According to the Electricity (Registration) (Amendment) Regulation 2020, application for registration or renewal of registration as an electrical contractor or electrical worker received during the concession period from 1 October 2020 to 30 September 2021 (both dates inclusive), the fees are reduced with details as below:

1. For the application of registered electrical contractor received during the concession period – the application fee is $570 instead of the original specified fee $855; and
2. For the application of registered electrical worker received during the concession period – the application fee is $315 instead of the original specified fee $475.

For the registrations which take effect before and will expire during the concession period, those registered electrical contractor or registered electrical worker will enjoy the waiver if they apply to renew their registrations during the concession period.

Refund will be considered by EMSD for those registrations of electrical contractor or electrical worker which take effect before the concession period (or the application for renewal of registration just submitted before the concession period), are valid for more than one year, and with an expiry date falling beyond the above concession period. Those registered electrical contractors or registered electrical workers could apply for refund through the E&M Trade App from 1 November 2020 to 31 January 2021 (both dates inclusive). Upon eligible application for refund received, EMSD will refund the relevant fee already paid on a pro-rata basis by reference to the concession period. Details are released on EMSD web page and E&M Trade App. You are welcome to download the E&M Trade App by scanning the QR codes right beside.

Furthermore, in order to minimise the risk of spreading COVID-19 in the community, the CPD training for REWs at the Registration and Permit Office of the EMSD has been temporarily suspended since 29 January 2020. To facilitate REWs to complete CPD training to fulfil the renewal registration requirements, the EMSD has established a web-based CPD training platform as a temporary training measure. REWs can access the web-based CPD training platform via the below link or QR code right beside.

Please click here or scan the QR code above to access the CPD training platform.

Revisions to the Code of Practice for the Electricity (Wiring) Regulations have been finalised by EMSD after more than a year's review of its 2015 version in collaboration with the relevant trade organisations. The new version of Code of Practice is expected to be uploaded to the EMSD website by end-2020 and the booklet version will be launched for sale in the 1st quarter of 2021. After a grace period of one year, the new version of Code of Practice will supersede the existing version by end-2021. During this period, EMSD will organise technical seminars / use the Electricity News to brief the trade/public on the details of the revisions.

Gold Prize: Simple and Useful Inductive Gadgets Offer Great Protection before Works

Electricity leakage may occur if there are damaged cables or faulty electrical equipment near the works area when carrying out electrical work. The condition above false ceiling is even more complicated. Mr NG Tsz-kwan proposed to tie voltage testers onto an "extendable selfie stick" prior to commencement of works, which enables electrical workers to check whether there is electricity leakage near the ceiling grid using the extendable stick at ground level. This can prevent accidents to workers caused by inadvertent touching of the live false ceiling.

Silver Prize: Learn about the Risk of Electric Shock with the Growing Popularity of Solar Panels

In recent years, photovoltaic (PV) modules (solar panels) have been installed on the rooftops of many buildings to convert solar energy into electrical energy through PV effect for use. Nevertheless, cables may be live upon connection of the solar panel to the power grid, and thus there will be a risk of electric shock. In this regard, Mr YIP Wai-hung proposed to install an indicator light or display meter at the output end of the solar panel to identify whether power is being supplied by the solar system. At the same time, a "Warning-Dual Supply" label and a solar power "Warning" label shall be posted on the system for identification so as to avoid the risk of electric shock.

Bronze Prize: Clever Tactic for Varied Outdoor Electricity Applications Ensures Peace of Mind

Apart from lighting purpose, lights can also embellish the environment. However, cables with a voltage of 220V are still used to supply electricity to the outdoor lighting of many housing estates, commercial buildings, parks, swimming pools and shopping malls, posing a risk of electric shock if water seepage occurs. Mr LUI Tin-lung suggested that power transformers be installed for outdoor lighting and cables with an extra-low voltage of 12V or 24V be used for wiring, thereby ensuring the safety of users and electrical workers.

