Electrical Safety Management Schemes

Electricity Safety Management Schemes (ESMS) are a non-prescriptive form of regulation that enables industry to improve on the efficiency of its operation without compromising safety standards.

Legislation

The Electricity Safety Act 1998 (The Act) enables voluntary ESMSs to be submitted to ESV by:

• employers of electrical workers;
• occupiers of specific premises; and
• owners of complex electrical installations.

The Act also requires that all Major Electricity Companies (MECs), which run electricity supply networks, have an accepted ESMSs.

The Act is supported by the Electricity Safety (Management) Regulations 2019, which came into effect on 29 November 2019.

Safety management policy

The Energy Infrastructure Safety Management Policy:

• explains how ESV intends to administer the ESMS framework for MECs;
• provides clarity over the requirements ESV looks for in the acceptance process from MECs; and
• provides support to those making submissions for MECs by providing guidance on how to prepare an acceptable ESMS.

Guidelines

Guidelines support the administration policy by explaining to MECs and holders of voluntary ESMSs what content they should provide when submitting ESMSs to ESV for acceptance.

Ideally, if the scheme addresses the key elements required by the Act, ESV should not be required to seek additional information.

The relevant guidelines are:

• for MECs: Electricity Safety Case (ESMS) Preparation and Submission Guidelines for MECs
• for voluntary ESMSs entities: Voluntary Electricity Safety Management Scheme (VESMS) Preparation and Submission Guideline
• Classification of audit findings

Reporting guidelines for MECS

Regulations 28 and 29 of the Electricity Safety (Management) Regulations 2019 require MECs to report serious electrical incidents within timeframes and in forms in reporting guidelines published by ESV.

Download the Incident and Safety Performance Reporting Guidelines.

Please note these reporting guidelines do not apply to voluntary ESMS. Holders of voluntary ESMSs need to comply with the requirements of their ESMSs or of the Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019.

More information

Contact ESV on (03) 9203 9700 or at esms@energysafe.vic.gov.au.