Pilbara tradesman fined for invalid safety certificates, regulatory body calls homeowners to verify licenses

WA’s energy safety regulator has urged customers to verify businesses before they carry out electrical work after a Pilbara tradesmen was fined for falsely presenting as a licensed electrical contractor. At the Perth Magistrates Court last month, the Pilbara tradesmen was fined $5000 and ordered to pay $1224.80 in costs after pleading guilty to five charges under WA’s Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991. The man had never held an electrical contractors license. The court heard the accused issued three invoices to commercial premises in 2020 for electrical installing work, while holding himself out to be a licensed electrical contractor. The other charges related to the man’s unauthorised signing of two electrical safety certificates using the licence number of another WA electrical contractor. Magistrate Robert Young said the Regulations were in place for public safety and noted the need for general deterrence and a penalty to generate a culture of compliance. A statement by Building and Energy WA said the man was not named because the court granted a spent conviction. Following the ruling, the state’s energy safety regulator, Building and Energy WA urged home and business owners to verify electrical licenses before engaging people to carry out works. Western Australia’s director of energy safety Saj Abdoolakhan said only a licensed electrical contractor should be engaged to undertake electrical installing work at your business or home. “As well as having the appropriate skills and experience to do this work correctly and safely, a licensed electrical contractor is required to hold public liability insurance and lodge official notices for electrical work, which may then be inspected for compliance,” he said. “You will also have the reassurance of receiving an electrical safety certificate for any electrical installing work completed.”