Ministerial notice - to all Queensland insulation installers
From Sunday 1 November 2009, all Queensland insulation installers, whether or not operating under the Australian Government’s Home Insulation Scheme, will be required to take additional electrical safety measures to protect themselves and Queensland householders.
These provisions, determined by the Electrical Safety (Installation of Ceiling Insulation) Notice 2009 (PDF 194 KB) pursuant to the Electrical Safety Act 2002, came into force on Sunday 1 November 2009:
This notice applies to all persons conducting a business or undertaking which includes the installation of ceiling insulation who must:
- Ensure that the fastening of insulation to the ceiling structure in a building is not done using metal or any other form of conductive fasteners.
All workers who are installing ceiling insulation must not use metal or any other form of conductive fasteners.
- Ensure that the insulation when installed complies with Section 4.5.2.3 (Recessed Luminaires) of the Wiring Rules AS/NZS 3000:2007
- Ensure that they and all installers employed or engaged by them are trained in undertaking a risk assessment on electrical hazards which may give rise to the risk of shock or fire.
- Conduct an on-site operational risk assessment on electrical hazards which give rise to the risk of shock or fire before installation commences and implement appropriate control measures.
- Make and keep a record of the required on-site operational risk assessment for a period of 5 years.
Failure to comply with the requirements of this ministerial notice represents a breach of the obligation under the Electrical Safety Act 2002 to ensure your business or undertaking is conducted in a way that is electrically safe.
Penalties for failure to discharge these obligations range from 500 penalty units (currently $250,000) or six months imprisonment to 2000 penalty units (currently $1,000,000) or three years imprisonment when breaches cause multiple deaths.
For further assistance in carrying out the required risk assessment please refer to the Risk Management Code of Practice 2007 Supplement 2 – Risk assessment (PDF 225 KB) which can be accessed at this link.
Use this example of a Risk Assessment Training Register (PDF 15 KB) to assist in maintaining training records.
More information
- Electrical Safety (Installation of Ceiling Insulation) Notice 2009
- Insulation - Installing ceiling insulation and your health and safety (PDF 136 KB) fact sheet.
- Frequently asked questions about ceiling insulation for installers.
Last updated 5 November 2009
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