by the quickest means available; and
subsequently with the least possible delay, report in writing to the Authority the facts of the matter so far as the facts are known.
Any authorised officer must as soon as practicable after receipt of the first report —
visit the place where the accident occurred;
make a preliminary investigation of the circumstances;
record in writing his or her findings upon such investigation;
forward his or her report to the Authority; and
if there has been any loss of life or there is reason to believe that any person has been seriously injured, send a copy of his or her findings to the Public Prosecutor.
In the event of loss of life or grievous hurt to any person due to any accident arising from the use or operation of or caused by any electrical or supply installation or other installation, no alteration or addition may, without the approval of the Authority, be made to any part of the installation which may have contributed towards the cause of the accident or to the site of the accident until investigations have been completed.
installation
“installation” means, except for the purposes of Part 9, any plant, apparatus, structure, equipment or thing used for the generation, transmission, supply or use of electricity;
Nothing in subsection (3) operates to interfere with rescue work or other work necessary for the general safety of life or property.
If upon a preliminary investigation under subsection (2)(b) —
it appears to the Authority that there is reason to believe that the accident was due to any failure to comply with the provisions of this Act or due to neglect to obey any lawful order given by the Authority; or
the authorised officer investigating the accident is satisfied that the accident might have been prevented if proper precautions had been taken and observed in the operation or working of the electrical or supply installation or other installation,the Authority must hold an inquiry into the nature and cause of the accident with the assistance, if considered necessary by the Authority, of one or more persons of electrical or other special skill or experience to be nominated by the Authority as assessors.
At the conclusion of the inquiry held under subsection (5), a copy of the findings taken at the inquiry together with the opinion of the Authority must be forwarded to the Public Prosecutor.
Any person who, without lawful excuse, contravenes subsection (1) or (3) shall be guilty of an offence.