Electrician Company Fined for Inadequate Electrical Testing After Resident Electric Shock Incident
An electrical company was fined $40,000 after a Manning resident suffered an electric shock due to inadequate safety testing procedures.
This is an abridgement of an article originally published by Examiner Newspapers.
A company has been fined $40,000 for failing to implement proper electrical testing procedures, following an incident in which a Manning resident received an electric shock in April 2022. Last month, at the Perth Magistrates Court, the network operator pleaded guilty to failing to meet practice standards under the Electricity Regulations 2015.
The incident occurred during a project where a subcontractor was installing new power metres and converting overhead electricity supplies to underground for the company. Post completion of installation, the subcontractor filled out a service connection test checklist provided by the company. The checklist was for verification that the wiring was safe when the electricity was restored.
Despite this, that evening the resident received an electric shock after touching a bathroom tap. The court heard that the service connection test form from the company had not included a critical electrical neutral integrity test, which is a test designed to detect faults like this one.
WA’s Director of Energy Safety, Saj Abdoolakhan, expressed relief that the resident escaped without injury, noting that hazardous voltages could have caused serious harm, fires, or property damage. He also highlighted that this incident was not an isolated case, referencing the company's previous convictions for similar issues. These past incidents included an electric shock in Kingsley and appliance damage in Lancelin, both caused by deficiencies in the company’s testing forms.
“The Company has a history of inadequate testing forms that have posed risks to consumers. Fortunately, the company has since taken corrective action by adding the electrical neutral integrity test to their service connection requirements.”
Abdoolakhan urged residents to take any electric shocks seriously, even minor ones.
"If you experience an electric shock, report it immediately to your network operator, avoid touching any metallic surfaces, and seek medical attention."
These events signify the importance of having up-to-standard and accurate procedures in place. This is especially true for any form of work that can be considered dangerous or life threatening.
