Supervision

Declaration of supervision

Whenever you take on a new trainee (TLC) or an overseas applicant holding a Limited Certificate (LC) you must make a written declaration that you understand your responsibilities as a supervisor.

This declaration on your part may be part of their initial application for a Limited Certificate or they may be changing job or supervisor while already holding a Limited Certificate.

If you are supervising a Limited Certificate holder you must complete the below declaration form.

Supervision Declaration form [PDF, 125 KB]

Change of supervisor

If you are no longer supervising a Limited Certificate holder, you must notify the board in writing (email/letter) or go on-line to modify your supervision agreements.

Once we receive notification from the supervisor that they are no longer supervising the Limited Certificate holder, the Limited Certificate will be suspended until we receive a supervisor’s declaration. The applicant may not do any prescribed electrical work while the Limited Certificate is suspended.

Find out more about Supervisors – changes of supervisor and their responsibilities

Supervision requirements

The following is a general summary of what is required when you are supervising.

The Board have recently issued a Supervision Companion Guide to assist electrical workers in applying good supervision practices.

Supervision Companion Guide [PDF, 1 MB]

Most (if not all) regulated occupations require supervision. The nature of the supervision will be influenced by the:

• level of risk posed to public health and safety should supervision not occur;
• technical nature of the work; and
• degree of on the job training.

For electrical workers Supervision is defined by section 2 of the Electricity Act 1992 (the Act). Supervision is:

Supervision, in relation to any work, means that the work is undertaken under such control and direction of a person authorised under this Act to do the work [or, in the case of section 76, a person authorised to supervise work under that section] as is sufficient to ensure—

1. That the work is performed competently; and
2. That while the work is being undertaken, appropriate safety measures are adopted; and
3. That the completed work complies with the requirements of any regulations made under section 169 of this Act.

There are a number of elements to the definition – if an element is missing then the supervision will be deficient. A Supervisor must have a strong understanding of the knowledge and experience of the electrical worker being supervised, and the prescribed electrical work proposed. A ‘more hands on’ approach will be necessary where the electrical worker holds few skills and experience. The safety of the person and others is the overriding consideration.

Ordinarily Supervisors are not expected to sight and direct every aspect of the electrical worker’s work. However, a Supervisor should be actively and frequently involved with the electrical worker and their work. The Supervisor is required to exercise judgement so the supervision is suitable in each case.

Electrical worker supervision is further defined by the following Board policies:

Supervision for Trainees Holding a Limited Certificate [PDF, 728 KB]

Supervision for Persons who are not Limited Certificate Holders [PDF, 772 KB]