Electrical licensing disciplinary action
The Electrical Licensing Committee has taken the following disciplinary action in the past month.
Case 1
A contractor who presented himself as an electrician, was involved in carrying out electrical work to an unoccupied residential property. The contracted installed ceiling lights and fans, electricity supply wiring, lights, fans and powerpoints, installed a new air-conditioning unit and relocated an existing unit and installed wired smoke detectors - all whilst not holding an electrical work licence in force at the time.
As a result, the contractor was charged with one offence of performing electrical work while not being the holder of an electrical work licence contrary to s55(1) of the Electrical Safety Act 2002.
The defendant was further charged with one offence of conducting a business or undertaking that include performing electrical work while not being the holder of an electrical contractor licence contrary to s56(1) of the Electrical Safety Act 2002
The contractor was issued with a caution and $6,500 penalty.
Case 2
The company that conducted the business of fitting-out caravans and campervans with slide-on shells did not hold an electrical license and had no training on how to perform electrical installation.
Following a customer complaint to the ESO, the investigation revealed multiple defects that repeatedly failed to comply with Australian Standard AS/NZS 3000:2018 (‘Wiring Rules’).
The work was not compliant with the Australian Standard AS/NZS 3001:2008 for electrical installations in transportable structures and vehicles.
The combination of the deficiencies made the customer’s vehicle electrically unsafe and exposed any person to risk of death, shock or serious injury. The defendant company held an electrical safety duty, and failed to comply with that duty, and the failure exposed an individual to a risk of death or serious injury or illness and was charged under the Duty Provision S30 Electrical Safety Act 2002 Offence Provision s40C under the Electrical Safety Act 2002
The defendant company received a $40,000 penalty.
Case 3
Construction work was conducted by workers engaged by the defendant, and the work activity exposed the workers to a risk of death or serious injury at a premises near Curra, Queensland.
The voltage of the powerlines above a shed required a three-metre exclusion zone but the distance between the shed and the electrical lines was 1.4 metres at their closest point.
The line was active and not de-energised at any time during construction. The defendant held an electrical safety duty, and failed to comply with that duty, and the failure exposed individuals to a risk of death or serious injury.
The defendant was charge with one offense contrary to s40C of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 pursuant to a duty held under s30 of the Electrical Safety Act 2002.
The defendant received an $80,000 penalty.