NECA’S SUBMISSION TO THE
QLD BRANCH
INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF QUEENSLAND’S ELECTRICAL SAFETY ACT QUEENSLAND’S CURRENT ELECTRICAL SAFETY LAWS WERE LAST REVIEWED IN 2002, WHEN THE ELECTRICAL SAFETY ACT 2002 (QLD) (THE ACT) WAS FIRST INTRODUCED. SINCE THEN, THE RELEVANT TECHNOLOGICAL LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY, WITH ELECTRICITY GENERATION, SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION TRANSFORMING IN WAYS NOT CONTEMPLATED 20 YEARS AGO. In light of these concerns, the Queensland Government has initiated a review to ensure Queensland’s electrical safety laws are fit-for-purpose, specifically in relation to keeping pace with new and emerging technologies. Along with the Wiring Rules, the Electrical Safety Act and Regulations are the rules that govern the operation of Queensland’s electrical industry. NECA is committed to robust workplace health and safety practices, and believes they are fundamental to our electrical and communications industry. As part of this commitment to safety in the workplace, NECA has prepared a comprehensive submission to the review. The submission was prepared after extensive discussions with our NECA members and the broader electrical industry through roadshows, a members’ survey, continuous discussions by the NECA Safety Team and in a faceto-face meeting with the independent reviewer, Mr Dick Williams. Some of the key features NECA has proposed in its submission include:
Seeking better clarity in the definitions of electrical work, live work, who is a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) in leased farms, and what constitutes electrical work on solar installations; Strategies to minimise the chances of an arc flash through de-energising when working near exposed live parts, having IR windows in HV Boards and introducing thermal imaging requirements on commercial, industrial and hospital facilities; Seeking better clarity around the link between risk assessment and Safe Work Method Statements;
WWW.NECA.ASN.AU
Creating a central database for electricians to record and maintain mandatory test results; Introducing mandatory retrofitting of RCDs at point of sale or lease renewal in domestic properties, and introducing new requirements on rural, industrial and commercial premises; Introducing constructive and educational CPD requirements on Qualified Technical Persons on contractor licenses; Improving the rules around when electricians need to report faulty work or unsafe equipment to the regulator; Moving all electrical licensing requirements into the Electrical Safety Act and Regulations, including all the electrical licenses currently covered by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC);
NECA has also proposed that the new laws need to be accompanied by a comprehensive educational package, including roadshows and media material. We’ve also recommended the new laws have a transition period to allow the industry to adapt. The NECA submission provides a blueprint on the changes that need to be made to the current Act and Regulations. This will provide better clarity and take into account the substantial technological advancements that have taken place since the Act was originally brought in back in 2002. If you would like to read the full NECA submission, it is available on the NECA website: neca.asn.au/governmentand-industry-submissions
Changing the licence validity timeframe for contractors and electrical workers to either two or three years; Including new requirements in the Electrical Safety Act and Regulations for electric cars, charging stations, solar installations and battery storage systems; Introducing better import, design and manufacturing laws to ensure quality and compliance of electrical equipment; and Only allowing electricians to purchase electrical equipment from wholesalers, retailers and online.
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