The incidents and prosecutions list for the June to August 2025 newsletter indicate that some electricians are taking short cuts that could lead to the death of themselves, their staff or customers. Additionally, they could be left with a gaol term, a hefty fine and a large legal bill.
Some common themes from the list are as follows:
- The MEN link is left out – a loop impedance test at any socket outlet will generally pick this up.
- Lock out/Tag out requirements being ignored or the incorrect circuit identified – proper lock out/tag out and testing before touching will help to prevent deaths. Also, be careful when breaking neutrals: test again.
- Electrical apprentices left unsupervised or even allowed to work live. No one should be working live, let alone apprentices.
- Solar installers not managing working at heights.
- Contractors failing to submit the mandatory forms within the required timeframe and ticking off testing and compliance when this wasn’t obviously done.
- The risks of electric shocks with welders seem to be a regular occurrence.
- Arc flash events are occurring all too often.
The attitude to working live must be changed once and for all. Whilst there are some exemptions that allow working live, these generally don’t stack up. It could be argued in court that there are always options to working de-energised.