Update from the Commissioner for Electrical Safety Keith McKenzie

Electrical Licensing Committee – Disciplinary Action

Following amendments to the Electrical Safety Act, the Electrical Licensing Committee (the Committee) can now place a condition or restriction on a licence without suspending the licence.

This could include placing conditions or restrictions on a licence holder that may require them to undertake training, work under supervision, or place a restriction on supervising apprentices.

Should the conditions or restriction not be fulfilled, the electrical licence holder could expect to appear before the Committee again.

Rescue and resuscitation training

As the Commissioner for Electrical Safety, I’d like to draw your attention to the requirements for rescue and resuscitation training outlined in the regulations.

Some employers who employ licenced electrical workers, electrical apprentices or trades assistants, may not be complying with Section 28 of the Electrical Safety Regulations, which requires the following:

(1) A person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure workers who are required to perform, or help in performing, electrical work are competent in rescue and resuscitation in accordance with recognised practices in the electricity industry.

Maximum penalty—40 penalty units.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to a worker if it is a condition of the worker’s electrical work licence that the person must not act in a role for which it is a requirement that the worker be competent in rescue and resuscitation, including as a safety observer.

So, what does this mean?

If you are undertaking electrical work or assisting in electrical work, you must be competent in resuscitation and rescue. A certificate of competency will be issued by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) that is authorised to deliver the training.

If you are an employer, please ensure your workers are competent in resuscitation and rescue.

If you are a worker, your employer should know your status and arrange the appropriate training urgently.