In May 2022, the Electrical Licensing Committee took disciplinary action against twelve licence holders:
An electrical worker failed to isolate, lock out and tag out to prevent de-engergised equipment being re-energised and did not adequately supervise an apprentice while installing wiring to a new air-conditioner. As a result, the apprentice received an electric shock from the unterminated end of an energised 2 core and earth thermoplastic-sheathed cable. The worker failed to comply with the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 s.17 and breached s.25.
The worker’s licence was suspended for three months and they must complete competency units prior to the suspension being lifted. They were issued with a caution and a $500 fine.
An electrical contractor failed to implement a safe system of work and procedures for lock out and tag out and adequately supervising apprentices. Without these procedures, the contractor failed to prevent de-energised equipment from being re-energised which caused an electrical apprentice to receive a shock.
The contractor subsequently implemented an enhanced safety lock out tag out procedure and permit system.
The contractor’s licence was suspended for six months. They must provide evidence of a system, process or procedure for the supervision of electrical apprentices and their QTPs must complete competency units prior to the suspension being lifted. They were issued with a caution and a $2,000 fine.
An electrical worker failed to identify electrical hazards, risk assess and implement safe systems of work while installing a roof-top large-scale solar system.
The worker did not adequately supervise two apprentices and they connected the line side of the DC isolator conductors to the installed string, bypassing a missing panel. The electrical worker failed to visually inspect the cables at the missing panel location or test the cables at the DC isolator and received a DC electric burn.
The worker’s licence was suspended for three months and they must complete competency units prior to the suspension being lifted. They were issued with a reprimand in addition to a $400 fine from the Electrical Safety Office.
An electrical contractor failed to implement safe systems of work and had no lock out and tag out procedures for the installation of a large-scale roof-top solar system including the power and control cabling and equipment. There was also insufficient supervision and coordination of electrical apprentices and the work they performed.
As a result, a worker was not made aware of the connections to a string and began to fit off, which resulted in a short between conductors and the worker received a DC burn.
The contractor’s licence was suspended for six months. They must complete an approved electrical safety system audit from an independent auditor and their QTPs must complete competency units prior to the suspension being lifted. They were issued with a caution and a $1,000 fine.
An electrical contractor failed to implement safe systems of work and procedures and adequately supervise a worker on-site. The worker wasn’t given clear instruction and while unattended, changed out a light fitting. The lighting circuit was not locked out or isolated and they received an electric shock.
The contractor’s licence was suspended for six months and they must complete two approved electrical safety system audits from an independent auditor. They were issued with a caution and a $300 fine in addition to a $750 fine from the Electrical Safety Office.
An electrical worker failed to demonstrate competency in electrical safety, identify electrical hazards, assess risk and implement safe systems of work during an electrical installation.
The worker removed the escutcheon panel from an energised switchboard at a school. They left the area to conduct electrical tests, leaving the switchboard unattended with exposed live parts. The unsafe situation was identified by another worker on-site and the switchboard was made safe before a serious incident could occur.
The worker’s licence was suspended and they were disqualified from being a QTP for three months. They must complete competency units prior to the suspension and disqualification being lifted. They were issued with a caution and a $300 fine in addition to a $750 fine from the Electrical Safety Office.
An electrical worker failed to risk assess, isolate and lock out and tag out and adequately supervise an electrical apprentice.
The electrical worker tasked the apprentice with completing wiring to a switchboard which was de-energised work that was completed safely and promptly. The apprentice took it upon himself to proceed to the next task without direction and inadvertently touched the busbar against the line side terminal of the hot water main switch and received an electric shock to their hand.
The electrical worker’s licence was suspended and they were disqualified from being a QTP for three months. They must complete competency units prior to the suspension and disqualification being lifted. They were also issued with a caution and a $500 fine.
An electrical contractor failed to implement safe systems of work and procedures and adequately supervise an electrical apprentice.
The apprentice completed the work assigned and decided to be proactive and proceed to the next task and received an electric shock. The contractor failed to carry out a risk assessment or follow a safe work method for working near energised equipment.
The contractor’s licence was suspended for six months and they must complete two approved electrical safety system audits from an independent auditor. They received a caution and a $3,600 fine from the Electrical Safety Office.
An electrical worker failed to follow a safe system of work to ensure all mandatory inspections and tests were completed on a new electrical installation. The site foreman, completing final checks, contacted an unterminated live cable and received an electric shock.
The worker had failed to adequately test to ensure it was electrically safe and compliant with the Wiring Rules under the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 s25.
The worker’s licence was suspended for three months and they must complete competency units prior to the suspension being lifted. The licence holder was also issued with a caution.
An electrical contractor on a large-scale commercial build failed to ensure a safe system of work for the installation and testing of cabling and termination points.
By not completing all mandatory inspections and tests, an energised unterminated cable was left undetected and a person inspecting the ceiling space received an electric shock.
The contractor’s licence was suspended for six months. They must complete two approved electrical safety system audits from an independent auditor and their QTPs must complete competency units and produce evidence of test and completed inspection and test documentation from previous installations prior to the suspension being lifted. The contractor was issued with a caution and a $1,000 fine in addition to an $800 fine from the Electrical Safety Office.
An electrical worker failed to implement a safe system of work and isolate, lock and tag out and test before performing electrical work.
They removed a conductor connected to the circuit protection for the hot water system and received an electric shock from the conductor
They failed to identify a second tariff main switch at the switchboard that required isolation and failed to test for a source of supply.
The worker’s licence was suspended for three months, and they must complete competency units prior to the suspension being lifted. They were issued with a caution and a $500 fine.
An electrical contractor failed to ensure that before electrical work on electrical equipment, the equipment is tested by a competent person.
As a result, an electrical worker failed to identify a second tariff main switch at the switchboard and received an electric shock.
The contractor did not have safe systems of work and procedures in place to test and isolate supply or to identify hazards and complete a risk assessment for the work. There was also a failure by the contractor to ensure appropriate medical treatment following the electric shock.
The contractor’s licence was suspended for six months and they must complete two approved electrical safety system audits from an independent auditor. They received a caution and a $3,600 fine from the Electrical Safety Office
The committee’s actions were in addition to fines and notices already issued by the Electrical Safety Office.