As of 1 January 2025, Queensland has introduced new regulations for workers and people entering domestic roof spaces. The aim is to protect workers from electrical hazards in roof spaces and ensure safer practices for everyone involved. The new ESOLA regulations apply to all types of work in the roof space, which includes pest control.
Key Takeaways
- Workers must ensure the power is turned off before they start work in the roof space.
- There are exemptions if the power cannot be turned off. For example: if the homeowner has medical equipment that they need at all times.
- If the power needs to remain on, workers must prepare a risk assessment and safety statement before starting their work.
- Penalties of up to $6000 apply for non-compliance.
Worker Responsibilities
As a worker, it is your responsibility to ensure that the power is turned off. Let your clients know ahead of time so that they have the opportunity to prepare. The power should be turned on immediately before or after your arrival.
Workers must check that the power is off before entering the roof space. The easiest way to do this is to try turning on a light switch or appliance in the building. Consider putting lockout tags on the switches. This is a simple and safe practice that will help stop people from accidently turning the power back on while you are in the roof space.
Who can turn off the power?
You don't need to be an electrician to turn off the power. The homeowner, tenant or property manager can turn off the power at the main switchboard or meter box. If you do not know how to turn off the power safely, then contact a qualified electrician.
Client Responsibilities
If you are a pest control client with The Local Guys, we will require your cooperation to follow the new electrical safety regulations. Our pest controllers will ask that you turn off the electricity immediately before or after their arrival. Once your pest control service is complete, your technician will let you know when the power can be restored.
If you are a tenant or homeowner:
- Fully charge your electric devices so you are prepared for the temporary power outage
- Turn off the power when requested to by the pest controller
- Make sure everyone on your property is aware of what is happening
- Keep the power off until the technician notifies you
- Do not enter the roof space yourself unless the power is off
- Do not allow anyone else to enter the roof space while the power is on
Penalties for Non-Compliance
PCBUs face a maximum penalty of $6,000 for failing to comply with safety measures. Workers face up to $1,500 in penalties. Depending on the type of safety breach, additional penalties may apply.
When will the laws be implemented?
- From January 1, 2025: the new roof space safety regulations will be enforced.
- From July 1, 2025: inspectors can issue penalty infringement notices for non-compliance.
It is the worker's responsibility to ensure that they stay compliant with the new electrical safety rules.
Exemptions and Exceptions
There may be instances where it is not possible for the power to be turned off. These are referred to as "prescribed circumstances" in the new electrical safety framework.
The homeowner may have essential equipment that prevents our technicians from turning the power off, or they might not be able to complete their work without the power on. Working in energised roof spaces is more dangerous, so workers will need to follow additional safety requirements and strict safety measures.
If turning off the power is not an option, our pest controllers will need to write a risk assessment and safety statement before they begin working in the roof space. This will help them figure out the potential risks and show that they have taken the appropriate steps to ensure their own safety.
The safety statement must include:
- The type of work the pest controller will be doing
- A list of potential safety hazards and the risks they present to the technician
- The safety measures they will be taking
- How the additional safety measures will be implemented, monitored and reviewed
Do pest controllers need to keep the risk assessment and safety statement?
Yes, pest controllers will need to keep both documents for a specific amount of time. The risk assessment and safety statement need to be available for inspection during this time.
- Pest controllers need to keep the safety statement until their work is complete
- They will need to keep the risk assessment for 28 days after finishing their work
- If there is a serious electrical incident/accident while they are working, both documents must be kept for 2 years
These documents are essential for compliance with the roof space safety standards. If an electrical safety inspector requests to view a risk assessment or statement, the pest controller must comply. Technicians will be penalised if they do not have the documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a PCBU?
A PCBU is a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking. A PCBU usually refers to the employer. PCBUs have a duty of care under Queensland's Work Health and Safety Acts to ensure that their workers are safe and compliant with regulations. PCBUs can include a company, organisation or association. Sole traders and self-employed people can also be PCBUs.
What are ESOLA Regulations?
ESOLA refers to the Electrical Safety and Other Legislation Amendment Regulation 2024. It is part of Queensland's electrical safety laws and recommendations. The new roof space laws are an update of Queensland's existing electrical safety regulations.
What counts as a roof space?
Under the Act, roof spaces are defined as the area immediately between the roof and ceiling. Even if pest controllers are only accessing a small portion of the roof space, they will need to comply with the new safety regulations.
Please note: this does not include areas on a domestic property that have been repurposed for habitable use (like bedrooms and storage rooms).
Workers accessing roof spaces in larger residential or domestic buildings also need to comply with the new safety standards.
Examples of residential buildings include:
- Apartments
- Boarding houses
- Carports
- Garages
- Guest houses
- Homes
- Hostels
- Rental properties
- Sheds
- Town houses
What are isolated roof spaces?
An isolated roof space is a specific area in large buildings like apartments or duplexes, where electrical installations can be independently de-energised. In this case, workers are only required to comply with de-energising requirements for the part of the roof space they need to access.
For example: if the pest controller needs to access the roof space of a single apartment, they only need the power turned off for that particular apartment, not for the entire building complex.
What if there's an unexpected hazard in the roof space?
If the pest controller identifies a new risk or safety hazard that was not included in their initial risk assessment and safety statement, they need to exit the roof space immediately.
They will need to carefully evaluate the situation and update their risk assessment and statement. If they are sure that they can still continue their work safely, then they can keep going.
The pest technician might not be aware of all the electrical safety risks in the area until they are through the roof space entry point. There may be live electrical cables in the ceiling space. If they can only access the ceiling space via the roof, then the solar panels are a potential danger too.
Conclusion
The new Queensland legislation was created to reduce electrical safety risks and injuries in domestic roof spaces. Compliance with the safety regulations and the new protections for workers will be monitored by Queensland's electrical safety inspectors. Non-compliant workers and PCBUs could face penalties of up to $6000.
Workers like pest controllers must ensure that the power is turned off before they enter domestic roof spaces. In circumstances where the power needs to remain on, workers need to conduct a risk assessments and prepare a safety statement.
