Company pleads guilty over unsupervised apprentice’s electric shock

Building and Energy released the following statement: 

An electrical contractor’s lack of supervision could have had fatal consequences after an apprentice received an electric shock while working with two junior colleagues, Armadale Magistrates Court has been told.

Lawyers for Building and Energy made the submission during the regulator’s prosecution of the electrical contractor, which pleaded guilty to an offence under the Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991. The law requires an appropriately licensed electrical worker to effectively supervise the work of electrical apprentices.

The court heard no supervising electrical worker was present when a second-year electrical apprentice employed by the electrical contractor was installing exit lights at a Forrestfield property, accompanied only by another apprentice and a provisional electrical licence holder. A provisional licence holder cannot supervise electrical apprentices under any circumstances.

While installing the supply wire to an exit light, the apprentice received an electric shock and jumped off his ladder. He was taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital for an electrocardiogram and other monitoring. Fortunately, the apprentice was not seriously injured.

The company was fined $5,000 and ordered to pay $770 costs.

WA’s Director of Energy Safety, Saj Abdoolakhan, said the apprentice was incredibly fortunate to have avoided a permanent or even fatal injury.

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

“A second-year apprentice should not have been working on the live part of an electrical installation at all, let alone without any appropriate supervision.

“This is a stark reminder to industry about the importance of effectively supervising apprentices and ensuring they go home safely. It is also vital to always check an electrical installation is de-energised and safe to be worked on prior to starting the job.”

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