Licensed Electrical Contractors Save Lives

Working with electrical devices, wiring and related items is a risk often overlooked by home owners who are not familiar with how electricity flows out of an outlet or power source. Electrical current may not be visible but it can be powerful enough to cause electric shock, severe burns and damage to electrical appliances. Due to the serious risks associated with electrical work, existing regulations in Australia require all electrical installation to be conducted only by licensed electricians or electrical contractors.

Understanding electric current

Electricity enters a home through a power source and travels through wires to electrical appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, electric fans, air conditioners and TV sets. Electric current requires a continuous and unbroken flow or a circuit for an electronic appliance or system to function well and safely. Electricity tends to travel through the shortest path and certain materials such as metals allow it to travel easily and are known as conductors. When the flow of electricity is broken in a circuit, electric current can be “lost” and is likely to travel to the nearest conductor such as the human body. Electricity flow inside the body can be harmful by causing the heart to stop, preventing breathing, and burning skin on contact.

About licensed electrical contractors

In Australia, electricians and electrical contractors who perform electrical installations are required to register and obtain licenses according to the Electrical Licensing/Registration Scheme in the specific state or territory where they practice. Strict regulatory rules are intended to protect the community against the hazards of electric current flows by ensuring that licensed electricians and contractors are qualified to perform installation and other electrical works. The licensing authority also provides an avenue for consumer complaints when installations or other electrical services go wrong. The licensing body can investigate complaints and impose appropriate sanctions against the erring license holder.

Homeowners who underestimate the risks of “lost” electric current and perform DIY electrical installations often end up with more damage to electric appliances, painful burns and dangerous falls and injuries due to electrocution.

The expense associated with hiring professional and licensed electrical contractors is a small price to pay for the safety of your home, property and loved ones. Licensed electricians can assess the condition of existing wiring, systems and appliances and perform maintenance or installation work when needed. They use only high quality materials and systems and can provide a 12-month guarantee on their work, saving huge costs from medical treatment and damage to expensive appliances arising from incorrect electrical installations.