Preventing electrical hazards

As anyone associated with the electrical industry will know, working with electricity can be a high-risk and dangerous affair if proper precautionary measures are not employed. Yet we are continuing to see an increasing amount of unlicensed and illegal electrical work taking place across the country which has caused severe electrical injuries and in some cases even fatalities.

Master Electricians Australia (MEA) has, in the past, urged contractors and tradies alike to employ stricter safety measures in the workplace following a spate of severe electrical safety incidents in New South Wales over the past year. However, government must also play its part in helping to deter illegal electrical work and make homes safer for families. Recently, MEA West Australian state manager Tony Mancini, on behalf of electricians across the nation, pushed for the WA Government to take unlicensed and illegal electrical work more seriously.

It is our firm belief that governments 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; and establishing an electrical safety hotline for unsafe and unlicensed work to be reported.

MEA is also deeply concerned with the increasing number of homeowners who carry out DIY electrical work on their homes. New Gumtree Australia research has showed 75% of Australian homeowners have attempted their own projects, with one in five resulting in a DIY disaster. This has reportedly resulted in Australians having spent an estimated $380m repairing these botched DIY jobs.

These statistics show that government resources urgently need to be channelled into further educating the public on the perils of illegal electrical work, as well as directing more inspection resources into deterring do-it-yourself electrical work in homes.

There needs to be continued education of the Australian public into the values of a Safety Certificate being received for any electrical work that has been undertaken on their homes. Safety switches should be installed on all circuits to prevent the risk of an electric shock should an electrical incident occur. With growing public awareness, we can greatly reduce the risk of an electrical safety incident. We should all be aiming for zero electrical accidents, fatalities or fires in our country.

MEA is pushing for an electrical safety hotline with a dedicated advertised number to be established where illegal wiring or electrical work can be reported, and immediate advice and necessary steps can be taken to prevent a serious electrical safety injury. Finally, it is critical to remember that electricity can be unpredictable and working with it is a tricky business that is best left to the professionals.

www.masterelectricians.com.au