Electrical safety codes of practice and regulation

Electrical safety codes of practice

Four electrical safety codes of practice that may be useful in helping you to maintain a safe workplace:

• Electrical safety code of practice 2020 – Electrical equipment rural industry (PDF, 668KB)
• Electrical safety code of practice 2021 – Managing electrical risks in the workplace (PDF, 1.2MB)
• Electrical safety code of practice 2020 – Working near overhead and underground electric lines (PDF, 477KB)
• Electrical safety code of practice 2020 – Works (PDF, 341KB)

A code of practice applies to anyone who has a duty of care in the circumstances described in the code. The codes of practice provide guidance for electrical safety duties and standards required under the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld). They also outline effective ways to identify and manage electrical safety risks.

The codes of practice deal with particular issues and do not cover every hazard or risk. You are required to consider all electrical safety risks, not just those outlined in the regulations and codes of practice. You should read the electrical safety codes of practice along with other codes of practice such as How to manage work health and safety risks – code of practice 2021 (PDF, 670KB).

Following the codes of practice generally means that you have achieved compliance in your workplace.

Codes of practice can be used in court proceedings as the courts may regard a code of practice as evidence of what is known about a hazard, risk or control. The courts may rely on the code in determining what is reasonably practicable in the circumstances to which the code relates.

Electrical Safety Regulation

The Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld), supported by the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 (Qld) and the 4 codes of practice contain information on how to identify and manage electrical safety risks. They can help you to make your workplace safer.

The Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 (Qld) helps you to identify specific ways to meet your electrical safety duties under the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld) and establishes requirements for:

• electrical work
• electrical licensing
• working near overhead and underground electric lines
• electrical installations
• in-scope electrical equipment
• works of an electricity entity
• electricity supply
• safety management systems for prescribed electricity entities
• cathodic protection systems
• incident notification and reporting.

It is important to realise that the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 (Qld) does not identify all that you need to do in order to fulfil your duties.