Electrical safety periodic tests and inspections - Electrical riser brackets

Electrical riser brackets are a part of the premise’s electrical installation and are used to raise the electrical supply cable above the ground from the supply pole to the premises.

In some cases the connection point on the premises is sufficiently high or the electrical supply is underground which removes the requirement for riser brackets.

Riser brackets are usually made from metal which is electrically conductive and are continuously exposed to the environment. If the insulation is degraded or earthing becomes faulty, this may form an electrical circuit to the roof of the premises and present a risk of electric shock to persons accessing the roof or guttering.

It is the responsibility of the owner/operator of an electrical installation to ensure the electrical installation is safe[i]. NT WorkSafe recommends that an inspection and test of the earthing of riser brackets and their connections should be undertaken when electrical work is performed and included as a part of periodic inspections of the electrical installation by a licensed electrical contractor.

Ensuring that no electrical faults are present is especially important before accessing the roof or performing gutter maintenance.

Periodical tests and checks should also be conducted on:

• Smoke alarms - annually
• Safety switches[ii] - annually or as per manufacturer’s recommendation
• Solar inverters – as per manufacturer’s recommendation.

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