The New South Wales department of fair trading has emailed air conditioning and refrigeration technicians advising them of the new mechanical service licence being introduced across the state.
In the email the department said no mechanical services work can be undertaken in NSW without a licence from 1 October, 2022.
“Mechanical servicing is dangerous, compliance is necessary to protect the people of New South Wales,” the email said.
“The NSW government is working to significantly reduce this risk by ensuring that the only people who do mechanical servicing work have the appropriate skills and qualifications.
“From 1 October, 2022 a mechanical services license is required to do any mechanical work in NSW.”
This work includes the testing and commissioning of a mechanical heating, cooling or ventilation system, the email said.
Technicians can log on to the Service NSW web site for information on how to apply for a licence.
The new licence will be administered by NSW Fair Trading and was introduced in response to two tragic accidents at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital in 2016.
Medical gases were incorrectly piped in one of the operating theatres, leading to two babies being administered nitrous oxide instead of oxygen. One of the babies died and one was left with severe brain damage.