Electrical Work what can Can I Do unlicensed

I went though and interesting scenario a few weeks ago I thought I would post my findings on the forum for all to see.

I recently did a job for a lady who was getting a new kitchen installed that was an insurance claim.
At the completion of the job no one put the hand up to pay me
The home owner claimed the insurance company agreed to pay, the insurance company said the cabinet maker has been paid for the whole job (Electrical and plumbing included)
The cabinet makers reply was simply why would he pay someone for work that he could do himself (meaning Electrical work which he claims he has been doing for years).
So I got my back up and went on a mission to find out once and for all what an unlicensed person can or cannot do

Here in Victoria the electrical regulator (more commonly known as the office of the chief electrical inspector) recently combined office with the gas and fuel regulator and operate under the umbrella of ENERGY SAFE VICTORIA
http://www.esv.vic.gov.au

Recently ESV set up regional offices in County Vic to house a representative whose job is to Audit Electrical work and to fine and possible prosecute for illegal and non compliant work.
Part of his responsibility's is also as a mentor and to clarify rules to electricians as the need arises.

So I rang the local office and told the Representative the story and asked what electrical work can an unlicensed person do
He replied with a stern “NONE AT ALL”

The next question I asked was can an unlicensed person loosen screws on a PowerPoint or remove a PowerPoint without touching wires
He replied “no because it exposes live (or potentially live) terminals but let’s look at what the ELECTRICITY SAFETY ACT tells us”

Now the ELECTRICITY SAFETY ACT is an act of parliament and is LAW
From this legal document derives all the standards and wiring rules.
If you where prosecuted and brought before a Magistrate this would be the first document he would refer too.
The ELECTRICITY SAFETY ACT can be downloaded here
http://www.esv.vic.gov.au/Portals/0/...tyAct98v42.pdf
So you can follow my lead.

Shall we dance?

BTW (I know there is an ELECTRICITY SAFETY ACT 2004 but I believe it just a reprint of 1998 either way it would say the same thing in regards to this matter.)

Division 2—Licensing of electrical workers
38. Electrical workers
A person must not carry out or offer to carry out or hold out that the person carries out or is willing
to carry out any class of electrical work that, under the regulations, is a prescribed class of electrical work for the purposes of this Division unless the person is—

And it goes on to describe different classes of Licensing

Then he referred me to the definition section of the document to classify what is deemed as Electrical work

"electrical work" means electrical connection work, electrical equipment work, electrical inspection work or electrical installation work;

Then we looked up the definition of Electrical Equipment work

"electrical equipment work" means repair, alteration or maintenance of electrical equipment;

Then electrical equipment

"electrical equipment" means any appliance, wire, fitting, cable, conduit or apparatus that
generates, uses, conveys or controls (or that is intended to generate, use, convey or control) electricity;

(You can read the other definitions for yourself if you so desire)

He then said as far as he is concerned removing (unscrewing) a screw from a fitting (in this case a power point) is classified as an alteration so it is illegal.

Around 20 minutes after the phone conversation he rang me back to tell me he has spoken to his piers (namely the head honchos at the Office of the Chief Electrical Inspector)and wanted to confirm he was correct that under the ELECTRICITY SAFETY ACT it is illegal to remove a screw from a PowerPoint unless you are licensed.

The conversation went on to explain that it was about time he visited the cabinet maker in question that claims he had been doing minor electrical work for many years.

So there you have it Straight from the people that do the prosecuting

Now other regulators in other state of Australia may view this differently but I doubt it.

Now I know this will open up another can of worms with a lot of what ifs and whys and smart A**E comments but please hold off on the death threats I’m just posting what was conveyed to me

ESV contact details for verification
Telephone: (03) 9203 9700
Facsimile: (03) 9686 2197
Email: [email protected]


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