Disciplinary actions taken against Qld electrical licence holders

In November and December 2021, Queensland’s Electrical Licensing Committee took disciplinary action against 14 licence holders. The committee’s actions were in addition to fines and notices already issued by the Electrical Safety Office.

An electrical worker failed to complete mandatory tests when installing main switchboards and meter boxes at residential locations. There were multiple non-compliances with the Wiring Rules, so the installations were not electrically safe. The committee decided the worker did not ensure work was performed in an electrically safe way and considered further risk to people and property were likely if disciplinary action wasn’t taken. The electrical worker’s licence was cancelled immediately and he was suspended and disqualified from holding an electrical work licence and from being a qualified technical person (QTP) for five years.

Another electrical contractor failed to implement safe systems of work and procedures as evidenced in serious Wiring Rule non-compliances on multiple installations. He also failed to ensure that the work performed was electrically safe and submitted an electrical certificate of test without completing the testing requirements. The electrical contractor’s licence was cancelled immediately. He was disqualified from holding an electrical contractor licence for five years and was fined $2000.

An electrical worker also had his licence suspended and was disqualified from being a QTP for six months, after he failed to de-energise electrical equipment while performing electrical work. He contacted the energised parts of the main board, resulting in a short circuit generating a significant arc flash. The electrical worker sustained significant arc flash burns and was hospitalised. He must complete competency units prior to the suspension and disqualification being lifted and was issued with a caution and a $1000 fine.

An electrical contractor failed to implement safe systems of work and procedures when their employee conducted electrical work on energised equipment and sustained significant arc flash burns. The contractor’s licence was suspended for six months and he must complete two approved electrical safety system audits from an independent auditor prior to the suspension being lifted. He was issued with a caution and fined $2000.

An electrical worker and QTP failed to adequately supervise electrical apprentices while undertaking electrical work on a spitfire emergency light at a commercial fit-out. A fourth-year apprentice incorrectly re-energised the lighting circuit a first-year apprentice was working on and he received an electric shock. Neither apprentice was under direct supervision at the time of the incident. The electrical worker was disqualified from being a QTP for six months and must complete competency units before the disqualification is lifted. The licence holder was issued with a caution and fined $300.

An electrical contractor failed to implement a safe system of work to ensure electrical work was not performed on energised electrical equipment. An unsupervised electrical apprentice inadvertently contacted an energised conductor and received an electrical shock. The contractor’s licence was suspended for six months and they must complete two approved electrical safety system audits from an independent auditor prior to the suspension being lifted. The contractor was issued with a caution and fined $600, which will be listed on the licensing public register for three years.

An electrical worker failed to adequately supervise an electrical apprentice removing suspended ceiling grid of surface mounted twin 36-watt fluorescent light fittings and replacing with recessed LED light fittings. The worker failed to ensure electrical equipment was tested and the apprentice contacted an energised conductor, receiving an electric shock and burns. The electrical worker’s licence was suspended for six months and he must complete competency units prior to the disqualification being lifted. He was also issued with a caution and a $500 fine.

An electrical contractor failed to prevent de-energised equipment being inadvertently re-energised and as a result, an electrical apprentice received an electric shock and burns after she contacted an energised conductor. The contractor’s licence was suspended for six months and he must complete two approved electrical safety audits from an independent auditor and ensure all QTPs employed complete competency units prior to the suspension being lifted. He was also issued with a caution.

An electrical contractor failed to have adequate systems in place to ensure an electrical installation was safe and compliant with the Wiring Rules when disconnecting consumers mains from a mains connection box. As a result, the consumer mains was connected with reverse polarity at the point of supply mains connection box and the occupant received an electric shock from the metallic conductive parts of the installation. The contractor’s licence was suspended for six months and he must complete two approved electrical safety system audits from an independent auditor and ensure all QTPs employed complete competency units prior to the suspension being lifted. He was also issued with a caution and a $200 fine.

An electrical worker failed to complete all mandatory tests when fault finding and repairing a stairwell lighting circuit situation in a multi-level building construction site. While other repair work was being undertaken by electrical workers onsite, he determined the rectification to have been complete and directed another worker to energise the circuit without testing. Another electrical worker was in the process of the final connection when the circuit was re-energised and he received an electric shock. The worker’s licence was suspended for three months and he must complete competency units prior to the disqualification being lifted. He was also issued with a caution and fined $500.

An electrical contractor did not prevent de-energised equipment from being inadvertently re-energised; as a result, an electrical worker received an electric shock. The contractor’s licence was suspended for six months and he must complete two approved electrical safety system audits from an independent auditor and ensure all QTPs he employs have completed competency units prior to the suspension being lifted. He was also issued with a caution and fined $1000.

An electrical worker failed to conduct testing and verification during the replacement of aerial consumer mains. Energex later investigated, following reports of electric shocks, and found that consumer mains were connected with a transposed polarity connection at the mains connection box for the aerial conductors to the house. The electrical worker’s licence was suspended for three months and he must complete competency units prior to the disqualification being lifted. He was issued with a caution and fined $500.

A formal electrical contractor licence holder failed to have adequate systems in place to ensure that electrical installations were safe and compliant with the Wiring Rules. As a result, a reverse polarity was not identified on a consumer main and someone received an electric shock. The contractor was disqualified from holding an electrical contractor’s licence until QTPs on the licence complete competency units. He was also issued with a caution.

An electrical worker obtained an electrical work licence by supplying incorrect information; the worker had applied for an electrical work licence under mutual recognition and failed to declare that he had been subject to disciplinary proceedings. His licence was cancelled and he was disqualified from holding an electrical work licence until conditions imposed by the committee are met. He was also fined $1000.

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