Minister for Building Anoulack Chanthivong has welcomed Building Commission NSW warning plumbers across the state to get up to speed on their supervision requirements or face fines in an upcoming targeted compliance campaign.
Only plumbers with a NSW Government-issued contractor licence or supervisor certificate can do plumbing work without immediate supervision* to ensure work is carried out to required standards.
To hammer home these requirements to industry, from June this year Building Commission NSW will conduct targeted compliance activities at sites across the state.
If workers without the right licence are found to be unsupervised, Building Commission NSW can issue fines of up to $1,500 per breach.
In the event Building Commission NSW finds repeated instances of workers being inappropriately supervised it can also suspend or cancel licences.
Since September 2024 Building Commission NSW has detected 17 instances of incorrectly supervised plumbing work, sparking concerns plumbers are not taking their obligations seriously.
In a recent compliance visit to an apartment building site in Port Macquarie, Building Commission NSW found five apprentices working unsupervised, resulting in the licensed plumber being fined $1,500.
Ahead of the compliance blitz, Building Commission NSW is rolling out a wide-ranging awareness campaign to ensure plumbers around the state know how to stick to the rules.
The awareness campaign will include direct emails to plumbers across the state, the distribution of newsletters, and engagement with peak bodies, industry and training organisations.
To further educate plumbers on the supervision requirements, TAFE NSW and Building Commission NSW have also launched a new Plumbing, Drainage and Gasfitting Regulation short course.
Developed in consultation with industry and subject matter experts, the new online short course also provides regulatory knowledge and best practice skills required by plumbing professionals.
TAFE NSW students undertaking their Certificate IV in Plumbing and Services can enroll in the course fully discounted until 1st October 2025.
For more information on the course, please visit the Plumbing, drainage and gasfitting regulation in NSW course webpage.
For more information on plumbing supervision requirements, please visit the Plumbing, drainage and gasfitting work webpage.
*Building Commission NSW views 'immediate supervision' as the relevant licence holder:
- Always being physically present and with clear line of sight of the work being carried out by the person they are supervising.
- Being readily available to provide specific instructions and guidance to enable the work to be undertaken correctly by the individual performing it.
- Directly overseeing and reviewing the work.
- Ensuring the completed work is compliant and meets all regulatory requirements.
Quotes to be attributed to Minister for Building Anoulack Chanthivong:
"The Minns Labor Government aims to keep every part of the building industry in check through a strong regulatory presence, while also supporting the workforce to comply with its obligations.
"Building Commission NSW inspections have revealed a concerning lack of awareness about plumbing supervision requirements or even some plumbers deliberately cutting corners.
"The point of these requirements is to make sure young apprentices work in a safe environment supported by more experienced workers who will ensure work is done to the required standards while also passing on skills to the next generation of plumbers.
"We want to give fair warning to the plumbing industry in NSW to pull itself into line and brush up on their supervision requirements.
"But when the inspectors' boots hit the ground later this year, plumbers should expect the full weight of the regulator will be put behind the penalties they issue."
Quotes to be attributed to Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan:
"The Plumbing, Drainage and Gasfitting Regulation Microskill course is the latest in a range of courses developed in consultation with industry and subject matter experts aimed at providing the regulatory knowledge and best practice skills required by plumbing professionals to meet the state's high standards of construction.
"The course provides engaging, flexible, and industry-responsive learning where students can progress at their own pace and have access to the course for up to six months from the day of enrolment.
"By offering this Microskill fully discounted to Certificate IV in Plumbing and Services students, TAFE NSW and Building Commission NSW are helping graduates build the right skills from day one."
Quotes to be attributed to NSW Building Commissioner James Sherrard:
"Building Commission NSW is seeing a serious lack of awareness about plumbing supervision requirements, with inspectors consistently finding apprentices left on site unsupervised.
"What licenced plumbers need to remember, is that even if one of their workers has finished their studies at TAFE NSW, if they don't have the right NSW Government licence they need to be supervised.
"These supervision requirements are in place to ensure the quality of plumbing work is maintained across NSW, protecting homeowners from expensive repairs down the track.
"In June our specialist trade inspectors will be out in force to ensure the industry is complying with the requirements, but in the meantime, plumbers are urged to get up to speed."
