Electrical licensing disciplinary action
In June 2025, the Electrical Licensing Committee took disciplinary action against three licence holders.
An electrical worker
An electrical worker performed electrical work at a commercial workspace, which included dividing the existing light and power circuits into four separate circuits (three tenancies and one community).
The electrical worker failed to correctly identify and isolate the relevant portions of the lighting circuits prior to electrical work being performed. The worker also failed to ensure that electrical equipment that had been de-energised was not inadvertently re-energised while the work was being carried out.
As a result of this failure, a third-year electrical apprentice received an electric shock when terminating an energised conductor with exposed parts.
The Electrical Licensing Committee decided to include conditions on the electrical worker licence, effective immediately. The worker was instructed to complete mandatory training in competency units and training in mentoring an apprentice or trainee, within three months. The worker was issued with a caution and a $400 penalty.
An electrical contractor
An electrical contractor was commissioned to perform electrical work at a commercial workspace which included dividing the existing light and power circuits into four separate circuits (three tenancies and one community).
The electrical contractor failed to correctly identify and isolate the relevant portions of the lighting circuits prior to electrical work being performed. The contractor also failed to ensure that electrical equipment that had been de-energised was not inadvertently re-energised while the work was being carried out.
As a result of this failure, a third-year electrical apprentice received an electric shock when terminating an energised conductor with exposed parts.
The Electrical Licensing Committee decided to include conditions on the electrical contractor licence, effective immediately. All Qualified Technical Persons (QTPs) must complete mandatory training in competency units and training in mentoring an apprentice or trainee, within three months.
The contractor must complete an approved electrical safety system audit from an independent auditor within six months.
The contractor was issued with a caution and a $800 penalty. This was in addition to receiving an infringement notice from the ESO totaling $3,600.
An electrical worker
An electrical worker performed and supervised electrical work at an education training facility. The electrical work involved the replacement of a three-phase isolator for a refrigeration and air conditioning test bench.
The electrical worker failed to correctly identify circuit connections to the test benches. The worker failed to ensure the electrical circuits suppling the isolator that had been de-energised to allow electrical work to be carried out on was not inadvertently re-energised while the work was being carried out.
As a result of these failures an apprentice with a restricted electrical licence received an electric shock when coming into contact with an exposed energised conductor.
The Electrical Licensing Committee decided to include conditions on the electrical worker licence, effective immediately. The worker was instructed to complete training in competency units and training in mentoring an apprentice or trainee, within three months.
The worker was issued with a caution and a $400 penalty. This was in addition to receiving an infringement notice from the ESO totaling $600.
The Committee’s actions were in addition to fines and notices already issued by the Electrical Safety Office.