Conditions of Office – Electricity Entities Safety Management Systems Accredited Auditors

The Regulator has appointed you to act in the capacity of an accredited auditor under Part 10 of the Electrical Safety Act 2002. You hold office on the basis that you comply with these conditions.

1. The Regulator reserves the right to add or alter these conditions of office.
2. An accredited auditor must be active in conducting audits in Queensland under the jurisdiction of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 to retain the accreditation.
3. When carrying out audit related functions accredited auditors are at all times subject to the reasonable direction of the Regulator.
4. An accredited auditor must maintain their skills, knowledge, and abilities in relation to their work as an accredited auditor for the duration of their appointment.
5. The accredited auditor must have appropriate types and levels of insurance for all work performed under the appointment.
6. The accredited auditor must act responsibly by conducting themselves in a professional manner, and demonstrating respect for all persons, clients, or members of the public. Accredited auditors have an obligation to abide by the Queensland Public Service Code of Conduct www.forgov.qld.gov.au/code-conduct-queensland-public-service
7. An accredited auditor must advise the Regulator of changes in work-related contact details, including address, telephone, or email contact details, within 14 days of the change. The accredited auditor, in providing work-related contact details, consents to their details being made publicly available.
8. The accredited auditor shall not display, use, reference, promote or quote their accredited auditor credentials on any material/advertisement for work that does not relate to their role as an accredited auditor appointed under the Electrical Safety Act 2002 or the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013.
9. In accordance with the Electrical Safety Act 2002 section 132, an accredited auditor must produce their identity card on request when performing a function of an accredited auditor.
10. The accredited auditor must prepare an audit report and retain a copy of the report and evidence supporting the auditor’s decision for at least five (5) years.
11. The accredited auditor must certify the results of all audits by signing and issuing a certificate in the approved and or recommended format. All accredited auditors who are part of an audit team must sign the certificate.
12. An accredited auditor may be subject to monitoring and review by the Regulator during the performance and/or following an audit/inspection to ensure compliance with accreditation terms and conditions.
13. The accredited auditor must give the Regulator any information which the Regulator reasonably requires regarding work performed by the accredited auditor.
14. In accordance with the Electrical Safety Act 2002 section 136A, an accredited auditor must provide information or a document the regulator reasonably requires to satisfy the Regulator the accredited auditor:
    1. continues to be appropriately qualified; or
    2. continues to satisfy the conditions of office.
15. Accredited auditors must have a documented conflict management process and are to actively identify, manage and document any conflicts of interest or perceived conflicts of interest.
16. The accredited auditor is responsible for managing complaints against their work or conduct as an accredited auditor and should have their own complaints management process.
17. Fees payable for audit services are a commercial transaction between the accredited auditor and the business entity and not a matter for the Office of Industrial Relations.
18. Obtaining work as an accredited auditor is subject to market forces associated with the competitive marketplace. Accredited auditors are responsible for their own marketing decisions.
19. The accredited auditor is responsible for employment decisions and the management of all conflicts of interest, privacy issues and confidentiality of intellectual property when working for multiple companies.
20. In accordance with the Electrical Safety Act 2002 section 134, the Regulator may suspend or revoke an accredited auditor’s appointment at any time. A person whose interests are affected by this decision may apply for a review of the decision or appeal the decision in accordance with the Electrical Safety Act 2002 part 12.
21. In accordance with the Electrical Safety Act 2002 section 135, an accredited auditor may resign by submitting a signed notice to the Regulator.
22. An accredited auditor must advise the Regulator of any changes that may affect their ability to act in the capacity of an accredited auditor.
23. In accordance with the Electrical Safety Act 2002 section 136, a person who ceases to be an accredited auditor must return the person’s identity card to the Regulator within 21 days of ceasing to be an accredited auditor. It is an offence for a person who is not an accredited auditor to, in anyway, hold himself or herself out to be an accredited auditor.
24. Unless otherwise revoked by the Regulator or there is a failure to meet a stated condition of office, the term of office is for five (5) years from the date of appointment listed on the ‘Instrument of Appointment’.
25. An accredited auditor can only operate under their accredited skillset. Skillsets are either Systems, Technical, or Systems and Technical.
26. The Lead auditor is the accredited auditor with ‘Systems’ accreditation.
27. Where an audit team is engaged, the team must comprise of accredited auditors who when combined as a team have the required Systems and Technical capabilities. If a member of the accreditation team cannot participate and the skillset is affected, the team must cease auditing until the team’s Systems and Technical capabilities are reinstated.
28. The accredited auditor/s’ annual SMS report must reflect the current level of compliance of how the prescribed electricity entity is giving effect to its safety management system as required by the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 s 234.
29. Accredited auditor/s must audit to the requirements of a safety management system provided in the Electrical Safety Act 2002 ss 66-67 and the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 ss 233-234.
30. Accredited auditor/s and all personnel associated with the assessment and validation of the safety management system are to treat all findings and reports made during audit activities as confidential between the Regulator, the prescribed electricity entity, and the accredited auditor.
31. Accredited auditors associated with the assessment and validation of the safety management system must not be directly involved with the development, implementation or management of the safety management system under review. This condition does not limit the accredited auditor’s ability to provide information on relevant legislation, standards, or codes of practice.
32. Accredited auditors associated with the assessment and validation of the safety management system must not be an employee of a prescribed electricity entity responsible for the implementation of a safety management system.
33. The accredited auditor is provided guidance in the form of the Safety Management System Audit and Governance Guide, subject to amendment by the Regulator.
34. It is expected the accredited auditor is guided by AS / NZS ISO 19011 - Guidelines for auditing management systems.
35. Accredited auditors, associated with the assessment and validation of the safety management system must not audit the same prescribed electricity entity more than three (3) times in consecutive years. This can be relaxed if approval is granted by the Regulator on a case by case basis and upon request for consideration.