Disciplinary action case studies

Case study 1

Issue

An electrical contractor performed installations of solar PV systems at retirement villages throughout Queensland. A number of reverse polarity DC isolators were identified during government audits and Electrical Safety Office inspections.

Outcome

• The Electrical Licensing Committee imposed a penalty of $2000.
• This disciplinary action is included on the licensing public register and will remain on the register for three years.
• The contractor was also disqualified from holding an electrical contractor licence in Queensland until certain conditions were met, such as developing and submitting a complete set of electrical safety systems documentation and having it certified as appropriate by an independent and suitably credentialed third party auditor.

Case study 2

Issue

An electrical contractor left numerous defects at a location, including some that presented immediate risks of electric shock and related injury. Some of the defects included:

• electrical equipment that was not installed according to the manufacturer's instructions
• equipment that was not protected from water damage
• inadequate protection of wiring systems.

Outcome

• The Electrical Licensing Committee imposed a penalty of $1000.
• This disciplinary action is included on the licensing public register and will remain on the register for three years.
• The Electrical Licensing Committee also suspended the contractor's Queensland electrical contractor licence and suspended recognition of the contractor's external work licence until certain conditions were met, such as training completed in certain national units of competency for low voltage wiring.

Case study 3

Issue

An electrical contractor carried out non-compliant electrical work at a number of properties and, because of the work, persons and property may not have been electrically safe. Defects included:

• access to live parts not prevented (this defect relates to a pool circuit breaker enclosure)
• electrical equipment not protected from ingress of moisture
• conduits not supported
• lack of mechanical protection of conduits
• main switches not grouped and labelled as main switches
• earthing not in compliance
• connection of earthing bonding conductors to aluminium conductors of structures and not taking into account galvanic action
• label information not completed
• DC isolator enclosures not installed according to the manufacturer's instructions and therefore not protected from external influences
• cables installed in contact with roofing material.

Outcome

• The Electrical Licensing Committee imposed a penalty of $1000.
• This disciplinary action is included on the licensing public register and will remain on the register for three years.
• The Electrical Licensing Committee also decided that if certain conditions are not complied with within six months, the contractor will be disqualified from being the qualified technical person (QTP) for the holder of an electrical contractor licence until certain conditions are met, including supplying data for all installations conducted to enable the Electrical Safety Office to confirm compliance and completing all outstanding rectification of defects.

Case study 4

Issue

An electrical worker left numerous defects at a number of residential lots that presented immediate risks of electric shock and related injury, resulting in 40 improvement notices being issued.

Outcome

• The electrical worker's licence was suspended until certain conditions were met, such as training completed in certain national units of competency around applying compliance requirements to all aspects of electrical work and installing appliances, switchgear and associated accessories and low voltage wiring. The suspension of the licence was deferred for 12 months to facilitate the completion of the competency units.
• The electrical worker's licence was amended to ensure the worker is only allowed to perform electrical work under direct supervision.

Case study 5

Issue

An electrical worker performing work during the construction of school buildings failed to fulfil the obligations of a Qualified Technical Person (QTP). As a result of inadequate supervision processes and practice, these actions could have led to a fatality.

Outcome

• The Electrical Licensing Committee imposed a penalty of $1000.
• This disciplinary action is included on the licensing public register and will remain on the register for three years.
• The electrical worker was disqualified from being a QTP for the holder of an electrical worker licence until certain conditions were met, such as training completed in certain national units of competency around developing compliance polices and plans. The Committee deferred the disqualification for six months to facilitate completion of the competency unit.

Case study 6

Issue

An electrical worker in the role of operations manager for an electrical contractor, performing work during the construction of school buildings provided insufficient supervision to other workers on site which resulted in unsafe electrical work and because of the work, people and property may not have been electrically safe.

Outcome

• The Electrical Licensing Committee imposed a penalty of $500 on the electrical worker.
• This disciplinary action is included on the licensing public register and will remain on the register for three years.
• The electrical worker's licence was suspended until certain conditions were met, such as training completed in certain national units of competency around applying compliance requirements to all aspects of electrical work. The Committee deferred the suspension of the electrical work licence for six months to facilitate completion of the competency unit.
• The electrical worker was also disqualified from being the qualified technical person for the holder of an electrical contractor licence until certain conditions are met such as training completed in certain national units of competency around developing compliance policies and plans. The disqualification was deferred for six months to facilitate completion of the competency units.