Check up on DIY electrical work, MEA urges WA government

The Western Australian government needs to take unlicensed and illegal electrical work more seriously and direct more inspection resources to deter unsafe DIY electrical work, Master Electricians Australia (MEA) says.

According to Anthony Mancini, MEA state manager, the WA government should move immediately to protect consumers by:

• Conducting a major media campaign highlighting electrical safety and the dangers of unlicensed electrical work
• Increasing safety switch protection to all circuits
• Requiring mandatory point-of-sale signage to use licensed electrical contractors for electrical installations and equipment
• Mandating electrical safety inspections when homes change hands
• Establishing an electrical safety hotline for unsafe and unlicensed work to be reported

“Rather than spending all of their time checking and double checking the work of licensed contractors who are submitting the appropriate paperwork and abiding by electrical regulations, they should be alerting the public to the dangers of DIY or illegal electrical work and following up on reported instances,” Mancini said.

According to Mancini, the WA government is focusing its inspection resources on new homes wired by licensed electrical contractors and existing installations where contractors had submitted notices for their work. The focus, Mancini said, should be on high-risk areas such as DIY electrical work where no notices are submitted.