NSW Plumbers Union gave Evidence to the Building Standards Inquiry

The NSW Plumbing and Pipe Trades Employees Union (PPTEU) will give evidence to the Building Regulation inquiry today that unless regulatory and licensing measures are urgently put in place the public is at risk of fires in residential and commercial buildings, and another hospital medical gas tragedy. 

The PPTEU will warn that the current system in NSW allowing non-qualified workers to install, test & maintain high-risk equipment is a public safety concern. Central to the safety and quality of any building (commercial, residential and public) is the effectiveness and safety of its plumbing, fire protection, heating, cooling and water and gas reticulation systems. The best way to manage those risks and hazards is to ensure that only individuals trained, skilled and licensed to do work on high-risk plumbing, fire protection and gas installations can do so. 

Chris Seet, NSW Assistant Secretary of the PPTEU says, “NSW needs urgent change. In Queensland and Victoria a license is required for Mechanical Services and Medical Gas & Sprinkler testing. But shockingly not in NSW. Currently in NSW anyone can show up and do this work. 

“The public needs to know this is putting their safety at risk. 

“The Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital medical gas tragedy is a key example of just how high-risk these systems are. With medical gas, you are supplying lifelines to the community and this work needs to be carried out by a licensed, professional tradesperson. 

“We’ve got a flammable cladding crisis, but if the fire protection work in a building is not first-class, people are being put at risk. No license is required to inspect, test & maintain fire protection systems. Fire sprinklers stall a fire before emergency services arrive and can save lives. It’s an emergency system that should only be installed by someone who has years of training. 

“And in the midst of all these issues, there are only 33 inspectors for plumbing work for the whole of the state. Where’s the oversight?

“This list goes on of how these issues can and will affect the public in New South Wales if regulation and licensing is not dealt with urgently. There’s a reason why this work is licensed in Victoria and Queensland.”

Chris Seet from the PPTEU gave evidence to the building standards inquiry at 10:30am, on Friday 16 August, 2019 
Media comment: Chris Seet, 0401 066 229