Building and Energy
Western Australian building services, electrical, gasfitting and plumbing industries.
- Overview
  Find out about the functions and jurisdiction of Building and Energy.
- Licensing and registration and owner-builder approval
  Application and renewal for builders, building surveyors, electricians, gas fitters, painters and plumbers.
- Building approvals
  The process for getting building work approved.
- Building and energy consumer information
  Building or renovating your home and consumer safety.
- Industry information
  Codes, standards and reports for building services providers, electricians, plumbers and gas fitters.
- Dispute resolution
  Plumbing, building service, and home building work contract complaints.
- eNotice
  How to register and lodge electrical, gasfitting, plumbing and contractor payment dispute (Security of Payment Act) eNotices.
- Stay informed
  Bulletins, newsletters, subscriptions, events and seminars, videos, and public consultations.
- Contractor Payment Disputes (Construction Contracts Act)
  If your construction contract was entered into BEFORE 1 August 2022.
- Contractor Payment Disputes (Security of Payment Act)
  If your construction contract was entered into ON or AFTER 1 August 2022.
- Swimming pools, dividing fences, RCDs and smoke alarms
  Information on private swimming pool safety barriers, dividing fences, RCDs and smoke alarms for existing residential buildings.
- Report an accident
  How to report an accident or incident to Building and Energy.
Consumer Protection
Develops, enforces and promotes legislation that protects consumers.
- About Consumer Protection
  What Consumer Protection does, contacts and events.
- Housing and accommodation
  Information on renting, buying or selling a home, including accommodation for seniors.
- Consumer rights
  Information and advice for consumers including people with a disability, Aboriginal consumers, and multilingual consumers.
- Consumer concerns
  Advice on handling issues including a complaint checklist, sample letters and how to lodge a formal complaint.
- Business
  Information for businesses about their rights and responsibilities under consumer laws in Western Australia.
- Licences and registrations
  Information on applications, requirements, training and registrations for regulated industries.
- Charities and associations
  Information for charities and associations operating in Western Australia.
- Consultations, compliance and reports
  Compliance actions, public consultations and reports.
Labour Relations
State system employment laws and public sector labour relations.
- DMIRS COVID-19 coronavirus
  Information for employers and employees
- Private sector employers and employees
  Wageline information on WA awards, minimum pay rates, long service leave, annual and personal leave, underpayment issues, COVID-19, and how to contact Wageline and stay informed.
- Government sector labour relations
  Information and resources for agencies on government sector employment and labour relations.
- Public holidays
  Public holiday dates for Western Australia.
- Western Australia's industrial relations system
  Who is in the WA state system, key features of the state system, recent inquiries, reviews, and committees.
- Changes to state employment laws
  Information on 2022 changes to state employment laws in Western Australia.
WorkSafe
Regulation and promotion of workplace health and safety including in general industry and the mining and petroleum industries.
- Report an incident
  Notify the regulator of a death, serious injury/illness or dangerous incident.
- Notify, submit or contact us
  Notify or submit items to WorkSafe.
- Apply for a licence or register plant
  Apply for licence, register an item of plant or learn about construction induction training.
- Mining statutory positions and certificates
  Information about statutory position appointments at mining operations.
- Work health and safety legislation
  Information about WA's work health and safety (WHS) laws.
- Health and safety representatives
  Information about HSRs.
- Health and safety topics
  How do I make my workplace safer?
- Tool box
  Events, statistics and educational resources.
- Consulting with our stakeholders
  Information about consulting with stakeholders.
- Agricultural health and safety
  Provide work health and safety information about the agricultural sector including guidance, checklists, and latest news.
- What does WorkSafe do?
  Find out about the functions and jurisdiction of WorkSafe.
- Small business safety
  Your guide to safety and health in small business.
- Historical occupational safety and health law
  Safety and health legislation prior to 2022.
- Historical mines and petroleum guidance
  Safety and health guidance under the legislation prior to 2022.
Corporate
Freedom of information guidelines, reports, policies, plans, and contact information.
- About the department
  Our legislation, contacting us and freedom of information.
- About the website
  Information about our website and how to use it.
- Policies and plans
  Policies and strategic plans from the department.

Plumber

Topics

Responsibilities of volunteers and volunteer organisations at the workplace

This information is designed to help WA organisations and their associated workforces (including volunteers) understand the new Work Health and Safety laws. How does the WHS Act describe volunteers and volunteer organisations? The WHS Act describes a volunteer as a person who acts on a voluntary...

