Skip to main content
Contact us
    0 results available.
    Two field crew standing inside a substation

    Authorised Person

    The Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 sets out the requirements for those working near electric lines.

    It recommends 'exclusion zones' or areas close to lines where people are not allowed to enter. These zones vary depending on whether you're classified as an 'Authorised Person (Electrical or Non-Electrical)', an 'Instructed Person' or an 'Untrained Person'.

    Authorised Person (Electrical)

    An Authorised Person (Electrical) is permitted to work closer to the electric lines than an Untrained Person due to their knowledge and competencies (refer Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2020 Working Near Overhead and Underground Electric Lines Appendix B Exclusion Zones for Overhead Electric Lines).

    An electrical mechanic who holds a current Queensland electrical mechanic licence and is approved as an Authorised Person (Electrical) can:

    • Work on or near the point of attachment of Distributor’s termination
    • Remove and replace Low Voltage (LV) service fuses when a customer's LV service line needs to be isolated to eliminate the exclusion zone around the LV service line, or to work on the customer's mains and/or switchboard
    • Isolate a customer's LV service line at an underground service pillar or service pole by removing a fuse wedge(s) from a service line, in accordance with electricity industry practices i.e., from ground level using appropriate insulated tools, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and insulating mats
    • Safety Observing under schedule 2 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 (Qld) for the operation of operating plant, after receiving appropriate training to perform the role.

    In those situations where the service fuse/circuit breaker is not located or accessible at the supply end of the LV service line, the Authorised Person (Electrical) needs to contact the Distributor to either arrange for isolation of the customers premises, or arrange for a Safety Advice where removal of the exclusion zone around the LV service line is required.

    Please note: Any controls used by the Authorised Person (Electrical), to confirm isolation and ensure supply to the customer's connection isn't inadvertently re-energised, must comply with Sections 14 and 15 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013.

    An Authorised Person (Electrical) is not allowed to:

    • Confirm the insulation properties of the Distributor’s electric lines
    • Work on or have direct contact with the works of a Distributor, including the Distributor’s electrical lines, electrical installations, electrical equipment or other entity infrastructure except as specifically approved
    • Replace a blown LV service fuse/s after loss of supply to a customer's connection
    • Replace an LV service fuse that has been removed by the Distributor
    • Alter, remove or relocate the Distributor’s overhead LV service line or LV pillar connections
    • Perform LV isolation within locked Distributor assets
    • Perform unauthorised work within locked Distributor assets
    • Climb or work aloft on our poles or electricity assets.

    Authorised Person (Non-Electrical)

    An Authorised Person (Non-Electrical) does not hold a Queensland electrical mechanic licence. However, has enough technical knowledge and experience to do non-electrical work that involves being near electric lines and has been approved by us to work near electric lines.

    An Authorised Person (Non-Electrical) is allowed to do:

    • Safety Observing under schedule 2 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 (Qld) for the operation of operating plant, after receiving appropriate training to perform the role.

    An Authorised Person (Non-Electrical) is not allowed to:

    • Confirm the insulation properties of the Distributor’s electric lines
    • Work on or have direct contact with the works of a Distributor including the Distributor’s electrical lines, electrical installations, electrical equipment or other entity infrastructure
    • Climb or work aloft on our poles or electricity assets.

    Applying to become an Authorised Person (Electrical or Non-Electrical)

    To become an Authorised Person (Electrical), the employer/self-employed person must first satisfy the Person in Control of the electric line, that their applicants have the required competencies.

    1. 1 Step 1 - Check technical knowledge and experience

      Ensure that all persons to be approved as Authorised Persons have an appropriate level of technical knowledge and experience to do the work. This includes the operation of plant or vehicle near to the electric lines, and demonstrated competencies in the following areas:

      The following recognised training courses are available through approved Registered Training Organisations to assist Applicants to meet the above requirements.

      A person who holds an electrical mechanic licence and is performing work on behalf of a licenced electrical contractor or for the person or a relative of the person at premises owned or occupied by the person or relative can complete:

      Note: You will need the Training Completion Certificate for each person from one of the six options above before you can submit your application form (step 2 below).

    2. 2 Step 2 - Submit application form

      The employer/self-employed person must submit the request via the online form. If you are performing work for the person or a relative of the person at premises owned or occupied by the person or relative, please put your own information in as the business contact and name.

      Before the nominated Applicants can perform the role of Authorised Person, we (the Distributor) must provide approval in writing to the employer or self-employed person which is valid for 12 months (temporary timeframe under review).

      Complete our Authorised Person request form.

      It's the responsibility of the applicant to manage the renewal of this authorisation. We (the Distributor) do not manage the expiry dates of this authorisation and will not send out any communication or reminders of a pending expiry date.

      Only Authorised Persons as defined under the ‘Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2020 Working Near Overhead and Underground Electric Lines’, that are engaged as an Energy Queensland Supplier or an Accredited Service Provider under the applicable Work Category Specification are able to apply to receive a system key to access assets owned and managed by Distribution Network Service Providers (Energex Ltd / Ergon Ltd.). Becoming an ‘Authorised Person’ does not automatically qualify the person to receive a system key.

      Authorised Personal approval is only valid for a person while they remain with the employer for which the Authorised Person application was approved.

      Please note: Under the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld), a person conducting a business or undertaking (including an employer or self-employed person) must ensure the person’s business or undertaking is conducted in a way that is electrically safe.

      This includes:

      • ensuring that all electrical equipment used in the conduct of the person’s business or undertaking is electrically safe; and
      • if the person’s business or undertaking includes the performance of electrical work, ensuring the electrical safety of all persons and property likely to be affected by the electrical work; and
      • if the person’s business or undertaking includes the performance of work, whether or not electrical work, involving contact with, or being near to, exposed parts, ensuring persons performing the work are electrically safe.

      A person conducting a business or undertaking should also ensure compliance with the Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2020, Working near overhead and underground electric lines (Code). All authorised persons must comply with the Code as a condition of their authorised person approval.

    Instructed Person

    An Instructed Person is a person who is acting under the supervision of an Authorised Person for the electric line.

    Untrained Person

    An Untrained Person is a person who isn't an Authorised Person or an Instructed Person for the electric line.

    Consultation

    If you're unsure that you can meet your obligations under the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013, you can contact us for safety advice with having the lines de-energised, relocated, installed underground, or having insulated or physical barriers or visual indicators installed at your worksite.

    Costs will apply for these services and details will be provided to you following a site inspection carried out by us.

    Getting safety advice

    The Person, Worker or Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) must contact us and request written Safety Advice where, following their risk assessment and control measures implementation1 at the worksite, it’s been found that exclusion zones from overhead electric lines cannot be maintained during the works.

    Until we have provided written Safety Advice, the Person, Worker or PCBU must maintain exclusion zones at the worksite.

    To obtain written Safety Advice, submit online via the Safety Advice form or call us on 13 12 53.

    Please note: A Person, Worker or PCBU would not need to contact us and request written Safety Advice where their risk assessment and implemented control measures ensure that exclusion zones from overhead electric lines will be maintained during the works at the site.

    Need more information?

    For more detailed information please read our Electricity Entity Requirements – Working Near overhead and underground electric lines (PDF 681.8 kb) or email authorisedperson@energyq.com.au.

    Footnotes

    1. Any control measures implemented  at the worksite must be in accordance with the Electrical Safety Code of Practice 2020 - Working Near Overhead and Underground Electric Lines and Electricity Entity Requirements: working near overhead and underground electric lines.