Switchboard error leads to $14K fine

A Perth electrical contractor and electrician have pleaded guilty to breaching WA’s electrical licensing regulations, following separate prosecutions by regulator Building and Energy (part of the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety).

The Warwick-based contractor and its employee were fined a total of $14,000 for leaving a switchboard unprotected, putting users at risk of serious injury or electrocution if a fault occurred.

According to facts presented in Perth Magistrates Court, the electrical worker had installed a switchboard at a home in Carine in August 2023. The worker’s employer later submitted a notice of completion to the network operator, Western Power, declaring the electrical work was complete, compliant with applicable legislation and safe based on compulsory checks and tests.

A subsequent inspection by Western Power, however, found the switchboard’s metallic enclosure had not been effectively bonded to earth, meaning it could remain live with dangerous voltages if a fault occurred.

The contractor received a $10,000 fine for submitting an inaccurate notice for the work and was ordered to pay $571 in costs. Magistrate Michelle Harries noted the company’s early guilty plea, remorse and improved work practices.

The electrical worker was fined $4000 and ordered to pay costs of $571. The court granted a spent conviction, meaning the worker was not named.

Building and Energy Executive Director Daniel Kearney said the consequences could have been devastating if a fault occurred while there was inadequate protection against electrocution.

“Electricians must carry out their tasks diligently and always check and test their work,” Kearney said.

“Electrical contractors must also ensure they have adequate processes and procedures in place to be confident that all electrical installing work is safe and compliant prior to signing off on this.

“It is incredibly lucky that the defect was identified at this installation, allowing a potentially life-threatening situation to be rectified.”

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