With snap lockdowns and stay-at-home orders now affecting millions of Australians, NECA has been in contact with Building and Energy to garner what electrical work can and can’t be done during lockdown.

In a nutshell:

• B&E’s advice is that electrical workers can continue to work as long as they wear masks.
• B&E is not aware of a specific ban on work being done in private homes.
• However, it is an expectation that the electrical contractors will use common sense when deciding if residential work is essential. B&E’s advice is to avoid non-essential residential work during the lockdown.
• Ultimately though, it is up to individual electrical businesses to make the call about whether they are prepared to perform such work or not.
• Commercial and industrial sites can continue to operate provided workers wear masks and adhere to the site safety plan.
• Contractors working on partially constructed residential properties can work provided they also wear masks and adhere to the site safety plan.

These recommendations were initially published in February 2020.