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Electricity Act 1992

General - Functions and powers of WorkSafe and Secretary

17: Interference with scene of accident

You could also call this:

“Don't touch the accident scene without permission”

You are not allowed to change anything at the scene of an accident without permission from WorkSafe. If WorkSafe is not there, you need permission from a police officer or someone from Fire and Emergency New Zealand who is doing official work. The only time you can change things is if you need to stop more people from getting hurt, prevent more damage, or make the electricity safe again.

If you do change anything at the accident scene, you must tell WorkSafe what you did as soon as you can.

These rules don’t apply to people who are looking into the accident because of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

When we talk about someone from Fire and Emergency New Zealand doing official work, we mean they are doing ‘designated services’. This term means the same thing as it does in the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM282446.

Topics:
Work and jobs > Workplace safety Crime and justice > Police and safety
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"Sharing information about electricity accidents"

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18: Inquiries into accidents, or

"WorkSafe can investigate accidents to find out what happened"

Part 2 General
Functions and powers of WorkSafe and Secretary

17Interference with scene of accident

  1. No person shall interfere in any way with the scene of any accident to which section 16 applies without the permission of WorkSafe, or if WorkSafe is not present, a constable or an employee, volunteer, or contractor of Fire and Emergency New Zealand carrying out designated services, except to the extent that the person believes is necessary to avoid or minimise further injury or damage or to restore the safe supply of electricity.

  2. Where any person does interfere in any way with the scene of any accident to which section 16 applies, the person shall as soon as practicable notify WorkSafe of the action the person has taken.

  3. Nothing in subsection (1) applies in respect of any person who is investigating the accident pursuant to the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

  4. In subsection (1), designated services has the same meaning as in section 6 of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017.

Compare
  • 1982 No 27 s 14(4), (5)
Notes
  • Section 17(1): amended, on , by section 197 of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017 (2017 No 17).
  • Section 17(1): amended, on , by section 22 of the WorkSafe New Zealand Act 2013 (2013 No 94).
  • Section 17(1): amended, on , pursuant to section 116(a)(ii) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).
  • Section 17(2): amended, on , by section 22 of the WorkSafe New Zealand Act 2013 (2013 No 94).
  • Section 17(3): amended, on , by section 232 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (2015 No 70).
  • Section 17(4): inserted, on , by section 197 of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017 (2017 No 17).