Disciplinary Hearings - April 2020

The Board met in December 2019 and dealt with three disciplinary matters.

The Board met in December 2019 and dealt with three disciplinary matters. In one case, the Board cancelled an electrical worker’s registration and licence for a year for carrying out prescribed electrical work at a time when his licence had been suspended as a result of disciplinary action. The practitioner, Mr Prem Singh (E242978, EW087483) of Auckland, who held registration as an electrician, had appeared before the Board on previous occasions. The Board had cancelled Mr Singh’s licence for one year in relation to another disciplinary matter heard in July 2019. It imposed a further year of cancellation in relation to the most recent charge.

If Mr Singh reapplies to be registered and licensed he will have to satisfy the Board of his competency and that he meets the Board’s fit and proper person criteria. Mr Singh will now also be subject to prosecution in the District Court if he continues to carry out prescribed electrical work. The District Court can impose fines not exceeding $50,000 in the case of an individual, or $250,000 in the case of a body corporate.

In another case, an electrical worker was found to be responsible for a substantial number of noncompliance matters including some which created a risk of serious harm. The electrical worker had signed the certificate of compliance for the prescribed electrical work. A significant portion of the work had been carried out by other licensed persons. By signing the certification, he took responsibility for it and was held accountable for it. Prior to signing, he had not carried out sufficient visual inspections or testing. The case is a reminder to electrical workers to not blindly accept or take responsibility for the work of others.

Disciplinary Cases

December 2019

 

Finding

Penalty

Prem Singh

Mr Singh was found to have carried out prescribed electrical work when his licence had been suspended contrary to section 143(d) of the Electricity Act. His licence had been suspended as a result of disciplinary action taken by the Board.

The Board cancelled Mr Singh’s licence and registration for a period of 12 months. Mr Singh defended the charge. The Board imposed costs of $2,000 and ordered that the matter be published.

Practitioner 2

The electrical worker was found to have created a risk of serious harm under section 143(b)(ii) of the Electricity Act as well as having carried out prescribed electrical work in a negligent manner and having provided a false or misleading return.

The Board adopted a starting point of a fine of $2,000 but reduced it to $1,000 on the basis of the matter proceeding by way of an agreed statement of facts and in recognition of mitigating factors present. Costs of $500 were ordered.

Practitioner 3

The electrical worker was found to have carried out prescribed electrical work in a negligent manner by using non approved cable connectors.

The Board imposed a fine of $500 reduced from a starting point of $1,000 on the basis that the matter proceeded by way of an agreed statement of facts. Costs of $150 were ordered.