Electrical worker and employer fined for unauthorised work in kindergarten

Unauthorised prescribed electrical work carried out in a kindergarten has seen a total of $20,750 fines given to a Palmerston North building company and one of its employees.

On 12 August 2017, Mr Gordon McLaren of Foxton was fined $4,250 plus costs for performing unauthorised prescribed electrical work by installing a heat pump in Rewanui kindergarten. At the time, Mr McLaren held an electrical appliance serviceperson license which did not permit him to install wiring for a new heat pump.

This follows a decision in July 2017 where Mr McLaren’s employer at the time, The Building Broker NZ Ltd, which trades as Ekonrg Solutions, was fined $16,500 plus costs for two counts of knowingly employing, permitting or paying someone to perform prescribed electrical work in breach of the Electricity Act 1992.

Electrical Workers’ Registrar Simon Robb, says both fines should serve as a reminder to electrical workers and the companies that employ them that they must have the appropriate licence and registration to undertake prescribed electrical work.

“Prescribed electrical work is highly specialised work and must be conducted by qualified professionals,” says Dr Robb.

“Ensuring an electrical worker is licensed and holds the right licence class to undertake the work means they have competency to do the work safely. A list of licensed electrical workers is available at www.ewrb.govt.nz.

“The Board will continue to be vigilant in relation to unregistered and unlicensed workers, and the companies that employ them, and will prosecute wherever necessary,” says Dr Robb.

This is Mr McLaren’s second fine for unauthorised prescribed electrical work performed while installing a heat pump at a kindergarten; his license was suspended earlier this year by the Electrical Workers’ Registration Board (EWRB).

ENDS

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