Main responsibilities and duties under WHS

01 Dec 2022

Officer responsibilities

This information is designed to help WA organisations and their associated workforces (including volunteers) understand the new Work Health and Safety laws. Who is an officer under WHS? The role and influence a person has in a business determines if they are an officer under the WHS Act. Broadly,...

Main responsibilities and duties under WHS

01 Dec 2022

Overview of responsibilities and duties

These publications and videos are designed to help WA organisations and their associated workforces (including volunteers) understand the Work Health and Safety laws. Introduction to the new work health and safety (WHS) laws Western Australia's Work Health and Safety Act 2020 - guide (dmirs.wa.gov...

Main responsibilities and duties under WHS

01 Dec 2022

WHS transition arrangements

This information is designed to help WA organisations and their associated workforces (including volunteers) understand the new Work Health and Safety laws. Will there be a transition period for businesses to adopt the new laws? Yes, transitional arrangements are now in place where duties are new...

Work health and safety laws

30 Nov 2022

Work health and safety laws

This information is designed to help WA organisations and their associated workforces (including volunteers) understand the Work Health and Safety laws. The WHS Act and accompanying regulations came into effect on 31 March 2022. Download the Act Download the Regulations WHS publications and...

Work health and safety laws

30 Nov 2022

Class exemptions

The regulator can grant a group of people an exemption from complying with a regulation of the Work Health and Safety Regulations. These are referred to as a class exemptions. It is important to read class exemptions closely to see if they apply to you, and if you cannot meet all of the conditions...

Class exemptions

30 Nov 2022

Human factors: Usable procedures

Procedures are agreed safe ways of completing tasks and are an essential part of any safety management system. Usable procedures increase human reliability by providing a consistent and safe means of performing a task. They can also be job aids to assist with reducing skill- based error from slips...

Human factors

01 Sep 2022

Changes to the building services legislation

From 1 February 2023, changes to the Building Services (Registration) Act 2011 as made by the Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2021 will come into effect. This will involve new powers of the Building Services Board (the Board) to manage the commercial conduct and...

Information on the Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2021

02 Aug 2022

Engaging with workers

While PCBUs are responsible for making decisions regarding health and safety, they don’t always have a full understanding of the finer detail or subtleties of the work or working conditions. To help improve this understanding, it is important that PCBUs engage in consultation with their workers...

How do I get started

19 Jul 2022

Discrimination, coercion and misleading conduct in relation to WHS matters

The Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WHS Act) prohibits discriminatory, coercive and misleading conduct about WHS. This means that people can raise health and safety issues and concerns at their workplace without fear of discrimination or coercion. What is discrimination? Discrimination is the...

How do I get started

19 Jul 2022

Publications

Guide - A death in the workplace: Information for families

READ

This guide is designed to provide information and practical suggestions that may be helpful to you and others at a time when you are grieving and having to navigate legal and other processes...

WorkSafe

Guide / handbook

30 Mar 2022

Applicant guide - Application for high risk work licence

READ

Use this application guide to apply for a high risk work licence.

WorkSafe

Guide / handbook

02 Mar 2023

Managing COVID-19 risks in the workplace

READ

Employers (or persons conducting a business or undertaking) have a duty under OSH or WHS legislation to eliminate, or if that is not reasonable practicable, minimise the risks of COVID-19 at the...

WorkSafe

Information

18 Feb 2022

Security of payment – Action Plan

READ

Action Plan for Reform An Action Plan for reform to introduce better payment protections for all participants in the Western Australian building and construction industry was released by the Minister...

Building and Energy

Plans

28 Jul 2022

Work health and safety excellence awards 2023 - Nomination submission information

READ

This document provides essential information to assist you with your Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards submission. Further information 2023 Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards - Terms and...

WorkSafe

Information

28 Feb 2023

Safety bulletin - 01/2021 - Hazards associated with the use of e-cigarette devices

READ WATCH

On 11 January 2021, the Department received a report of an incident at a mine site where an electronic cigarette (vape) battery spontaneously ignited in a worker’s pocket while he was travelling in a...

WorkSafe

Bulletin

23 Feb 2021

Building legislation review schedule

READ

This schedule lists the dates when building related legislation administered by Building and Energy is scheduled to be reviewed and the current status of those reviews

Building and Energy

Fact sheet

12 Feb 2021

Information sheet - Respiratory protective equipment - Fit testing requirements

READ WATCH

Employers are required to ensure that where fitted respirators are required to protect health, these are correctly fitted. Examples of fitted respirators (also called respiratory protective equipment...

