Electrical licensing disciplinary action – September 2023

The Electrical Licensing Committee took disciplinary action against 10 licence holders in September.

Case 1:

An electrical contractor engaged to perform electrical works which included the replacement of a distribution board, failed to have systems in place to ensure the electrical installation was electrically safe and compliant with the Wiring Rules.

As a result of this failure, two workers received electric shocks when they made contact with the stainless-steel enclosure of the sewage pump controller.

The contractor's licence was suspended for six months. The contractor must complete an approved electrical safety system audit from an independent auditor. The contractor was issued with a reprimand and a $3,000 penalty, plus an $800 infringement notice from the ESO.

Case 2:

A worker failed to supervise electrical work on isolation of combiner boxes to allow realignment of DC mains cables and DC isolators. The worker failed to ensure the equipment had been tested by a competent person to determine whether or not it was energised.

As a result, a third-year electrical apprentice received burns to the face from an arc flash when the spanner he used shorted and energised the DC mains cables. The worker was issued with a severe reprimand and a $3,500 penalty and received a $200 infringement notice from the ESO.

Case 3:

An electrical contractor was engaged to work on isolation of combiner boxes to allow realignment of DC mains cables and DC isolators. The contractor did not ensure the equipment was tested by a competent person to decide whether or not it was energised. The contractor failed to ensure a safe system of work was implemented to identify, isolate and lockout all sources of DC supply.

The contractor’s licence was suspended for four months. The contractor was further ordered to provide the committee with the company’s current safe work method statement, and its isolation and test procedures for work on solar farms. The contractor was issued with a severe reprimand and handed a $3,500 penalty. This was in addition to receiving a $3600 infringement notice from the ESO.

Case 4:

A person performed electrical work which involved installing new submains from a building to a property pole. The worker failed to have safe systems of work in place to ensure the electrical installation was safe and compliant with the Wiring Rules.

As a result, the building was energised with an open circuit neutral connection. This caused a rise in potential on the earthed metallic parts in the building which caused shocks to people at the property.

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 severe reprimand and a $400 penalty. This was in addition to receiving a $400 infringement notice from the ESO.

Case 5:

An electrical contractor was engaged to perform electrical work which involved installing new submains from the building to a property pole. The contractor failed to have safe systems of work in place to ensure the electrical installation was safe and compliant with the Wiring Rules.

As a result, the building was energised with an open circuit neutral connection. This caused a rise in potential on the earthed metallic parts in the building causing shocks to people at the property.

The contractor's licence was suspended, for six months. The qualified technical person (QTP) was ordered to complete mandatory training in competency units, with the contractor needing to complete an approved electrical safety system audit from an independent auditor. The contractor was issued with a reprimand and an $800 penalty.

Case 6:

A person performed electrical work which included installing weatherproof socket outlets, removing an existing socket outlet, maintenance on an air conditioner, and replacing a component of a solar PV system. The worker failed to identify, isolate and lockout all circuits where the electrical work was performed. The worker failed to ensure that electrical equipment had been de-energised..

As a result of the failure, a second year electrical apprentice received an electric shock from energised exposed parts of a conductor that supplied socket outlets.

The worker's licence was suspended for three months and was ordered to complete mandatory training in competency units prior to the suspension being lifted. The worker was issued with a caution and a $400 penalty, in addition to receiving a $200 infringement notice from the ESO.

Case 7:

A person performed electrical work which included the installing weatherproof socket outlets, removing an existing socket outlet, maintenance of an air conditioner and replacing a component of the solar PV system.

The QTP of the contractor failed to ensure employees were following safe systems of work including the correct supervision of an electrical apprentice. Further, the QTP failed to ensure a safe system of work was implemented to identify, isolate and lockout all circuits where electrical work was performed.

The QTP also failed to ensure electrical equipment was de-energised to allow electrical work to be carried out.

As a result of the failure, a second year electrical apprentice received an electric shock from energised exposed parts of a conductor supplying socket outlets.

The worker's licence was suspended for six months, with the worker ordered to complete mandatory training in competency units prior to the suspension being lifted. The worker was issued with a reprimand and a $200 penalty.

Case 8:

An electrical contractor was engaged to perform electrical work which included installing weatherproof socket outlets, removing an existing socket outlet, maintenance of an air conditioner and replacing a component of the solar PV system. The contractor failed to ensure employees were following safe systems of work including the correct supervision of an electrical apprentice. The contractor failed to ensure a safe system of work was implemented to identify, isolate, and lockout all circuits where electrical work was performed. Further, the contractor failed to ensure the electrical equipment that had to be de-energised to allow electrical work, was not re-energised while the work was being carried out.

As a result of this failure, a second year electrical apprentice received an electric shock from energised exposed parts of a conductor supplying socket outlets.

The contractor's licence was suspended for six months and the QTP ordered to complete mandatory training in competency units. The contractor was also instructed to complete an approved electrical safety system audit from an independent auditor, prior to the suspension being lifted. The contractor was issued with a reprimand and a $1,400 penalty, in addition to receiving a $3600 infringement notice from the ESO.

Case 9:

A worker performed electrical work which included the installing new submains from the main switchboard. The worker failed to ensure the electrical installation was electrically safe and compliant with the Wiring Rules.

As a result of this failure, the worker energised the electrical installation without a multiple earth neutral connection and earthing system. There was no neutral return path for the air conditioning and hot water circuits. This failure caused exposed conductive parts of the building’s structure, including roller doors, to become energised posing a significant risk to people in the building.

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 $400 penalty. This was in addition to receiving a $200 infringement notice from the ESO.

Case 10:

An electrical contractor was engaged to install new submains from a main switchboard. The electrical contractor failed to have systems in place to ensure the electrical installation was electrically safe and compliant with the Wiring Rules.

As a result of this failure, the electrical contractor energized the electrical installation without a multiple earth neutral connection and earthing system. There was no neutral return path for the air conditioning and hot water circuits. This failure caused exposed conductive parts of the building's structure, including roller doors, to become energised posing a significant risk to people in the building.

The contractor's licence was suspended for six months. The QTP was ordered to complete mandatory training in competency units, and the contractor was ordered to complete an approved electrical safety system audit from an independent auditor. The contractor was issued with a reprimand and a $1,400 penalty. This was in addition to receiving an $800 infringement notice from the ESO.