DOIA REQ 0021398 Andrew McGregor response letter.pdf

31 October 2025

Ref: DOIA-REQ-0021398

Andrew McGregor
Email: [FYI request #32360 email]

Tēnā koe Andrew

Thank you for your request of 23 September 2025 to the Ministry of Business, Innova5on and Employment
(MBIE) reques5ng, under the Oﬃcial Informa5on Act 1982 (the Act), informa5on regarding the Electrical
Workers Registra5on Board’s (EWRB) competence programme requirements for Endorsed Hazardous Areas
registra5on classes.

The Electricity (Prescribed Requirements for Competence Programmes) No ce 2023 (2023-sl4076) (Competence
Programme No5ce 2023), which sets out the competence programme requirements for the endorsed
Hazardous Areas registra5on classes, includes the following 7 Australia Standards / New Zealand Standards
(Standards):
•       AS/NZS 60079.0
•       AS/NZS 60079.11
•       AS/NZS 60079.14
•       AS/NZS 60079.17
•       AS/NZS 60079.18
•       AS/NZS 60079.29.2
•       AS/NZS 60079.35.1

You have requested any informa5on that explains the reason why these Standards were included in the
competence programme requirements for the Endorsed Hazardous Areas registra5on classes. You have also
asked whether the EWRB considered limi5ng those Standards to relevant prescribed electrical work (PEW).  I
have addressed your ques5ons below.

Please provide the reasoning, documenta on, or policy basis that explains why the above standards
(AS/NZS 60079.11, AS/NZS 60079.18, and AS/NZS 60079.35.1) are included in the Competence
Programme requirements for hazardous area endorsements as set out in the 2023-sl4076 Electricity
(Prescribed Requirements for Competence Programmes) No ce 2023.

The Standards listed in the competency programme requirements are cited in schedule 2 of the Electricity
(Safety) Regula ons 2010 (ESR 2010) and relate to electrical equipment in explosive atmospheres that
electrical workers carrying out PEW in hazardous areas need to be familiar with to ensure that work carried out
is compliant with them. Electrical installa5ons and equipment that is used in hazardous areas must comply
with these Standards in accordance with the ESR 2010.

Prior to the EWRB issuing the Competence Programmes No5ce 2023, MBIE, on behalf of the Board, sought
feedback on the inclusion of these Standards in Hazardous Areas competence programme requirements as part
consulta5on on the Stepped Framework during September 2021. The Stepped Framework consulta5on
document and a document summarising submissions are published on the EWRB website, linked below:

  A stepped framework: Consultation on proposed changes to the limits of work, registration
requirements and endorsements for electrical workers.
  Electrical workers stepped framework consultation - Summary of submissions

Speciﬁcally, three submissions were received regarding the inclusion of the AS/NZS 60079 series Standards.
These responses were:

“Yes – the criteria seem to make sense (no ng that best prac se Risk Management incorporates understanding
of the eﬀec veness control measures, thus item c.i is a subset of c.iv). We also like the inclusion of the AS/NZS
60079 series of standards.”

“Yes, This will ensure the installa on is conforming to AS/NZS60079.14 and provide a greater level of value for
the electricians who meet the required standard.”

“It would ensure igni on sources are treated with the respect required and de-risk installa ons. The
consequence of leak igni on can easily be a mul ple fatality event. This would remove the ambiguity around
what is deemed competent by 60079.14 by se=ng a minimum standard for registra on, and con nued
registra on to ensure enduring competence.”

Please advise whether the EWRB has considered limi ng the scope of required standards to those
directly relevant to prescribed electrical work (e.g., installa on, inspec on, tes ng, and maintenance),
such as AS/NZS 60079.14 and AS/NZS 60079.17.  Please provide any internal guidance, working
papers, or consulta on feedback received on this ma?er.

Guidance was provided by the EWRB to competence programme providers to assist with the delivery of the
course. Included in the guidance were wriHen assessment ques5ons and answers drawn from the 60079 series
of standards. Both AS/NZS 60079.14 and AS/NZS 60079.17 include references to these other standards in the
60079 series. AS/NZS 60079.11 and AS/NZS 60079.29.2 are intended to be read in conjunc5on with AS/NZS
60079.0. AS/NZS 60079.18 supplements the general requirements of AS/NZS 60079.0, with AS/NZS 60079.0
also covering supplementary requirements for caplights in mines.

AS/NZS 60079.35.1 provides more speciﬁc requirements of the construc5on, tes5ng and marking of caplights
for use in mines suscep5ble to ﬁredamp. As the standards in the 60079 series reference other standards in the
60079 series to be read in conjunc5on with, they are essen5ally a package of standards to be read in
conjunc5on to each other. Whilst all aspects of this standards series may not apply to prescribed electrical
work, electrical workers need to understand the package of standards from the 60079 series cited in the
Electricity (Safety) Regula5ons 2010 to be competent to work in Hazardous Areas.

Thank you for drawing our aHen5on to the competency programme requirements for Endorsed Hazardous
Areas registra5on classes, and the sugges5on to limit the Standards to relevant PEW. Your email has been
shared with the Board and will be retained for considera5on when the Competency Programme No5ce 2023 is
next reviewed.

If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, or if you require any further assistance,
please contact [email address].

You have the right to seek an inves5ga5on and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Informa5on about
how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz  or freephone 0800 802 602.

Nāku noa, nā

Duncan Connor
Na onal Manager Occupa onal Regula on
Market Integrity