Electrical licensing disciplinary action – July 2023

In July 2023, the Electrical Licensing Committee undertook a number of disciplinary actions involving licence holders.

1. A worker failed to conduct testing and verification, including an appropriate visual inspection to ensure that the electrical installation was electrically safe and compliant with the Wirings Rules.

   As a result of this failure, an unterminated cable was energised resulting in exposed live parts when another worker at the site came into contact with the exposed energised parts and as a result, received an electric shock.

   The worker's licence was suspended for three months, and they must complete mandatory training in competency units prior to the suspension being lifted. The worker was also issued with a caution and a $100 penalty, in addition to receiving an infringement notice of $400 from the ESO.

2. A worker was performing and supervising electrical work including reinstalling a solar PV system and light fittings but failed to identify, isolate, lockout and tag the final sub-circuits supplying the electrical equipment. The worker also failed to ensure that before the electrical work was carried out, that the electrical equipment was tested by a competent person who would be able to determine if it was energised or not.

   As a result of this failure, a first-year electrical apprentice received an electric shock after coming into contact with an exposed energised conductor.

   The worker's licence was suspended for three months and is required to complete mandatory training in competency units prior to the suspension being lifted. They were also issued with a reprimand and a $500 penalty.

   In addition, the worker was also required to undertake a competency assessment with a registered training organisation (RTO) against the capstone assessment requirement (UEEEL0039 - Design install and verify compliance and functionality of general electrical installations, or the Electrotechnology Training Package).

3. A worker performed electrical work which involved the relocation of the main switchboard from an existing property pole to a new property pole, (and adjacent to the exiting pole). Electrical work included the installation of new consumer's mains, main earth conductor and electrode. The worker failed to ensure that the installation was electrically safe and compliant with the Wirings Rules.

   As a result of this failure, the consumer mains were connected with reverse polarity at the point of the supply mains connection box, resulting in a person receiving electrical shocks when contact was made with metallic equipment.

   The worker's licence was suspended and the worker was required to complete mandatory training in competency units prior to the suspension being lifted. They were issued with a severe reprimand and a $1,500 penalty, in addition to receiving an infringement notice of $400 from the ESO.

4. A worker performed and supervised electrical work involving the installation and testing of a new multi-storey domestic and commercial building. The worker failed to ensure that the electrical installation complied with AS/NZS 3000:2018 Wiring Rules.

   As a result of this failure, a worker received an electric shock when coming into contact with the exposed part of an energised unterminated thermoplastic sheathed twin (TPS) and earth cable, which was protruding from a junction box.

   The worker's licence was suspended for three months, and the worker ordered to complete mandatory training in competency units prior to the suspension being lifted. The worker was issued with a caution and a $500 penalty, in addition to receiving an infringement notice of $200 from the ESO.

5. An electrical contractor was engaged to perform the installation and testing of a new multi-storey domestic and commercial building. The contractor failed to ensure that the electrical installation, (to the extent it was affected by the electrical work), complied with AS/NZS 3000:2018 Wiring Rules.

   As a result of this failure, a worker received an electric shock when they contacted the exposed part of an energised unterminated thermoplastic sheathed twin (TPS) and earth cable.

   The contractor's licence was suspended for six months. The contractor was required to complete an approved electrical safety system audit from an independent auditor, and their QTPs must complete competency units nominated by the committee. The contractor was issued with a reprimand and a $1000 penalty. This was in addition to receiving an infringement notice of $800 from the ESO.

6. Two workers were undertaking electrical work involving the replacement of distribution boards and HV / LV transformers. They failed to ensure that the electrical installation was electrically safe and compliant with the Wirings Rules.

   Consequently, a toilet block submain was connected at the location with a transposed neutral and blue phase conductor. This resulted in the two workers receiving electric shocks when they made contact with the stainless-steel enclosure of the sewerage pump controller.

   The metal enclosure located next to the sub-board in the services room of the toilet block was energised as a result of the transposition.

   The two worker's licences were suspended for three months and both ordered to complete mandatory training in competency units, prior to the suspension being lifted. The workers were individually issued with a severe reprimand and a $500 penalty. In addition, each worker received infringement notices of $400 each from the ESO.

* The Committee's actions were in addition to fines and notices already issued by the Electrical Safety Office.