Can you help shape standards for electrical safety?
Join the EL-002 standing committee and be at the forefront of developing future iterations of joint trans-Tasman Australian and New Zealand standards used for safety assurance and export and import of electrical appliances.
A skilled woman working with technical machinery. Shutterstock.
Standards development relies on volunteers to discuss, review, draft, edit and agree on final content of standards used by industries. We are looking for New Zealand experts to represent New Zealand interests on a long-standing committee of New Zealand and Australian experts with a particular focus on electrical appliances - EL-002 Safety of household and similar electrical appliances and small power transformers and power supplies.
You will be:
- Working in a field relevant to the use of electrical appliances – that might include electrical testing, laboratory and certification, manufacturing, repair or design, procurement, distribution or retail, electrical safety or installation.
- Experienced and familiar with the range of standards covered by EL-002 (see further below).
You don’t need to be:
- A qualified electrician or electrical engineer
- A senior manager or have decades of experience - standards development committees rely on a broad perspective to ensure standards work for all users.
The role of EL-002
Safety is at the core of EL-002. Committee members prepare joint Australian/New Zealand standards for the safety of electrical equipment, appliances and small power transformers with respect to persons, livestock and surroundings. They also review safety factors including electric shock, effects of excessive temperature, radiation, toxicity, explosion, mechanical stability and hazardous moving parts, and protection against fire.
EL-002 reviews international documents, such as those of IEC TC61 and its published standards, to keep up to date with the latest industry thinking and practice. EL-002 adopts relevant IEC standards identically or with Australian and/or New Zealand modifications to cover local safety issues, requirements, and regulations and publishes them Australian/New Zealand joint standards (AS/NZS). This is to align and maintain pace with the latest international best practices and requirements, avoiding the risks to the public and workers using electrical appliances and maintaining the benefits that trans-Tasman standards bring.
For more information on some of the work of EL-002 see:
Help make standards (see ‘Joining a joint standards committee’)
Scope
EL-002 is involved with specific standards, namely:
- AS/NZS 60335 series Safety of household and similar electrical appliances
- AS/NZS 60745 series Hand-held motor-operated electrical tools - Safety
- AS/NZS 61558 series Transformers, reactors, power supply units, and combinations thereof
- AS/NZS 62115 Electric Toys - Safety
- AS/NZS 62841 series Electric motor-operated hand-held tools, transportable tools and lawn and garden machinery - Safety
- AS/NZS 3100 Approval and test specification - General requirements for electrical equipment
- AS/NZS 3102 Approval and test specification - Electric duct heaters
- AS/NZS 3136 Approval and test specification - Electrical equipment for spa and swimming pools
- AS/NZS 3160 Approval and test specification - Hand-held portable electric tools
- AS/NZS 4763 Portable Inverters
No cost to participate
No cost is involved to become a committee member except, of course, your time. However, to attend committee meetings in person, travel should be arranged through your nominating organisation. There are two committee meetings held in March and August each year, currently on a rotational basis in Melbourne, Sydney, Wellington, and somewhere else in Australia. Committee meetings are held in a hybrid mode (in person/Microsoft Teams), allowing for virtual attendance if you are unable to arrange for travel costs with your employer or nominating organisation.
Your nominating organisation acts as a formal industry endorser to verify that you have skills and experiences to get involved and that you can represent their industry needs within the standard. This might be an industry association or other significant sector-relevant body.
Why volunteer
Find out more about volunteering on a joint Trans-Tasman committee here including through our short three-minute video:
Help make standards(external link)
· The committee makes a huge contribution to the safety of electrical equipment in New Zealand and Australia. Members ensure that Australasia has up-to-date compliance guidelines that follow international standards and practices.
- Ensuring guidance is fit for purpose in our territories. Members get to ensure their industry interests are considered. You represent not just your company’s but your industry and country’s interests too.
- Committee members build an exceptional network of other experts in their field, and many become enduring trusted connections for many years.
- Be at the forefront of the latest thinking, applied knowledge and good practice in standards that relate to your work – an asset not just to your own career but your company too.
Role of committee members
- actively contributing to reaching committee consensus
- providing the technical content of the standard
- reporting back regularly to nominating organisations on progress made and issues arising
- working with Standards New Zealand in a timely and effective manner to ensure deadlines are met and keeping to the agreed scope of the project
- making every effort to attend all meetings and devoting sufficient time to become familiar with the activities of the committee and the wider environment within which it operates
- reviewing the current literature on the topic covered by the standard
- consulting with their nominating organisation and the range of interested parties seeking guidance or any clarification required on specific matters
- advocating for the objectives of the nominating organisation and the area of interest represented
- amending the draft standard as necessary and approving the final draft
- submitting a committe ballot form by the ballot end date
- promoting the use of the standard
- assisting as required with responding to enquiries about the content of the Standard once published.
Next steps
A New Zealand expert nominated by a New Zealand organisation needs to be approved by the NZ Standards Approval Board for becoming a member of a standards development committee. There is no specific term required though there are some formalities we can support you with in your application process. Complete an expression of interest on our website referencing EL-002 and we’ll be in touch.
Help make standards – expression of interest in joining a committee(external link)