WA’s energy safety regulator is warning electrical contractors that it is illegal and dangerous to allow unsupervised work by apprentices and to provide misleading information to authorities.
The message follows almost $30,000 in fines for electrical offences at a Thornlie property, where a tradesman received an electric shock.
Clarkson-based electrical contractor Team Smartfix Pty Ltd (EC12968) and the company’s nominee, Joshua Ryan Howes (EW170477), attended separate court hearings following prosecution by the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety (LGIRS).
Joshua Hills, an irrigation installer from another company, was also prosecuted for unlicensed electrical work at the same property.
Armadale Magistrates Court heard Team Smartfix sent four of its electrical apprentices to the home in November 2023 to carry out work including replacing an electrical switchboard, repairing and installing light fittings and changing power points.
Electrical laws require an appropriately licensed electrician to effectively supervise the work of electrical apprentices. The court was told that although Mr Howes claimed to have been at the home and signed an on-site testing sheet, evidence revealed the Team Smartfix apprentices were unsupervised.
A week later, Mr Hills received an electric shock while replacing a bore motor at the property. Fortunately, he was not seriously injured.
Several electrical faults were identified in locations where the apprentices had carried out work, including incorrect placement of switchboard components that caused the home’s circuits to become unsafe.
The court heard Team Smartfix provided an inaccurate notice of completion and electrical safety certificate because Mr Howes had not carried out the checks and tests he signed off on. The company also provided false or misleading information about Mr Howes’ activities in response to an official request from LGIRS investigators.
At Armadale Magistrates Court on 13 March 2026, Team Smartfix was fined $20,000 and ordered to pay $984.50 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching the Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991 and the Energy Coordination Act 1994 for failing to ensure the apprentices were supervised, carrying out unsafe and non-compliant electrical work, providing inaccurate notices and misleading the regulator.
Also at Armadale Magistrates Court on the same day, Mr Hills was fined $5,000 and ordered to pay costs of $984.50 after pleading guilty to carrying out electrical work related to the bore without holding the required electrical licence or permit.
At Joondalup Magistrates Court on 10 April 2026, Mr Howes pleaded guilty to three charges under the Regulations for signing the inaccurate notice and certificate. He was fined $4,500 and ordered to pay costs of $1,369.20.
Magistrate Andrew Maughan described the allegations as “serious” and noted Mr Howes’ early guilty plea and lack of electrical offences since the incident.
WA’s Director of Energy Safety, Daniel Kearney, said the outcomes should send a clear message to industry about their legal and safety obligations.
“Electricity can be lethal and it is down to luck that no one was seriously injured at this property,” Mr Kearney said.
“It is unacceptable to put workers and the community at risk by not supervising electrical apprentices, who by definition are not fully qualified or licensed. Electrical contractors and experienced workers must protect their junior staff by upholding a culture of safety and compliance.
“Compulsory tests and checks of the electrical work were not carried out, which would have identified the faults before anyone was hurt.
“The company then made false declarations about safety and compliance to the homeowner, the network operator and the Department. It is a particularly serious offence to mislead the regulator in response to an official information request.
“The conduct in this case is dangerous, illegal and damaging to the vast majority of electrical contractors who do the right thing.”
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Media contact: BEmedia@lgirs.wa.gov.au
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