Installer safety and training requirements

Accredited persons must ensure their installers comply with Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program safety training requirements, as well as other applicable legislation.

Cog wheel.

When undertaking Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) activities, you must comply with both:

  • VEU safety training requirements for the activity
  • any requirements imposed by other legislation, such as occupational health and safety legislation, applicable to the activity.

Activities with VEU safety training and licensing requirements

Installers must complete the relevant safety training competency units before they can install:  

  • double glazed windows (activity 13)
  • thermally efficient window products (activity 14)
  • weather sealing (activity 15)
  • low flow shower roses (activity  17)
  • incandescent lighting (activity 21B)
  • high efficiency pool pumps (activity 26).

Exemptions apply for fully qualified and licensed electricians and plumbers, and registered builders.  

Only licensed electricians registered with Energy Safe Victoria can undertake:

  • lighting replacements (activities 21A, 21C, 21D, 21E and 21F)
  • weather sealing (activity 15D)
  • building-based lighting upgrades (activity 34)
  • non-building based lighting upgrades (activity 35).

Safety training competency units

    From 1 January 2021, training units to completed by installers seeking approval to undertake VEU activities are categorised into two groups:

    • Group A: Unit relating to energy and water efficiency retrofits, including managing risks 
    • Group B: Units relating to working at heights

    Training units available to be completed by installers seeking approval to undertake VEU activities up to 31 March 2021 are categorised into three groups: 

    • Group A: Units relating to health and safety risks and occupational health and safety requirements
    • Group B: Unit relating to energy and water efficiency retrofits
    • Group C: Units relating to working at heights.

    Installers can choose which unit to complete within each group to satisfy each aspect of our safety training requirements.

    Find registered training organisations (RTOs) that offer the below units on the Australian Government’s training website.

    Table 1: Current MST unit requirements - available for completion by installers from 1 January 2021 (or earlier for Group B units)
    Mandatory safety training units
    Activities and Schedules GROUP A GROUP B
    VU23076
    Retrofit to improve energy and water efficiency    		 CPCCM2012
    Work safely at heights    		 CPCCCM2010
    Work safely on scaffolding higher than two meters    		 RIIWHS204E
    Work safely at heights
    Installers required to complete
    External window activities (Activities 13 & 14) The above unit, and one of the above units
    Weather sealing (Activities 15A, 15B, 15C, 15E, 15F, 15G, 15H) The above unit, and one of the above units
    Shower rose (Activity 17) The above unit. Not required
    Incandescent lighting replacement (Activity 21B) The above unit, and one of the above units
    Pool pumps (Activity 26) The above unit. Not required

     

    Table 2: 2020 MST unit requirements – available for completion by installers up to 31 March 2021
    Mandatory safety training units
    Activities and Schedules GROUP A GROUP B GROUP C

    VU21858

    Minimise health and safety risk when retrofitting for energy and water efficiency

    CPCCOHS2001A

    Apply OHS requirements, policies & procedures in the construction industry

    CPCPCM2043A

    Carry out WHS requirements

    VU21859

    Undertake retrofitting to improve energy and water efficiency

    CPCCCM2010B

    Work safely at heights

    CPCCCM2010

    Work safely on scaffolding higher than two meters

    RIIWHS204D

    Work safely at heights
    Installers require to complete:
    External window activities (activities 13 & 14) One of the above units the above unit, and one of the above units.
    Weather sealing (activities 15A, 15B, 15C, 15E, 15F, 15G, 15H) One of the above units  the above unit, and one of the above units.
    Shower rose (activity 17) One of the above units, and the above unit. Not required
    Incandescent lighting (activity 21B) One of the above units the above unit, and one of the above units.
    Pool pumps (activity 26) One of the above units, and the above unit. Not required

    Installer approval

    Installers must be approved by us before undertaking these activities.

    To obtain approval, accredited persons must submit proof of the installer's training qualifications and/or licence details, via their VEU account.

    For licensed electricians and plumbers, accredited persons must ensure their licence details are kept current in their VEU account.

    Other legal requirements

    Installers must also comply with all laws, regulations and codes of practice applicable to the activity being undertaken. This includes, but is not limited to, the:

    • Electricity Safety Act 1998
    • Gas Safety Act 1997
    • Building Act 1993, the Plumbing Regulations 2008
    • Ozone Protection, Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989
    • Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
    • Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth).
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