Queensland electrical safety legislation and regulatory requirements
The framework
Electrical work in Queensland is governed by the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld), supported by the Electrical Safety Regulation and codes of practice. The Act's object is to eliminate or minimise electrical risk to people and property. It imposes a primary duty of care on a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) to ensure safety from electrical risk arising from the business or undertaking, with parallel duties on officers, workers and other persons at the workplace. The Electrical Safety Office (ESO) regulates, licenses and investigates, and its inspectors hold broad powers including entry and requiring documents.
Licensing and certification
Electrical work may only be performed by a person holding the appropriate Queensland licence - electrical mechanic, electrical fitter, linesperson, jointer, or a restricted licence with endorsements - and must be properly supervised when carried out by an apprentice or trainee. Contracting requires an electrical contractor licence held by the business. Notifiable electrical work must be tested and covered by an Electrical Safety Certificate given to the person for whom the work is done. Serious electrical incidents such as shock, injury, fire or property damage must be reported to the ESO, and the site preserved.
Traps
Competent person is not the same as licensed electrician: in-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment to AS/NZS 3760 is one activity a competent unlicensed person may perform, but replacing a socket outlet is electrical work. A contractor licence is not a work licence - the individual still needs the correct licence class. An interstate licence does not automatically authorise work in Queensland.
Worked example
A landlord asks you to let a handyman swap a faulty socket outlet because it is a small job. That is electrical work requiring a licensed person, verification under Clause 8 and an Electrical Safety Certificate. The answer is no.