What does a safety observer do in QLD electrical work?
A safety observer watches a worker who is doing electrical work on or near energised equipment, ready to step in if something goes wrong: isolate the power, rescue the worker and start CPR. In Queensland, a safety observer must have been assessed as competent in rescue and resuscitation within the previous 12 months, which is why safety observers refresh their Low Voltage Rescue (LVR) & CPR every year.
Here’s what Queensland’s Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 says about the role, and what it means in practice.
When is live electrical work allowed?
Section 195 of the regulation says a business must not allow electrical work on or near energised equipment unless:
- it’s necessary in the interests of health and safety, for example, life-saving equipment that must stay on
- the equipment needs to be energised for the work to be done properly
- it’s necessary to test whether the equipment is energised, or
- there’s no reasonable alternative way of doing the work
When is a safety observer required?
When live work is done, section 203 says it must be performed by a competent person with suitable, tested tools and PPE, in line with a safe work method statement, and observed by a safety observer. The maximum penalty for the business is 60 penalty units.
The only exception is when:
- the work is only testing, and
- a risk assessment shows there’s no serious risk associated with it.
The regulation’s example is testing the polarity of an installed outlet, which doesn’t need a safety observer if the risk assessment shows no serious risk.
Who can be a safety observer?
The regulation defines a safety observer for electrical work as a person who:
- is competent to implement control measures in an emergency, or to avoid one
- is competent to rescue and resuscitate the worker doing the work, if necessary
- has been assessed in the previous 12 months as competent to rescue and resuscitate a person
If your rescue and resuscitation assessment is more than 12 months old, you can’t act as a safety observer until you’ve refreshed it.
Can an apprentice be a safety observer?
Usually not in their first 6 months. Section 307 says an apprentice or trainee who hasn’t finished 6 months of their apprenticeship must not work where there’s a risk of contact with a live low voltage exposed part. The exception is an apprentice who was already capable of being a safety observer for at least a year before their apprenticeship started, and whose employer keeps a written record of their rescue and resuscitation assessment.
What does a safety observer do?
The role is about preventing an incident, and being ready if one happens. In practice, before the work starts a safety observer should:
- understand the task, the hazards and the safe work method statement
- know where the isolation point is and how to switch off the supply quickly
- inspect the low voltage rescue kit and have it within reach
- know how to call for help, and where the nearest defibrillator (AED) is
During the work, the safety observer:
- watches the worker the whole time, without taking on other tasks
- speaks up or stops the work if it becomes unsafe
- isolates the supply, rescues the worker and starts CPR if there’s an incident
Because the observer’s job is to watch the work continuously, one observer can’t effectively watch two workers doing live work at the same time.
What training does a safety observer need?
Safety observers need current rescue and resuscitation competency. For work on low voltage switchboards and panels, that’s an LVR & CPR course. The LVR unit itself covers the safety observer’s role and responsibilities, along with isolation, rescue equipment and PPE, and how to release a casualty from electrical contact.
| Training | Unit | Refresh |
|---|---|---|
| Low Voltage Rescue | UETDRMP018 - Perform rescue from a live low voltage panel | Every 12 months |
| CPR | HLTAID009 - Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) | Every 12 months |
Section 211 also requires businesses to make sure every worker who performs or helps with electrical work is competent in rescue and resuscitation, not just safety observers. Read more about what Low Voltage Rescue covers and LVR & CPR renewal in Queensland.
LVR & CPR at Tradie Training
Our Low Voltage Rescue & CPR course covers both units in one 2.5-hour, face-to-face session, for $119. There’s no online study, you’ll practise the rescue with a low voltage rescue kit, and your Statement of Attainment is emailed to you straight after the course. We’ll also remind you before your 12 months are up, so you can keep acting as a safety observer.