Gold Prize: Care about Site Environment, Create a Safe Workplace

Workers at site are responsible for different areas of work. Mr SO King-hong, Mr FUNG Ki-wai and Mr CHAU Yiu-fong of Majestic Engineering Company Limited believed that a temporary four-pole residual current device (RCD) can be installed in the distribution board to replace the traditional main power switch before the inspection of fire service installations and delivery upon completion of works so that the circuit can be cut off swiftly when electricity leakage occurs. This helps reduce the risk of electric shock to workers by accident. Moreover, the company also proposed to replace the current design of a single distribution board cover with a "dual-door distribution board", which can prevent accidents caused by removing the distribution board cover.

Silver Prize: Application of Modular Integrated Construction Brings Enhanced Economic and Safety Benefits

Modular integrated construction (MiC) has been actively promoted by the trade in recent years. Mr TSANG Chi-hin and Mr CHOY Yuk-ming of REC Engineering Company Limited considered that design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA) can also be adopted by the electrical and mechanical trade to save the time for on-site construction and assembly. If the trunking of each floor's meter room is pre-assembled, electrical workers can, upon delivery of the trunking to the site, install it directly and complete such processes as cable installation and fixing of meter boards, which can save a lot of manpower and reduce the risk of accidents at site. Besides, self-made simple and small tools are used to help with the testing of in-room electrical appliances and measure the earth fault loop impedance of high-level lampholders, which can effectively improve work efficiency.

Bronze Prize: Residual Current Devices Offer Safety at Low Cost

There are many workers on a works site and they are responsible for different areas of work. Some non-electrical workers may inadvertently touch a circuit under installation and cause danger. To prevent accidents, Ms NG Man-kei, Mr LEUNG Ching-cheong and Mr WONG Wai-leung of Lik Kai Engineering Company Limited proposed a temporary replacement of the main power switch with a four-pole RCD in the distribution board during the transition period before completion of works, with a view to providing workers with better protection.

The EMSD has produced two short videos to share with the electrical trade insights of the winners for trade members' reference so that they can learn about how the winners promote and implement a work safety culture at work.

According to the requirements of the Code of Practice on Working near Electricity Supply Lines (CoP), upon completion of active cable detection, the competent person shall prepare a Competent Person Written Report (Written Report) for subsequent submission to the working party appointing him/her and clearly mark the cable alignment and depth on site so as to reduce the risk of electrical accidents or electricity supply interruptions. Since the quality of work and the conduct of competent persons have significant impact on electrical safety of the general public and power supply, common problems in the preparation of the Written Report are listed below for reference and improvement by competent persons:

1. the number and voltage of underground (U/G) cables detected are not reported;
2. a detailed cable layout plan clearly specifying the alignment ascertained for each U/G cable based on common reference points (e.g. lamp pole, traffic light post, or hydrant, etc. (see Figure 1 for details)) and any cable sections in shallow depth is not provided;
3. photos clearly showing the toroidal active detection and site markings for cable alignment and depth are not provided;
4. only one cable alignment is used to represent a group of ascertained U/G cables on the layout plan; and
   (Note: According to the requirements in paragraph 3.4.1(d) of the CoP, a cable alignment band can be used to represent a group of U/G cables of which the ascertained alignment is very close to each other (see Figure 2 for details). The size of the band shall be dimensioned and the alignment and number of U/G cables that the band represents shall be specified.)
5. the distance between the detection points exceeds the limit of three metres.
   (Note: According to the requirements in paragraph 3.3.1(b) of the CoP, the distance between each detection point shall not exceed three metres. If a directional change of the U/G cable is noted during detection, the above distance should be shortened as appropriate for more accurate detection of cable alignment and depth.)

To facilitate the preparation of the Written Report by competent persons, a sample of the Written Report has been included in Appendix 5 of the CoP (2018 Edition) for reference and use by relevant persons. Competent persons shall be arranged to explain to the frontline staff at the works site the contents of the Written Report upon its completion. The Written Report should also be posted on the barrier or railing at the works site for reference by site personnel.