A message from the Commissioner for Electrical Safety, Keith McKenzie

As the year draws to an end, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you, your staff and your families a safe and happy festive season.

2025 has been a huge year with respect to electrical safety and I need to acknowledge the work and role of the Electrical Safety Office (ESO) and all the dedicated staff working every day to help Queenslanders.

With an estimated population of 5.46 million people in Queensland who depend on electricity in some form each day, the function of the ESO serves a critical role in keeping Queenslanders electrically safe, and they perform this role extremely well.

Board and committee services, supply networks, governance, equipment safety, field services, licensing, policy, compliance – all these areas are responsible for developing and enforcing standards for electrical safety and promote strategies for improved electrical safety performance across the community throughout Queensland.

In fact, the ESO is the envy of other jurisdictions throughout Australia, which certainly is a credit to the entire team.

People often use this time of year when they have time off from work, to get jobs done around the house.

Please remember:

• Do not undertake your own electrical work, if you are not a licenced and fully qualified electrician. You could expose your home to risks of fire and your family to an electrical shock, that could result in a fatality.
• Check out the Don’t DIY campaign and spread the word around your networks. Before entering the roof space, turn off all main switches in your switchboard.
• When buying domestic appliances and equipment – please look and check for the Regulatory Compliance Mark.

Still working? Remember:

• Be mindful of safety, every day. Everyone has the right to return home each day.
• Isolate upstream to prevent working on or near energised electrical equipment.
• Keep focussed on the job – take no shortcuts and follow your risk assessments.
• Manage fatigue - keep hydrated, especially now being summer.

Still looking for a Christmas gift? Why not consider buying a gift voucher from your friendly electrical contractor to have electrical safety switches installed on all circuits. It could be the BEST present ever!

Check out the ESO’s guidance on electrical safety when buying electrical products.

Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas! I hope you all have time to connect with friends and family, and recharge over the Christmas and New Year period.

Keith McKenzie
Commissioner for Electrical Safety