Illegality of repairing electrical equipment

[Sturdee]

Normally I don't participate in electrical type of threads anymore as it is illegal to do your own wiring and repairs in Australia, and I will not aid or abet someone to break the law.

However the following needs to be corrected.

My understanding is that doing your own non-fixed wiring is legal in Australia. (I’m happy to stand corrected if I’m wrong.) Therefore, why can’t we ask and discuss how to repair a (non-fixed wired) appliance?

In Victoria the ELECTRICITY SAFETY ACT 1998 - SECT 38 provides that 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-

(d) licensed under this Division as an electrical equipment worker in respect of electrical equipment work of that class.

Electrical equipment is defined by the said act to be :

"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;



Further Section 57 of the Act states:

Prescribed electrical equipment

(1) Energy Safe Victoria, by notice published in the Government Gazette, may declare that any class, description or type of electrical equipment is, from a date specified in the notice, prescribed electrical equipment for the purposes of this Act.

(2) A person must not supply or offer to supply electrical equipment prescribed under sub-section (1) unless the equipment-

(a) is approved by Energy Safe Victoria and is marked as prescribed .... (etc)


Regulations under this provision made By Energy Safe Victoria are detailed here and your attention is drawn specifically to the " Appliance Connector".

From this it is clear that any electrical appliance using a cord and plug to connect to the Electricity supply is an electrical equipment which can only be repaired by a licensed person. No doubt other states are the same.

So those that thought they could repair their own appliances are wrong and it is illegal in this state. So if the appliance doesn't work take it to an authorised repairer.


Peter.

[dazzler]

Party Pooper

[ozwinner]

I worked for a company that is situated in country Victoria in a previous life.

And they had me wire up aaaaaaall their Wool Presses over a period of about 3 years, Im talking 1000's.

When I enquired if what I was doing was legit, they told me not to worry as the onus was on them to get them wired properly as I was just a dumb employee.

Man, I was even doing all their 3 phase stuff.

Al

[Frank&Earnest]

Normally I don't participate in electrical type of threads anymore as it is illegal to do your own wiring and repairs in Australia, and I will not aid or abet someone to break the law.

You are only perpetuating a self serving mith about the electrical profession, hopefully in good faith. See my post in the "taboo" thread.

[echnidna]

I know what you are saying Peter
BUT

Radio/Tv technicians work on mains powered electronic stuff,

So where do they fit into the regulations you have stated.

p.s. I agree that home electrics should be prohibited in normal situations.

[chrisp]

Peter,

Thank you for your post and the relevant links. I've been having a read but I find the legal terminology and definitions somewhat confusing. One extreme reading would be that we need a licensed person to "connect" our "appliances" to the "supply". So does this mean we cannot plug in any electrical equipment into a power point - I doubt it - more like I don't know how to read the legal wording correctly.

I will, however, follow up with Energy Safe Victoria in relation to my work circumstances. I have in the past spoken to the OCEI (which is now part of Energy Safe) on these matters but I'm interested to see if the revised legislation has any impact.

Chris

[Frank&Earnest]

Peter,

Thank you for your post and the relevant links. I've been having a read but I find the legal terminology and definitions somewhat confusing. ... more like I don't know how to read the legal wording correctly.

I will, however, follow up with Energy Safe Victoria in relation to my work circumstances. I have in the past spoken to the OCEI (which is now part of Energy Safe) on these matters but I'm interested to see if the revised legislation has any impact.

Chris

Good move. A professional knows when he is out of his depth . I bet you will find that it is the same as in SA.

[Sturdee]

You are only perpetuating a self serving myth about the electrical profession, hopefully in good faith. See my post in the "taboo" thread.

Definitely in good faith as in my working life I was an Accountant with an extensive grounding in legal affairs.

I saw your post in the Taboo thread and IMO you are putting a wrong interpretation on that reference as I believe it applies to someone employed as an apprentice working under a licensed person in homebuilding works. That is not the same as a homeowner/occupier doing wiring work for and under the supervision of an electrician.


Peter.

[Sturdee]

One extreme reading would be that we need a licensed person to "connect" our "appliances" to the "supply". So does this mean we cannot plug in any electrical equipment into a power point - I doubt it - more like I don't know how to read the legal wording correctly.

Chris, it does not mean that you can't plug in an appliance into a GPO, but that any work in repairing an appliance must be done by a licensed person and that the making of an appliance must be approved also.

So for instance changing a plug on an appliance is illegal in Victoria unless licensed and using or supplying a home made lampshade is alos illegal.


Peter.

[Sturdee]

Radio/Tv technicians work on mains powered electronic stuff,

So where do they fit into the regulations you have stated.

Bob,

Section 40 dealing with licensing of electrical workers is as follows:

(1) Energy Safe Victoria may, in accordance with the regulations, license, or renew the licence of, a natural person as an electrical worker in respect of a specified class of electrical work.

(2) A licence may be issued or renewed subject to any conditions that Energy Safe Victoria thinks fit, including a condition that it applies to only one class of electrical work.

So Radio/Tv technicians working on mains powered electronic stuff, would need a licence specifying their class of work that they do else it wouldn't be allowed to be connected to the electricity supplies.

Peter.

[chrisp]

Chris, it does not mean that you can't plug in an appliance into a GPO

Peter,

I understand what you mean. But have a read of the following extract taken from the Electricity Safety Act 1998

7. Functions of Energy Safe Victoria

The functions of Energy Safe Victoria under this Act are-

(c) to inspect and test electrical equipment, electrical installations and electrical work for compliance with the specified safety standards;

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-

(c) licensed under this Division as an electrical connection worker in respect of electrical connection work of that class; or

From the definitions:

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

"electrical connection work" means connecting or disconnecting electrical equipment to or from a supply of electricity;

I find it vague and confusing.

Chris

[Sturdee]

Whilst the above proves that it is illegal in Victoria another aspect to consider is your house insurance.

My brother during his working life was a loss adjuster( note not a claims manager as they are now called ) for an major insurance company. He told me that his job was to adjust fire claims.

When they received a claim for fire damage he would investigate the fire scene, check the fire brigade report to see if the fire hot spots involved any electrical appliances. If so they would reject or reduce the claim depending on the circumstances if there was any possibility of any illegal work or the appliance was not kept in good working order.

He would also check house and contents values to see if they were underinsured and then the final claim, as already adjusted, would be paid out on a pro rata basis if underinsured.

His experience was that only 20 % of claims were paid out without any downward adjustments, usually when the claimant could prove that electrical repairs on old equipment was done by repair shops.

Peter.

[Grunt]

I think it is a shocking state of affairs.

[Sturdee]

[/I]

(c) licensed under this Division as an electrical connection worker in respect of electrical connection work of that class; or

From the definitions:

"electrical connection work" means connecting or disconnecting electrical equipment to or from a supply of electricity;

I find it vague and confusing.

Chris

Chris,

I think C referring to electrical connection worker refers to the licensing of someone to remove and reconnect hard wired appliances that are permanently connected to the electrical system, eg HWS, Airconditioners or in Ozwinner"s case woolpresses.


Peter.

[ozwinner]

"electrical connection work" means connecting or disconnecting electrical equipment to or from a supply of electricity;

Chris

Which means I cant unplug any appliance, or flick the switch?

Al