Electrical licensing disciplinary action
In March and April 2024, the Electrical Licensing Committee took disciplinary action against 13 licence holders:
Case 1: An electrical worker was installing an electric hot water system and replacing electrical fittings and equipment in a newly renovated unit, when he failed to ensure the installation was electrically safe and compliant with the Wiring Rules before it was energised.
This failure resulted in a submain circuit for the hot water unit not being effectively terminated and energised with exposed parts. Another worker received an electrical shock when contact was made with the exposed part of the energised unterminated cable.
The worker’s licence was suspended for three months, and he must complete mandatory training in competency units prior to the suspension being lifted. The worker was issued with a caution and a $300 penalty, plus an infringement notice of $200 from the Electrical Safety Office (ESO).
Case 2: An electrical contractor was installing an electric hot water system and replacing electrical fittings and equipment in a newly renovated unit, when he failed to ensure a safe system of work was implemented to include verification that the electrical installation was safe and compliant with the Wiring Rules before it was energised. This failure resulted in the submain circuit for a hot water unit not being effectively terminated and energised with exposed parts.
The contractor’s worker received an electrical shock when contact was made with the exposed part of the energised unterminated cable. The contractor’s licence was suspended for six months. The contractor is required to 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 3: An electrical worker was involved in the installation of a PV solar system, including the replacement of circuit breakers within the main switchboard and the upgrade of the consumer mains from the point of attachment to the main switchboard.
The worker failed to ensure that the electrical installation was safe and compliant with the Wiring Rules. As a result of this failure, the consumer’s mains were connected with a transposed polarity connection at the mains connection point.
The property owner received an electric shock when contact was made with the main water shut-off valve and the metallic meter enclosure. The worker’s licence was suspended for three months, and the worker 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 $400 infringement notice from the ESO.
Case 4: An electrical contractor was installing a PV solar system at a domestic property, and included work to replace circuit breakers within the main switchboard and upgrade the consumer mains from the point of attachment to the main switchboard - he failed to ensure that the installation work was electrically safe and compliant with the Wiring Rules.
As a result of this failure, the consumer’s mains were connected with a transposed polarity connection at the main switchboard. The property owner received an electric shock when they contacted the main water shut-off valve and the metallic meter enclosure.
The contractor’s licence was suspended for six months and was ordered to complete an approved electrical safety system audit from an independent auditor. They also received a reprimand and a $800 penalty.
Case 5: An electrical contractor was engaged to replace damaged electrical equipment within a transportable structure at a workshop. The contractor failed to ensure a safety system of work was implemented to identify, isolate, and lockout and tag the electrical supply to the installation where the work was being performed, to ensure it was not inadvertently energised.
As a result of this failure, a third-year electrical apprentice received an electric shock when he came into contact with the energised terminals of a light switch.
The contractor’s licence was suspended for six months. The contractor was ordered to complete an approved electrical safety system audit from an independent auditor and issued with a reprimand and a $1,000 penalty plus a $3,600 infringement notice from the ESO.
Case 6: An electrical worker was involved in the removal of electrical points from an internal wall and the relocation of the Energex overhead service point of attachment structure at a domestic property.
The worker failed to ensure that the installation work was electrically safe and compliant with the Wiring Rules.
As a result of this failure, the Energex service neutral conductor was incorrectly installed causing a rise in potential on the electrical installation earthing system and the conductive metallic parts of the building structure – this resulted in the occupants of the property receiving shocks when they contacted the metallic plumbing fixtures.
The worker’s licence was suspended for three months and 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, and an $800 infringement notice from the ESO.
Case 7: An electrical contractor was removing electrical points from an internal wall and the relocating the Energex overhead service point of attachment at a domestic property.
The contractor failed to ensure a safe system of work was implemented to include verification that the electrical installation was safe and compliant to the Wiring Rules before being energised.
As a result of this failure, the Energex service neutral conductor was incorrectly installed causing a rise in potential on the electrical installation’s earthing system and the conductive metallic parts of the building structure. This failure resulted in occupants of the property receiving electric shocks when contacting the metallic plumbing fixtures.
The contractor’s licence was suspended for six months and ordered to complete an approved electrical safety system audit from an independent auditor. The contractor was issued with a reprimand and a $800 penalty plus an $800 infringement notice from the ESO.
Case 8: An electrical contractor intentionally deceived an electrical inspector during an investigation. The contractor provided false statements and Certificates of Tests regarding the performance of electrical work at several newly built domestic properties.
The contractor’s licence was cancelled and disqualified from holding an electrical contractor licence for five years. The contractor was also issued with a reprimand and a $4,000 penalty. The disciplinary action regarding the reprimand and penalty will be included on the licensing public register and will remain on the register for three years.
Case 9: An electrical worker was supervising the installation of a UPS battery system at a construction site when he failed to provide adequate supervision, PPE, and work instructions for an electrical apprentice. As a result of this failure, the apprentice inadvertently shorted the DC supply of the batteries causing an arc flash. The electrical apprentice sustained burns to the hand.
The worker’s licence was suspended for three months and ordered to complete mandatory training in competency units prior to the suspension being lifted. The worker was issued with a reprimand and a $1,000 penalty.
Case 10: An electrical contractor also working at the construction site involving the installation of a UPS battery system failed to provide adequate supervision, instruction, or training to an electrical apprentice.
The electrical contractor also failed to ensure the electrical work was carried out by a competent person who had the suitable tools, testing equipment and PPE to ensure the work carried out was electrically safe.
As a result of this failure, an electrical apprentice inadvertently shorted the DC supply of the batteries causing an arc flash. The electrical apprentice sustained burns to the hand.
The contractor’s licence was suspended for six month and an order for all QTP’s to complete mandatory training in competency units, and the contractor ordered to complete an approved electrical safety system audit from an independent auditor. The contractor was issued with a reprimand and a $4,000 penalty and a $3,600 infringement notice from the ESO.
Case 11: An electrical worker was installing lights and socket outlets at a domestic property. The electrical worker failed to ensure that the electrical installation, to the extent it was affected by the electrical work, was electrically safe and compliant with the Wiring Rules.
As a result of this failure, an unterminated conductor was energised with exposed parts in an accessible location. A worker at this location received an electric shock when inadvertent contact was made with the unterminated energised conductor.
The worker’s licence was suspended for three months and the worker was ordered to complete mandatory training prior to the suspension being lifted and issued with a caution and a $300 penalty plus a $200 infringement notice from the ESO.
Case 12: An electrical contractor was installing lights and socket outlets at a domestic property.
The electrical contractor failed to ensure that the electrical installation work was electrically safe and compliant with the Wiring Rules.
As a result of this failure, an unterminated conductor was energised with exposed parts in an accessible location. A worker at this location received an electric shock when inadvertent contact was made with the unterminated energised conductor.
The contractor’s licence was suspended for six months, and the contractor must complete an approved electrical safety system audit undertaken by an independent auditor. The contractor was issued with a caution and a $800 penalty.
Case 13: An electrical contractor was installing PV Solar systems at multiple domestic properties when he failed to ensure that the installation work was verified to ensure it was electrically safe and compliant to the Wiring Rules.
As a result of this failure, multiple PV Solar systems were installed that were identified as being not compliant to the relevant sections of the Wiring Rules.
The contractor’s licence was cancelled, and they were disqualified from holding an electrical contractor licence for a period of five years. The contractor was issued with a reprimand and a $4,000 penalty. The disciplinary action regarding the reprimand and penalty will be included on the licensing public register and will remain on the register for three years.
In addition, the contractor is required to engage a licensed electrical contractor to correct faults or defects identified in the outstanding improvement notices issued by the ESO.