Field Safety Representative Duties and Supervision
The FSR role
A field safety representative is accountable for regulated electrical work: ensuring compliance with the code and the Act, supervising persons doing the work, maintaining records, and communicating with the safety authority. Know the difference between direct supervision and general supervision, and when each is permitted. Know that supervision must be real: the FSR must be reachable, able to exercise control, and aware of the work being performed.
Traps to watch
- Paper supervision: naming an FSR who never attends or cannot control the work is a violation. Questions reward answers where supervision is active and documented.
- Scope of the FSR's authority: the FSR is responsible for the work under their permit; they are not automatically responsible for another permit holder's work.
- Delegation: tasks may be assigned, but accountability for compliance stays with the FSR.
- Records: keep permits, inspection requests, test results, and supervision logs. Absence of records is treated as absence of supervision.
- Changes in circumstances: if the FSR leaves or is unavailable, the permit holder must arrange replacement and notify the authority; work should not continue unsupervised.
Rule of thumb
If you cannot describe how the FSR knows the work is being done correctly, supervision is inadequate. Use the "reachable, knowledgeable, in control" test for every supervision scenario.
Worked example
An apprentice is wiring a service upgrade while the FSR is on another site and unreachable by phone. Even if the apprentice is capable, the supervision requirement is unmet because the FSR cannot exercise control or verify compliance. The fix is to arrange qualified supervision on site or reschedule the work, and to record the arrangement.
Incident Reporting and Investigation
What to know
Electrical incidents, near misses, and dangerous occurrences trigger reporting duties. You should understand what must be reported, to whom, how quickly, and what immediate actions are required: make the area safe, isolate energy, provide first aid, preserve the scene, and notify the authority. Know that serious incidents often require immediate notification followed by a written report within a defined period, and that the employer, the FSR, and the owner each have roles.
Traps to watch
- Repair before report: fixing the equipment before notifying the authority can destroy evidence. Preserve the scene unless it is necessary to prevent further harm.
- Near misses: a near miss with serious potential is often reportable even without injury. Do not dismiss it.
- Timelines: immediate verbal notification and later written reports are separate duties; missing either is a violation.
- Blame framing: the purpose is prevention. Questions reward factual, non-punitive investigation that identifies causes.
- Root cause: "worker was careless" is not a root cause. Look for procedure, training, design, and supervision failures.
Rule of thumb
Use the sequence: make safe, rescue and treat, isolate and lock out, preserve the scene, notify, then investigate and report. Any answer that investigates before making safe is wrong.
Worked example
An electrician receives a shock from a panel that was supposed to be de-energized. Immediate steps: render first aid and call for help, isolate and lock out the source, barricade the area, notify the authority as required, and preserve the panel and lockout records. The investigation then examines the isolation procedure, verification steps, and supervision, not just the individual's action.