New requirements for carrying out work in or entering domestic roof spaces commence 1 January 2025

Michael Gibson: Hi, I am Michael Gibson, a Director of Field Services at the Electrical Safety Office.

Kirsty McLean: And I'm Kirsty McLean, Manager of Electrical Safety Policy.

Today's webinar is to chat through some of the new legislative requirements for persons conducting a business or undertaking, otherwise known as PCBUs, and workers carrying out work in or otherwise entering the roof space of a domestic building.

I would like to start today by respectfully acknowledging the Traditional Owners on the land in which we meet today. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people listening today.

Michael Gibson: New legislative requirements for PCBUs and workers carrying out work in or otherwise entering the roof space of a domestic building will be introduced on the 1st of January 2025 by the Electrical Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Regulation 2024, also known as the ESOLA Regulation.

This legislative change stems from the recommendations made as part of the review of Queensland's Electrical Safety Act 2002. The review recommended legislative changes to better manage the electrical risks for those working in roof spaces.

Today, we'll be discussing how these requirements may affect you.

Kirsty McLean: Whether you are a worker or a PCBU, you have duties under both Queensland's Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the Electrical Safety Act 2002 to ensure that work is done safely.

When working or entering a roof space, you may be exposing yourself to a range of risks. This includes risks posed by dust, excessive heat and biological hazards.

Today, we are focusing on the new requirements introduced by the ESOLA Regulation, which relates to the electrical risk of working in domestic roof spaces.

From 1 January 2025, new requirements will apply to PCBUs and workers who carry out work in or otherwise enter domestic roof spaces. These requirements are not limited to licensed electrical workers. These requirements seek to embed safe work practices to protect those carrying out work in or entering the roof space of a domestic building, from electrical risk.

New requirements provide that PCBUs must ensure that workers only carry out work in or otherwise enter a domestic roof space where either the relevant electrical installations in the building are de-energised or either of the prescribed circumstances apply.

The new regulation recognises that the most effective way to reduce electrical risk when working in or entering a domestic roof space is to de-energise the building's relevant electrical installations.

You can de-energise an electrical installation by turning off the power at the main switchboard. You don't need to be an electrician in order to turn the power off.

Where a prescribed circumstance applies, you must comply with additional safety requirements.

A prescribed circumstance recognises that it is either not reasonably practicable to carry out the work or entry while the installation is de-energised, or you need the power on in order to test, service or commission a thing, being something other than electrical equipment.

It may not be reasonably practicable to carry out the work or entry while the electrical installation is de-energised because there is a solar panel installed on the roof with an energised supply cable running through the roof. You may have discovered this because you saw a solar panel installed or you asked the homeowner if one was installed.

Alternatively, you may need the power on in order to test, service or commission a thing, being something other than electrical equipment. This could include servicing an extra-low voltage data cable.

These requirements seek to embed existing industry practice and regulator expectations to provide a safer work environment for Queenslanders.

Michael Gibson: PCBUs must comply with additional safety requirements where work or entry occurs under a prescribed circumstance. This includes conducting and recording a risk assessment and preparing a statement for how the work is to be performed.

PCBUs must ensure that the work or entry complies with the statement prepared. A statement must identify the work or entry, specify the hazards and associated risk, describe the measures which are going to be implemented and describe how the measures are going to be implemented, monitored and reviewed.

Despite a prescribed circumstance applying, a measure to appropriately address the risk may include partial de-energising the electrical installation, meaning turning the power off. PCBUs are required to keep a copy of the risk assessment for 28 days after the work or entry and the statement until the work or entry is completed.

If there is a serious electrical incident or dangerous electrical vent relevant to the work or entry, you are required to keep both the risk assessment and statement for two years.

Our electrical safety inspectors may request to view your risk assessments and statements. You must comply with their request.

Kirsty McLean: Workers must also only carry out work in or otherwise enter a domestic roof space where either the relevant electrical installations in the building are de-energised or prescribed circumstances apply.

Michael Gibson: What is the roof space of the building? Well, the roof space refers to the space immediately under the roof or the space between the roof and the ceiling, including the ceiling structure.

The roof space does not refer to a habitable area such as a loft.

A domestic building is referring to Classes 1, 2 and 10A buildings from the Building Code of Australia. These classes capture houses, townhouses, row houses, apartments, boarding houses, guest houses and some hostels, sheds, carports and garages in Queensland.

These requirements apply whether you fully enter the roof space, climb through the roof space or just insert a hand into the roof space.

These new requirements also apply to you if you carry out work in or otherwise enter the roof space.

This applies to all professions, whether it relates to pest control, insulation activities, roof and ceiling repair or electrical work, including air conditioning repair.

Any electrical work on or near energised electrical equipment is instead subject to the requirements for electrical work on or near energised electrical equipment.

You may be working in or entering an isolated roof space. Where the roof space is isolated, you are only required to comply with the requirements to de-energise relevant electrical installations or recognise prescribed circumstances to the extent of the isolated roof space.

In order to carry out work in or enter the roof space in these circumstances, all of the following must apply.

A part of the roof space of the building is separate from one or more other parts of the same building.

The isolated roof space cannot be accessed from any other part of the building's roof space and the relevant electrical installation in the isolated roof space is capable of being de-energised in isolation from any other relevant electrical installation in the building.

Situations where this is most likely to occur is in large mansions, apartment buildings and duplexes.

Kirsty McLean: Before changes commence on 1 January 2025, you should familiarise yourself with these new regulatory requirements.

If you are a PCBU, please consider what processes, practices and guidance you can put in place to ensure that your workers are safe in Queensland roof spaces. Be aware that penalties apply to both PCBU's and workers who fail to comply with their relevant legislative obligations.

Please also refer to the links on this page to view existing content on how to meet your work health and safety duties, as well as existing videos, brochures and stickers through our Stay Safer Up There, Switch Off Down Here campaign.

If you are a homeowner or a tenant, please comply with any request by a worker to turn the power off. You can take steps to prepare for turning the power off, such as ensuring your electronic devices are fully charged.

If you are a homeowner or tenant, please do not enter or allow family or friends to enter your roof space unless the power is turned off.

These new requirements help our workers return home safe at the end of each day.

To help you navigate these changes, we are preparing additional guidance. Please stay informed by visiting our WorkSafe Queensland and Electrical Safety Office websites. You can also stay informed by subscribing to our e-news or following us on social media.

This concludes our webinar. Thank you for tuning in.