Australians like to get stuck in and have a go. That’s normally a great attitude, but not when it comes to electrical work.
The electricity in your home is dangerous. Unlicensed electrical work could kill or seriously injure you and your family.
In this article, we’ll share some of the dangers of unlicensed electrical work and see why you should always hire a qualified electrician.
Can You Do Your Own Electrical Work in Australia?
The Electrical Safety Act specifically forbids unlicensed persons from complete “electrical work”. This includes manufacturing, installing, testing, maintaining, repairing, removing, replacing and altering electrical equipment.
In practice, this means you need to be a qualified electrician to complete tasks like:
While you are allowed to purchase electrical equipment, fittings and appliances, you’ll need to hire a qualified electrician to connect them.
Note: Tasks like drilling or cutting into a wall may damage wiring and cause electrocution. These tasks should be managed by a qualified electrician to prevent harm to you or your family.Stay Safe – Book Your Quote With Dawson Electric
Dawson Electric is a team of licensed Brisbane electricians that can handle any electrical work around your home or business. Don’t risk the DIY solution – contact us for a quote and we’ll make sure your family is safe.
What Electrical Work Can I Do Without a Licence?
You are not permitted to complete any “electrical work” without a licence. However, there are a few small tasks that you can do yourself, including:
As a general rule, if the appliance or device doesn’t have a standard wall plug, contact your electrician for help.
While you can install battery-operated smoke alarms yourself, we strongly recommend hiring an electrician. Smoke alarm systems are now a legal requirement in most homes. They must meet additional requirements for placement in order to be compliant.
The Risks of DIY Electrical Work
DIY electrical work is incredibly dangerous. Before you pick up your tools, think about the risks:
Electricity can kill and cause serious bodily harm. When you do your own electrical work, you are putting yourself and your family at risk.
Electrical faults cause about 40% of house fires. DIY electrical work can seriously increase the risk of an electrical fire, damage your home and injure or kill your family members.
DIY electrical work doesn’t operate the way it’s supposed to. When that happens, you’ll end up spending the money on a licensed electrician anyway, and they may need to replace the equipment you’ve already installed.
The Electrical Safety Office can level up to $600,000 in fines and 5 years’ imprisonment for unlicensed electrical work.
Your insurer won’t be too happy to find out about DIY electrical work. If you ever need to make a claim, they may deny your claim based on the unlicensed work.
The Penalties for Unlicensed Electrical Work
Unlicensed electrical work carries on-the-spot fines for private individuals and corporations.
Individuals can be fined up to $40,000 for unlicensed electrical work. If your electrical work exposes someone (including yourself) to the risk of death, serious injury or illness, you can be fined up to $600,000 or 5 years imprisonment.
Electrical Safety Inspectors are responsible for investigating and prosecuting non-compliant electrical work in Queensland. You can find out more on the Electrical Safety Office website.Unlicensed Sparkie Cops $40,000 Fine for Illegal Electrical Work
A Beenleigh man was fined $40,000 for performing unlicensed electrical work while installing air conditioning units in South East Queensland. The installations were unsafe and posed a risk of death or serious injury to the occupants.
The ESO investigated the man after receiving a complaint. Read the full article for the details.Electric Shock Results in $85,000 Fine for Aquatic Centre
An aquatic centre run by local council was fined $85,000 in Beenleigh after an employee was electrocuted while cleaning a pool. The staff member was cleaning one of the centre’s pools when the cleaning pole made contact with an overhead power line.
The aquatic centre was found to have breached its duty to the staff member, resulting in minor electrical burns. Read the full article for the details.Dawson Electric Can Take Care of Any Electrical Work You Need
Unlicensed electrical work is dangerous and illegal. You risk death and serious injury any time you complete electrical work yourself.
Dawson Electric is a team of qualified and licensed Brisbane electricians that works across our great city. We hold the appropriate qualifications to carry out electrical work around your home or business.
When you work with us, you can rest assured that your family and home are safe, and that we have everything under control.
Don’t be tempted to do your own electrical work. Contact us for a quote.
Last Updated on December 20, 2024
Owner
Dylan Dawson is the co-owner of Dawson Electric, a trusted Brisbane electrical company founded in 2007. With more than 15 years of experience, Dylan specialises in residential and commercial electrical services. He is passionate about educating clients on electrical systems, safety protocols, and energy-saving solutions.