Electrical contractor safety duties

As a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) working on electrical equipment you are required to ensure you comply with electrical safety laws.

Certificates of compliance

As a PCBU who offers electrical work you must provide your customers with a 'certificate of testing and safety' or a 'certificate of testing and compliance' (depending on the work done).

Each type of certificate includes details about you, the customer, details about the work, and a statement certifying the electrical equipment or electrical installation is electrically safe.

As the electrical contractor (or a worker completing work on behalf of an electrical contractor), you must provide a certificate of testing and safety to the person for whom the electrical work was done. For electrical installation work, a certificate of testing and compliance must be completed and provided.

Electrical contractors must keep a copy of these certificates for 5 years.

Certificate requirements

A certificate must be given as soon as possible after you or your employees have tested or completed an electrical installation.

A 'certificate of testing and safety' or a 'certificate of testing and compliance' must state the following:

  • the name and address of the person for whom the work was performed
  • the details of the electrical equipment or electrical installation tested
  • the day the electrical equipment or installation was tested
  • the electrical contractor licence number under which the electrical equipment or installation was tested
  • a suitable certification statement.

Certification statement

A certification statement is required for electrical equipment or installation work.

  • Electrical equipment - a statement that certifies the electrical equipment (to the extent it is affected by the electrical work) has been tested to ensure it is electrically safe.
  • Electrical installations - a statement that certifies the electrical installation (to the extent it is affected by the electrical work) has been tested to ensure it is electrically safe and is in accordance with the requirements of the wiring rules and any other standard applying under the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 to the electrical installation.

Example certificate

An example certificate is available for you to use. You can also create your own certificate or use a commercially available version provided all requirements of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 are met.

Also consider...

  • Last reviewed: 30 Nov 2017
  • Last updated: 30 Nov 2017