News & Views

21st March 2019

Licensable Electrical Work, Supervision Requirements of Electrical Apprentices and Unlicensed Trade Assistants

NECA recently held its Technical Talk with NECA and Friends roadshow at the Hellenic Club. During the course of the evening, we held a discussion regarding Licensable Electrical work, supervision requirements of electrical apprentices and unlicensed trade assistants.

Subsequent to the roadshow, we have received an enquiry seeking clarification of what the supervision requirements are in both NSW and ACT for apprentices and unlicensed trade assistants.

The legislation in both NSW and ACT is quite complex, so we have simplified the obligations in the table below:

What work can be done unsupervised with limited training:	Deliver equipment Help with hazardous manual tasks – such as lifting, pulling, pushing or gripping. Housekeeping activities such as cleaning, sweeping and sorting. Install barricade and other safety equipment Stocktake and managing stores
This type of work can be performed by any competent person with the appropriate training in the ACT & NSW. Note: Specific License may be required for some equipment. (IE Fork Lift)
What work can be done unsupervised with additional training:	Work as a safety observer (LVR/CPR) Work as a first aider Work as a rescue assistant – confined spaces, working at heights, roof spaces and pole top Operate plant and equipment Erect and dismantle scaffold under 4m Traffic management
This type of work can be performed by any competent person with the appropriate training in both the ACT and NSW. Note: Specific License may be required for some equipment. (IE Elevated Work Platform)
What work can be done with direct supervision?	Working as a team under the direct supervision of a licenced electrician to install electrical equipment Install support and mechanical protection Install cabling terminate cables exceeding extra-low voltage (NSW lights and power only) (Not allowed in the ACT) Install apparatus and equipment Any physical work of installing, repairing, altering, removing
ACT: This work can only be performed by an Unrestricted Electrical Licenced or Apprentice under the supervision of a licensed electrician in the ACT. NSW: This type of work can be performed by an Apprentice and a Trades Assistant, under the supervision of a licenced electrician in NSW.
What work cannot be done:	Electrical testing Fault finding Energising and commissioning Disconnect and reconnect fixed wired appliances and electrical equipment Verification of de-energised Strip out or remove old cabling from an existing installation Terminate cabling in a control panel or switchboard
This type of work may never be performed by a Trade Assistant in either NSW or the ACT. This type of work must always be performed by a licensed Electrician.

Any member that is seeking further clarification should contact Owen Leslie from the NECA Safety Manager on 1300 361 099 or can contact the regulator directly;

ACT: Access Canberra Electrical Manager Michael Mosslar on 02 6207 7941, or email to the electrical team at electrical.inspections@act.gov.au
NSW: Fair Trading Bruce Blacker on 02 9895 9948, or email bruce.blacker@finance.nsw.gov.au