ESOLA Regulation: Your questions answered

Updates to the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 implement additional recommendations from the Review of Queensland’s Electrical Safety Act 2002.

The Review focused on ensuring Queensland’s electrical safety laws continue to provide high safety standards for workers and the community. The ESOLA Regulation gives effect to a number of amendments focused on clarifying the operation of the framework, as well as introducing new requirements to respond to identified risks.

Targeted consultation with industry, registered unions, businesses, high voltage and hazardous area accredited auditors, boards and committees and government bodies informed the development of the ESOLA Regulation.

Learn more about the Electrical Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Regulation 2024.

On 27 September 2024, the ESOLA Regulation was notified. The majority of changes contained in the ESOLA Regulation have now commenced.

Remaining changes commence in 2025:

Learn more about the Electrical Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Regulation 2024.

Yes, the ESOLA Regulation prescribes water equipment as prescribed electrical equipment.

Water equipment means any apparatus, appliance, cable, conductor, fitting, insulator, material, meter or wire that:

• is operated or used for controlling, generating, supplying, transforming or transmitting electricity at extra low voltage
• can only be operated or used when connected to an external source of electricity
• is designed for use in the interior of the container of a swimming pool, paddling pool, spa or bathtubs.

Water equipment may include pool lights, pool pumps and pool heaters.

Water equipment does not include battery powered toys, battery powered pool cleaners, submersible phones and waterproof camera devices.

Learn more about prescribed electrical equipment and see the full list of prescribed electrical equipment.

From 1 April 2025, water equipment is subject to the electrical equipment safety framework within the Electrical Safety Act 2002 and Electrical Safety Regulation 2013.

For PCBUs in the supply chain (such as designers, manufacturers, suppliers) you must comply with:

• supply chain duties
• ministerial recalls
• incident notification requirements.

If you sell items, make sure you are displaying a don't DIY warning sign for the relevant types of equipment.

For PCBUs and workers who work on water equipment you must:

• comply with duties
• comply with incident notification requirements
• hold an appropriate electrical licence to do work on water equipment
• comply with safety requirements, such as de-energising when working on or near energised electrical equipment.

The ESOLA Regulation clarifies that all testing of energised electrical equipment is energised electrical work (commonly known as live work).

All testing of energised electrical equipment (including testing for dead) is subject to the requirements of Part 3, Division 1 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013. PCBUs must comply with these legislative requirements which aim to reduce electrical risks to workers, including:

Before testing energised electrical equipment, a PCBU must ensure:

• a competent person conducts and records the results of a risk assessment for the proposed electrical work (i.e. testing)
• the area where the electrical work is to be carried out is clear of obstructions to allow for easy access and exit
• the point at which the electrical equipment can be disconnected or isolated from its electricity supply is
  • clearly marked or labelled
  • clear of obstructions (to allow for easy access and exit)
  • capable of being operated quickly
• the person authorises the electrical work after consulting with the person with management or control of the workplace.

When testing energised electrical equipment, a PCBU must ensure that the work is carried out:

• by a competent person who has tools, testing equipment and personal protective equipment that
  • are suitable for the work
  • have been properly tested
  • are maintained in good working order
• in accordance with a safe work method statement prepared for the work
• where required – with a safety observer present. A safety observer may not be required if the work consists only of testing and the PCBU has conducted a risk assessment that shows that there is no serious risk associated with the proposed work.

From 1 January 2025, existing requirements for carrying out electrical work ‘on’ energised electrical equipment are extended to apply to electrical work ‘near’ energised electrical equipment.

Near, in relation to electrical equipment, means within 3m of an exposed energised part of the equipment.

For PCBUs this means you must ensure that electrical work is not carried out on or near energised electrical equipment, unless an exempted circumstance applies. If an exempted circumstance applies, you must comply with the additional requirements for electrical work on or near energised electrical equipment in Part 3, Division 1 of the ES Regulation. This includes:

• Before carrying out electrical work near energised electrical equipment, a PCBU must ensure
  • a competent person conducts and records the results of a risk assessment for the proposed electrical work
  • the area where the electrical work is to be carried out is clear of obstructions so as to allow for easy access and exit
  • the point at which the electrical equipment can be disconnected or isolated from its electricity supply is
    • clearly marked or labelled
    • clear of obstructions (to allow for easy access and exit)
    • capable of being operated quickly
  • the person authorises the electrical work after consulting with the person with management or control of the workplace.
• When carrying out electrical work near energised electrical equipment, a PCBU must ensure that the work is carried out
  • by a competent person who has tools, testing equipment and personal protective equipment that
    • are suitable for the work
    • have been properly tested
    • are maintained in good working order
  • in accordance with a safe work method statement prepared for the work
  • where required – with a safety observer present. A safety observer may not be required if the work consists only of testing; and the PCBU has conducted a risk assessment that shows that there is no serious risk associated with the proposed work.

You are encouraged to be proactive in adopting these requirements before they commence on 1 January 2025.

Learn more about electrical work on or near energised electrical equipment.

From 1 January 2025, all PCBUs and workers carrying out work in or entering a domestic roof space must comply with new legislative requirements.

