S.I. No. 124/1979:

FACTORIES (ELECTRICITY) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1979.

FACTORIES (ELECTRICITY) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1979.

I, GENE FITZGERALD, Minister for Labour, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by sections 6 and 71 of the Factories Act, 1955 (No. 10 of 1955), and the Labour (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order, 1966 ( S.I. No. 164 of 1966 ), after consultation with the Minister for Health, and after due compliance with the provisions of the Third Schedule to that Act, hereby make as special regulations the following Regulations:

1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Factories (Electricity) (Amendment) Regulations, 1979.

(2) The Factories (Electricity) Regulations, 1972 ( S.I. No. 3 of 1972 ), and these Regulations may be cited together as the Factories (Electricity) Regulations, 1972 and 1979.

2. These Regulations shall come into operation on the 1st day of May, 1979.

3. Regulation 6 of the Factories (Electricity) Regulations, 1972 ( S.I. No. 3 of 1972 ), is hereby amended by the substitution for paragraph (2) of the following:

"(2) ( a ) There shall be provided--

(i) in relation to every circuit in which alternating current at a voltage exceeding 650 volts is used, effective means for automatically cutting off the supply of electricity from that circuit if the leakage current to earth should exceed fifteen per cent of the maximum current for which that circuit is designed or 5 amperes, whichever is the greater, and

(ii) in relation to every circuit, which comprises portable or transportable apparatus or socket outlets supplying or intended to supply such portable or transportable apparatus, and in which alternating current at a voltage exceeding 125 volts is used, effective means for automatically cutting off the supply of electricity from that circuit if the leakage current to earth should exceed 30 milliamperes.

( b ) The provisions of this paragraph shall apply to all equipment installed after the commencement of the Factories (Electricity) (Amendment) Regulations, 1979 ( S.I. No. 124 of 1979 )."

GIVEN under my Official Seal, this 6th day of April, 1979.

GENE FITZGERALD,

Minister for Labour.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

These Regulations nominate the standard of earth leakage circuit breakers for use with portable and transportable electrical apparatus in factories.