About the Blue Book
The Blue Book sets out key safety principles and minimum safety requirements for people working on or near high voltage electrical apparatus.
The Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019 require certain workers and asset owners to comply with the Blue Book.
The former State Electricity Commission of Victoria first developed the Blue Book in the 1920s. Today, Energy Safe Victoria publishes the Blue Book and the Blue Book Committee reviews it every 5 years to keep its safety requirements fit for purpose and to reflect industry best practice.
The committee brings together representatives from Energy Safe, WorkSafe Victoria, industry, unions and other organisations involved in high voltage electrical safety.
The committee has reviewed the current Blue Book 2022 and developed the proposed changes in the draft Blue Book 2027.
Proposed changes
The draft Blue Book 2027 proposes changes to clarify existing requirements, update terminology and guidance, and reflect current industry practice.
Key changes include:
- updating terminology and adding definitions to improve consistency and reflect current industry use
- clarifying how alcohol, drugs, reduced mental alertness or physical condition may affect a person's ability to work safely
- clarifying requirements for planning and testing high voltage apparatus
- strengthening requirements for Statements of Condition of Apparatus or Plant (SCAP)
- clarifying requirements for completing access authority documents
- adding guidance for issuing and relinquishing electrical access permits
- adding guidance on National Competency Standards
- adding the Arc Flash Hazard Management Guideline, jointly published by Energy Safe and WorkSafe Victoria, to the Blue Book's referenced documents.
Read the draft Blue Book 2027
Submissions
We encourage workers, asset owners, and other interested stakeholders to review the draft Blue Book 2027 and provide feedback.
Please send your written submission to consultation@energysafe.vic.gov.au.
Submissions close at 12 pm Monday 19 October 2026.
Please include enough detail in your submission to help us understand your feedback and any impacts or issues you think we should consider.
We will publish all submissions here unless you ask us to keep your submission, or part of it, confidential.
Next steps
After the consultation closes, the Blue Book Committee will consider all feedback and work with Energy Safe to finalise and publish the Blue Book 2027.
Contact us
If you have questions about the consultation, please email consultation@energysafe.vic.gov.au.
Date: 05/09/2026 8:47
The currency and accuracy of this information cannot be guaranteed once printed or saved to a storage device. If in doubt, please check the Energy Safe Victoria website for the current version.
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