Plumbing can be hazardous work as it can include one or more of the following risk factors:

• Working from heights;
• Working in trenches or pits;
• Working with chemicals or hazardous substances;
• Working with or around powered mobile plant;
• Working around asbestos containing materials;
• Manual handling.

As licensed practitioners, plumbers have additional laws that they must observe. The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) regulates plumbers, plumbing work and plumbing standards.

The Victorian Plumbing Regulations 2018 (Vic) define ten main classes of plumbing work and five specialised classes. To lawfully carry out plumbing work in one of more of these classes in Victoria, you must be one of the following:

• Licensed in the class;
• Registered in the class (or hold provisional registration in the class);
• Be in training under the supervision of a licensed plumber.

Work with gas is inherently dangerous. For this reason, you must use licensed and qualified professionals to undertake any gasfitting work.