Electrical worker fined after apprentice receives shock

A WA electrical worker has been fined $3500 after an incident during which an apprentice received an electric shock.

Following prosecution by state regulator Building and Energy, the worker pleaded guilty at Armadale Magistrates Court to breaching WA’s Electricity Licensing Regulations.

The court heard that the electrical worker and two junior electrical apprentices under his supervision had carried out electrical work at a Forrestdale site in March 2024.

The worker directed the apprentices to conduct ‘live’ tests on energised lighting circuits and did not provide an appropriate level of supervision. The apprentices did not follow the required safety protocols, resulting in one trainee receiving an electric shock; fortunately, he was not seriously injured.

On 5 June 2026, Magistrate Gavin MacLean noted the worker’s early guilty plea, remorse and cooperation, but emphasised the dangerous nature of the electrical industry, adding “safety regimes are in place for a reason”. The worker was ordered to pay costs of $571 in addition to the fine.

Phil Payne, Deputy Director General of the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety, said the apprentice was fortunate to have avoided a more serious or even fatal injury.

“The regulations explicitly state that effective supervision of electrical work is required to prevent danger to life and property,” Payne said.

“In this instance, the apprentices should not have been working on a live installation at all, let alone without any appropriate supervision.

“This case serves as a reminder to all electrical contractors to ensure they have appropriate policies and practices in place and that their supervising electrical workers meet their responsibilities when working with electrical apprentices.”

Building and Energy’s ‘Safe working guidelines for electrical workers and apprentices’ is available at wa.gov.au.

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