Photo: Supplied / New Zealand Electrical Inspectors Association
Homes and businesses have been exposed to a new "lethal" risk of electrocution because of a rule change, according to electrical inspectors.
RNZ can reveal a dispute that's escalated over the last month as inspectors in multiple meetings and letters have pleaded unsuccessfully with officials to do a U-turn.
WorkSafe on 13 November ditched a ban on putting a switch or fuse into mains power earthing systems, among 400 updates to electrical safety regulations.
"It's a rule that's just been taken away and ... as it stands at the moment, is a lethal risk," NZ Electrical Inspectors Association president Warren Willetts told RNZ.
Master Electricians industry group said the change had introduced a "critical safety issue" for consumers and installers.
WorkSafe said on Thursday it would be a "rare event" to insert a switch or fuse, and that other safety restrictions remained in place.
However, at the same time, the agency said the change was to allow for safer uptake of common new technologies like EV charging and household sol
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