Pursuant to Regulation 110 of the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010, I, Mark Stephen Wogan, Manager, Energy Safety – High Hazards, Energy and Public Safety, WorkSafe New Zealand (WorkSafe), give the following instruction.

Instruction

1. Commencement

This instruction takes effect on the day it is published in the New Zealand Gazette (“Commencement date”).

2. Purpose

The purpose of this instruction is to protect persons from possible injury from electricity through New Zealand District Health Boards’ (DHBs) use of certain residual current devices in medical installations, required by DHBs in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

3. Application

1. This instruction applies to any electrical inspector who carries out an inspection at a medical-electrical facility, for the purposes of Regulation 70 of the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010, in respect to the devices described in this instruction.
2. This instruction applies to 10 mA residual current devices (RCDs) supplied by Schneider Electric (NZ) Limited identified in the table below that are installed in medical installations on or after the Commencement date (“affected RCDs”):

3. For the purpose of this instruction, “medical installation” is defined as an installation or part installation intended for use with electrical medical devices.

4. Instruction

Electrical inspectors must:

1. Provide information to the DHB responsible stating that each of the affected RCDs must be tested daily using the inbuilt test button, and the daily results recorded for each RCD.
2. Provide information to the DHB responsible stating that when any of the affected RCDs is removed from their installation location or ceases to be required for the COVID-19 pandemic, it must not be reused.
3. Provide information to the DHB responsible stating that each of the RCDs installed must be tested monthly, and the monthly test results recorded for each RCD, using a purpose built RCD tester that checks all the functions of a 10 mA RCD. The monthly tests must include the following:
1. At the rating of the RCD (I Δ n);
2. At the half rated tripping current of the RCD (½ I Δ n);
3. At the full rated tripping current of the RCD (I Δ n);
4. At five times the rated tripping current of the RCD (5 x I Δ n);
5. Ramp test; and
4. ensure that the information provided at paragraph c. includes that tests must be:
1. measured at 0° and 180°;
2. undertaken with a pulsed waveform (Type A (DC sensitive) RCD test); and
5. ensure that when an affected RCD is removed from the medical installation, or, in the DHB’s view, ceases to be required for the COVID-19 pandemic, whichever occurs first, it is not reused.

5. Reporting

1. Electrical Inspectors must advise Schneider Electric (NZ) Limited (as supplier of the affected RCDs) on a monthly basis that the testing required by this instruction has been undertaken, and provide a copy of the test record for each affected RCD for that period.
2. Electrical Inspectors must provide Schneider Electric (NZ) Limited for the installation of each affected RCD, with a copy of the certificate of compliance and record of inspection, which much include a detailed description of where the RCD is physically located, as soon as practicable, but in no case longer than 20 working days.

6. Reasons for Instruction

WorkSafe New Zealand has reasonable grounds to believe that there may be increased risk of danger that may result in serious harm to patients if an affected RCD does not trip at the rated current.

7. Expiry

1. This instruction shall expire six months after the commencement date.
2. WorkSafe New Zealand may amend or revoke this instruction sooner in full or in part (by notice in the New Zealand Gazette).

Dated at Wellington this 31st day of March 2020.

MARK WOGAN, Manager – Energy Safety, High Hazards, Energy and Public Safety, WorkSafe New Zealand.