Key Points:

• Electricians risk losing their licence for failing to supervise apprentices under new regulations.
• Electrical-related fatalities are the second leading cause of deaths in NSW construction.
• New guidelines require electricians to assess apprentices’ skills before assigning tasks and provide specific supervision levels.
• The new standards take effect from 1 September and will be enforced by Building Commission NSW.
• Non-compliance can result in fines, licence suspension, or cancellation.

Electricians who fail to properly supervise apprentices will lose their licence under changes designed to protect young workers and make sure electrical work meets quality standards.

Electrical-related workplace fatalities remain the second leading cause of fatalities in the NSW construction industry.

SafeWork NSW was notified of 1708 incidents in construction industry workplaces from January 2020 to the end of April this year, with eight electrical-related workplace fatalities recorded between July 2022 and June 2024.

New practice guidelines will require sparkies to consider the competency, knowledge, and skills of their apprentices before giving them any work task and any new type of task. They also spell out specific obligations that supervisors must meet every day, particularly around the work health and safety of their apprentices.

The guidelines also detail suitable levels and ratios of supervision for apprentices tackling different tasks.

The safe and reliable supply of electricity is a critical component of building construction. In a recent incident in southern Sydney, a young trade assistant carrying out electrical wiring work without a qualified supervisor present received an electric shock.

While the worker wasn’t seriously injured, the supervisor and director of Siasax Pty Ltd, Bram Earl Penberthy, was found guilty of improper conduct, fined $1500 and ordered to complete a Construct NSW course in Supervisor Responsibilities.

Building Commission NSW will enforce the new, higher standards governing the way electricians supervise apprentices from 1 September.

The standard was released in December 2023 following extensive consultation and will now be mandated as a condition of licence for electricians.

The supervision practice standard sets out obligations licensed electricians must meet when supervising apprentices, as required in building and work, health and safety legislation.

Businesses that fail to comply with the new practice standard may face on-the-spot fines and disciplinary action, such as a licence suspension or cancellation.

For further information, please see: https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/trades-and-businesses/construction-and-trade-essentials/electricians/supervision-practice-standard-for-licensed-electricians-supervising-apprentices