Disciplinary hearings – December 2023
In this month’s disciplinary articles, there are several cases where electrical workers failed to apply specific electrical standards that applied to their prescribed electrical work.
The Board’s “Tool Box” has an article entitled Which Standards apply and where can I find them? Applying the correct standard is imperative. Failure to apply it is a disciplinary offence, as was the case in some of the matters below. You can read the “Tool Box” article here:
Which Standards apply and where can I find them?
Case 1
The Respondent committed multiple disciplinary offences, including negligently creating a risk of serious harm. The prescribed electrical work involved the installation of sockets for connectable installations. The Respondent installed inlets as opposed to outlets. A person received an electric shock because of the Respondent’s negligence. The Board suspended the Respondent’s licence and ordered that he undertake specified training. The suspension was on the basis that it would be lifted once the training had been successfully completed. Costs of $250 were ordered. The offending will be recorded on the Register for a period of 3 years.
Case 2
The Respondent carried out prescribed electrical work negligently when he failed to install a photovoltaic system in accordance with prescribed standards, and he provided a false or misleading return. He was fined $1,000 and ordered to pay costs of $250. A record of the disciplinary offending will be recorded on the public Register for a period of 3 years.
Case 3
The Respondent negligently created a risk of serious harm when he failed to adequately test and caused a transposition. He also provided a false or misleading return. The Board fined the Respondent $1,000. The offending will be recorded on the Register for a period of 3 years.
Case 4
The Respondent negligently supervised a trainee who carried out non-compliant prescribed electrical work, and he failed to certify that work. The Board ordered that he undertake a course of instruction in supervision and that he pays costs of $225. A record of the disciplinary offending will be recorded on the Register for a period of 3 years.
Case 5
The Respondent carried out prescribed electrical work in a manner that was contrary to an enactment, and he provided a false or misleading Certificate of Compliance. He was censured and ordered to pay costs of $250. A record of the disciplinary offending will be recorded on the public Register for a period of 3 years.
Case 6
The Respondent failed to provide an Electrical Safety Certificate on the completion of prescribed electrical work. He is fined $250 and ordered to pay costs of $250. A record of the offending will be recorded on the Register for a period of 3 years.
Bryce Sims
The Respondent carried out prescribed electrical work without a current practising licence. He did not engage in the disciplinary process. Given his age and the need to protect the public, the Board decided that it would cancel the Respondent’s registration and order that he could not apply to be reregistered for a period of 2 years. Given the significance of the penalty imposed, the Board did not make a costs order.