WorkSafe

Information

15 Jan 2021

Licence Reform program

READ

The Digital DMIRS Strategy seeks to improve the department’s operations and service delivery through the effective use of technology. Some goals of the strategy are to modernise digital systems and...

Corporate

Information

23 Dec 2020

Plumbers technical note – Reduced velocity aerator stack systems

READ

Reduced velocity aerator stack systems (RVASS) are sanitary stack systems that use specialised fittings and pipework configurations in order to eliminate the need for additional venting required in traditional sanitary stack systems.

Building and Energy

Technical standards

22 Dec 2020

Announcements

Plumbing court case taps into risks of unlicensed work – Stewart Newby

PLUMBERS LICENSING BOARD – MEDIA STATEMENT Western Australia’s plumbing regulator is reminding consumers that plumbing work on water supply, sanitation and drainage must be carried out by licensed plumbers. The Plumbers Licensing Board has warned that incorrect or uncertified plumbing work can cause property damage and compromise public health and safety. The warning was issued by the Board...

Building and Energy

Media release

28 Jul 2022

New codes of practice released

The Minister for Industrial Relations has approved a series of Work Health and Safety codes of practice which came into effect today. These codes have been adapted for Western Australian work health and safety environments from the Model codes of practice published by Safe Work Australia, developed through consultation with unions and employer organisations. Dr Patricia Todd, Chair of the Work...

WorkSafe

Department News

15 Jul 2022

Implementation of the Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act

The Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2021 (WA) (the “new Act”) will introduce better payment protections for all participants in the Western Australian building and construction industry. It is one of the most significant legislative changes for the local industry since the 2004 introduction of the Construction Contracts Act 2004 (the “CCA”). In line with the State...

Building and Energy

Department News

06 May 2022

Reminder to complete plumbing work notifications

Drainage plumbing inspections. Drainage plumbing inspections are completed while the work is under construction. Most drainage inspections will arise from notifications made by, or on behalf of, the licensed plumbing contractor responsible for the work. To enable drainage plumbing work to be inspected while it is under construction, licensed plumbing contractors are required to notify the...

Building and Energy

Department News

05 May 2022

Adjudicator registration initiatives

Building and Energy is pleased to announce two initiatives to support prospective adjudicators/review adjudicators in gaining registration under the Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2021 (Act): an approved training course to be run by Jackson McDonald and supported by Building and Energy from Monday 23 May 2022; and the waiving of all application and registration fees...

Building and Energy

Department News

07 Apr 2022

Important Changes to High Risk Work Licensing - New Work Health and Safety rules to begin 31 March 2022

The new Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 (WHS Regulations) were gazetted on 11 March 2022 and will commence on the 31 March 2022, bringing the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 into full force and effect. The WHS Regulations replace the current Occupational and Safety Regulations 1996 (OSH Regulations). You can access the WHS Regulations on the WA Legislation website: WALW - Work...

WorkSafe

Department News

25 Mar 2022

Draft Work Health and Safety regulations (exposure drafts) released

The McGowan Government has released exposure drafts of regulations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 ahead of the commencement of major work health and safety (WHS) reforms in March 2022. Releasing the exposure drafts of the supporting regulations provides all participants in Western Australian workplaces the opportunity to prepare themselves to meet the requirements of the new Act and to...

WorkSafe

Alert

20 Dec 2021

Interior gas water heater installation puts family at risk – Danny Brian Langley

Outdoor gas hot water system incorrectly installed in an internal room Risk of potentially fatal exposure to carbon monoxide or fire Gasfitter ignored a rectification order but still unlocked the gas supply A Midvale family was exposed to potential fire and carbon monoxide risks after a licensed gas fitter installed an outdoor-only water heater inside their house and later removed the gas company...

Building and Energy

Media release

17 Nov 2021

Commerce Minister media statement – Security of Payment Regulations released for public comment

Draft regulations to support Security of Payment laws released for consultation Workers and industry urged to have their say between now and January 21, 2022 New laws to protect subcontractors start on August 1, 2022 The McGowan Government is asking for feedback on draft regulations to support landmark Security of Payment reforms for subcontractors in the building and construction sector...

Building and Energy

Media release

09 Nov 2021

Plumbing work on Water Corporation assets

Water Corporation would like to remind licensed plumbers that any work completed on their assets needs to be authorised by the Water Corporation. In the last few months, Water Corporation has encountered a number of situations where licensed plumbers have completed unauthorised work which can lead to a range of supply, quality and safety issues. Any work on Water Corporation assets must be...

Building and Energy

Department News

04 Nov 2021

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