Hello. My name is Sue Sizer, and I’m head of Industry Education and Guidance at Energy Safe Victoria.
In this short video I’ll talk to you about the new apprentice supervision requirements, which will come into effect on 1 September 2025.
As you will be aware, the Apprentice Supervision Requirements outline the responsibilities of employers and supervisors in improving safety outcomes for electrical apprentices as provided for under S39 of the Victorian Electricity Safety Act 1998 and Regulation 507 of the Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019.
In Victoria, there have been 5 electrical apprentice deaths over the past 10 years. This is an unacceptable statistic. It is the responsibility of all in the electrical trade to be vigilant in the safe and effective supervision of electrical apprentices. We take a no tolerance approach to apprentice safety.
The apprentice supervision requirements provide employers and supervisors of electrical apprentices with information on the expectations and legal requirements for the effective supervision of apprentices.
In this video, I’ll cover:
- Employer and supervisor responsibilities
- Supervisor to apprentice ratios,
- levels of supervision, and
- The scope, implementation and timing of the new requirements.
Last year, Energy Safe completed a public consultation which resulted in an update to the Apprentice Supervision Requirements, which will take effect on 1 September 2025.
Be aware that the current requirements will remain in effect until 31 August this year.
The change in requirements aligns us with NSW, and is similar to WA and TAS.
The updated requirements include changes to the supervision ratios and levels of supervision for specified work types.
Employers must provide a physical or digital copy of requirements to their employees who supervise apprentices.
In terms of scope, the supervision requirements only apply when the apprentice is actually carrying out electrical installation work.
So, they do not apply to non-electrical tasks such as drilling holes or digging trenches. However, the general OH&S requirements still apply at all times.
This slide shows the apprentice supervision ratios, which is one of the major changes to the new requirements. The existing ratios, shown in the middle column, were recommendations only, and no ratios were defined for broad supervision or for combinations of apprentices.
The ratios in the new requirements now provide more definition across each supervision levels, and address some of the more common combinations.
It is important that employers and supervisors fully understand the supervision levels of direct, general and broad supervision, as listed in the first column. For the full definitions, please see the Requirements document using the QR code at the end of this video.
One change worth noting is that previously, direct supervision required the supervisor to remain within earshot of the apprentice. The new definitions still allow for the supervisor to be within audible range for the majority of tasks, to ensure this is practical to apply on the worksite, but we have introduced a requirement for visual contact when the apprentice is carrying out higher risk tasks, such as isolation procedures.
Apprentices will move up through the levels of supervision as they gain experience and competence. The requirements clarify that the apprentice should discuss this with their supervisor. However, the Supervisor is responsible for making the final decision on the supervision level.
Let’s have a look at how this will apply to apprentices at each year level.
First year apprentices are under direct supervision at all times but will move to general and broad supervision in later years as they gain experience and competency.
You can see in the table that two of the tasks marked for direct supervision have asterisks on them. These are the tasks that will require the supervisor to have visual contact with the apprentice while they are carrying out these tasks.
In second year, the apprentice should have gained competency to complete more tasks under general supervision. But tasks that are considered high risk remain under direct supervision.
With increased experience and competence, third year apprentices have more tasks they can do under general supervision and a number of tasks they can do under broad supervision. Tasks that are considered high risk remain under direct supervision.
In third year, apprentices can commence basic fault-finding under direct supervision. Basic fault finding is fault finding that is not on or near live electrical parts.
In their fourth or final year, more tasks are able to be completed under broad supervision, based on the experience and competence of the individual apprentice.
Remembering that work on or near any live or energised equipment is not permitted for any apprentice. Testing to confirm isolation and fault-finding are the exceptions to this but must be done under direct supervision.
So, a fourth-year apprentice may undertake advanced fault finding, which is fault finding on or near live electrical parts, under direct supervision.
Whenever an apprentice moves from direct, to general, to broad supervision, it must be based on the experience and competence of the individual apprentice, in addition to what is listed on these tables.
For example, this table says a fourth year apprentice may install a switchboard under broad supervision. But if you have a fourth year apprentice who has never previously been given the opportunity to install a switchboard, they have no experience and have not proven competence to carry out this task. They would need to be under direct supervision for this task until they have proven their competence to do it under broad supervision.
To assist employers, supervisors and apprentices in understanding these new requirements, we will be hosting Q&A webinars in June. Please visit our website for further information or to register to attend and to submit your questions.
From July, we will be hosting a roadshow style in-person event program around Victoria to speak to licensed electrical workers about a range of topics, including apprentice supervision.
Use the QR code on the screen to get a copy of the requirements from the Energy Safe Victoria website.
Apprentices are the future of our industry – they are also our most vulnerable workers. The changes to the requirements will ensure their safety. Thank you for watching.
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