For PCBUs

PCBUs must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that workers do not carry out work in the roof space; or enter the roof space for the carrying out of work in another part of the building unless the:

• relevant electrical installations in the building are de-energised; or
• if prescribed circumstances apply, comply with additional safety requirements.

Prescribed circumstances mean:

• where it is not reasonably practicable to carry out the work or enter the roof space while the relevant electrical installation is de-energised (i.e. an energised supply cable from a solar installation is running through the roof space); or
• it is necessary for a thing (other than electrical equipment) to be energised in order to test, service or commission the thing (e.g. an extra low voltage data cable).

If a prescribed circumstance applies, a PCBU must comply with the additional safety requirements including ensuring:

• a risk assessment is conducted for the work or entry
• the PCBU must be satisfied that the risks are or can be reduced to as low as reasonably practicable, and the work or entry can be done safely
• a statement for the work or entry (a statement) is prepared
• work or entry is carried out in accordance with the statement
• records of the risk assessment and statement are kept.

A statement must identify the work, specific hazards and risks, the control measures to be implemented, and how the measures are to be implemented, monitored and reviewed.

Note that all work on or near energised electrical equipment (including testing) is instead subject to the requirements for ‘electrical work on or near energised electrical equipment’ in Part 3, Division 1 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013.

For workers

Workers must also ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the worker does not carry out work in the roof space; or enter the roof space for the carrying out of work in another part of the building unless the:

• relevant electrical installations in the building is de-energised; or
• a prescribed circumstances applies.

Prescribed circumstances mean:

• where it is not reasonably practicable to carry out the work or enter the roof space while the relevant electrical installation is de-energised (i.e. an energised supply cable from a solar installation is running through the roof space); or
• it is necessary for a thing (other than electrical equipment) to be energised in order to test, service or commission the thing (e.g., an extra low voltage data cable).

Learn more

You are encouraged to be proactive in adopting these work practices before the new requirements commence on 1 January 2025.

Learn more about carrying out work in or entering the roof space of a domestic building, including answers to commonly asked questions

Additional guidance is currently being prepared and will be available soon on our website.

I have more questions about carrying out work in or entering a domestic roof space, where do I go?

You can learn more about carrying out work in or entering the roof space of a domestic building, including more answers to commonly asked questions, by visiting our WorkSafe webpage.

For more information on working in non-domestic roof spaces, or any ceiling space visit our WorkSafe webpage on ceiling spaces.

If a worker attends your home to carry out work in or enter the roof space, you can help keep them safe by preparing yourself to have the power turned off. Steps you can take include knowing where your fuse box is located and charging phones and laptops in advance.

While it is not a requirement, it is strongly encouraged that you turn the power off before you or a family member enters the roof space.

Learn more about the dangers of entering your roof space when the power is on and visit ceiling spaces.

The changes in the ESOLA Regulation clarify existing requirements that approved safety switches must be installed for any general purpose socket-outlet in a domestic residence. The changes maintain that as a homeowner you must ensure an approved safety switch is installed for any general purpose socket-outlet where:

• you become the owner of a domestic residence; or
• as an owner, you enter into a residential tenancy agreement.

You have 90 days after becoming the owner or the tenancy agreement starting to ensure the approved safety switch is installed for any general purpose socket-outlet.

Find frequently asked questions about safety switches.

Standard practice is that inspection and confirmation by an accredited auditor is required following any electrical work on an electrical installation in a hazardous area prior to reconnection or connection to an electricity supply.

However, the ESOLA Regulation clarified that an inspection by an accredited auditor is not required where all of the following apply. The:

• electrical installation is being connected or reconnected following electrical work (i.e. has previously been connected to electricity)
• electrical work is replacement of electrical equipment and is in accordance with the prescribed circumstances (‘like for like’)
• electrical equipment is not a switchboard, cable or wire
• electrical installation is in a hazardous area (and not in a high voltage electrical installation).

To meet the prescribed circumstances when replacing electrical equipment that consumes electricity, the replacement equipment must meet all of the following criteria:

• have the same voltage rating as the equipment being replaced
• have a current rating that is not greater than the current rating of the equipment being replaced
• have a power rating that is not greater than the power rating of the equipment being replaced
• perform its function in the same way as the equipment being replaced
• have electrical characteristics that are the same as or better than the electrical characteristics of the equipment being replaced including when the equipment is operating in circumstances other than normal circumstances
• be designed to operate at the same frequency range as the equipment being replaced.

To meet the prescribed circumstances when replacing electrical equipment that controls electricity, the replacement equipment must meet all of the following criteria:

• have the same voltage rating as the equipment being replaced
• have the same current rating as the equipment being replaced
• perform its function in the same way as the equipment being replaced
• have electrical characteristics that are the same as or better than the electrical characteristics of the equipment being replaced including when the equipment is operating in circumstances other than normal circumstances
• be designed to operate at the same frequency range as the equipment being replaced.

Note that inspection and confirmation by an accredited auditor is always required following electrical work on a high voltage electrical installation prior to reconnection or connection to a source of electricity.

Learn more about ‘like for like’ replacement of electrical installation in hazardous area electrical installations.