May 2018: New OSH regulations and electrical safety in the roof.

WA’s new OSH Regulations came into effect on Tuesday 15th May 2018.

Tradespeople are now required, by law (new OSH regulations 3.59A and 3.59B), to switch the mains power off to the home before entering the ceiling space to any domestic-type building. This applies to those working in service trades such as electrical, gas, pest control workers and installers of air conditioning, insulation, security systems and antennas, and building inspectors.While the new laws do not relate to homeowners accessing their own roof spaces, The Chamber of Commerce & Industry WA strongly recommends that they also switch off the electricity mains first, as good practice. (Please share this postl with any homeowners you may know – it could save a life!)A roof space may have a number of electrical hazards, including wiring with damaged insulation or exposed live parts – which pose an electric shock or electrocution risk.What does this mean for us as building inspectors?It means that before we inspect inside the roof space during a property inspection (which is EVERY building inspection provided we have safe access to the roof space) we will have to switch OFF the mains power to the house. The power must remain switched off while our inspector is inside the roof. To ensure our inspector’s safety he will be responsible for switching the power off and then on again. The switching cannot be performed by another person present during the inspection.We have now updated our terms and conditions for our inspections to note that if permission is not granted by the home owner to switch power OFF during the roof inspection that we will not perform an inspection inside the roof.We will ask that all acting agents make their clients aware of this new requirement prior to a home inspection, and our inspector will also inform anyone present at the home during the inspection that he will be turning the power off for part of the inspection. We will also ask that access is made ready to the mains power switchboard before we arrive at the property.Generally the power will only need to be switched off for 15-20 minutes while our inspector is inside the roof space.

A detailed presentation by the WA Department of Mines, Industry Regulation & Safety on the new OSH Regulations can be read HERE.