Electrical safety training for solar farms
This esafe bulletin was correct at the date of publication. Since then, section 73A (Work involving PV modules at solar farms) has been omitted from the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013. This followed a Supreme Court of Queensland decision on 29 May 2019 to declare section 73A invalid. The Construction and Operation of Solar Farms Code of Practice 2019 was amended on 30 September 2019 to remove information referring to repealed section 73A. The code was remade on 5 April 2024 as the Construction and operation of solar farms code of practice 2024 (PDF, 1.07 MB) following a limited internal review which did not change any requirements for industry.
Subsidised training is available to upskill workers in preparation for the new code of practice and electrical safety regulation that will commence this month to enhance safety in Queensland's commercial solar farm industry. The Construction and operation of solar farms Code of Practice 2019 comes into effect on 13 May 2019.
Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) provides funding for training of eligible electrical workers in the building construction industry. Available courses to ensure your workers are competent in working with solar PV and electrical equipment on solar farms include:
- Apply currency of safe working practices and compliance verification of electrical installations (UEENEEG197A).
- Conduct in-service safety testing of electrical cord connected equipment and cord assemblies (UEENEEP026A).
- Conduct compliance inspection of single phase LV electrical installations (UEENEEG122A).
- Conduct compliance inspection of LV electrical installations with demand exceeding 100 A per phase (UEENEEG123A).
- Solve basic problems in photovoltaic energy apparatus and systems (UEENEEK125A).
- Design grid connected photovoltaic power supply systems (UEENEEK135A).
- Perform rescue from a live LV panel (UETTDRRF06B).
- Certificate IV in Electrical - Renewable Energy (UEE41911).
- Certificate IV in Hazardous areas - Electrical (UEE42611).
In addition to the above electrical training, other courses available relevant to the construction, operation and maintenance of solar farms include:
- Apply occupational health and safety regulations, codes and practices in the workplace (UEENEEE101A).
- Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety (BSB41415).
- Diploma of Work Health and Safety (BSB51315).
- Work safely at heights (CPCCCM2010B).
- Work safely on scaffolding higher than two metres (CPCCCM2010).
- Operate a boom type elevating work platform (TLID3035).
- Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices (BSBSUS201).
- Establish legal and risk management requirements of small business (BSBSMB401).
- Manage small business finances (BSBSMB406).
- Plan small business finances (BSBSMB402).
Principal contractors and electrical contractors at solar farms must ensure all electrical risks associated with constructing, operating and maintaining DC solar systems are properly managed. With the new code of practice and regulation for the commercial solar farm industry commencing in May, now is a great time for your workers to access subsidised training. Visit the CSQ website for more information and check out their course selector tool to see all electrical and related courses.
Further information
More details about the new code of practice and electrical safety regulation is at https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/laws-and-compliance/electrical-safety-laws