4. Results of Disciplinary Hearings

Mark Moncrieff (E 16694)

A complaint was lodged against Mr. Moncrieff, an electrician from Torbay, Auckland by an individual from Auckland. The complaint alleged that Mr. Moncrieff wired a socket outlet into an existing adjacent light switch circuit contrary to the Electricity Regulations; and that Mr. Moncrieff negligently or deliberately “burned out” light switches.
The Board considered the complaint and found Mr. Moncrieff guilty of disciplinary offences in that he:

Contravened regulation 37(3) of the Electricity Regulations 1997 by not carrying out earth continuity tests or insulation resistance tests when he carried out the prescribed electrical work; and
Contravened regulation 39 of the Electricity Regulations 1997 by neglecting to furnish a return. Mr. Moncrieff was fined $750 and ordered to pay costs of $1,250.

Ian Geoffrey Gambles (E 15022)

A complaint was lodged against Mr. Gambles, an electrician from Christchurch by a his former employer. The complaint alleged that Mr. Gambles:

Failed to bury conduit containing wiring at an adequate depth; and
Failed to use cable marking tape over conduit wiring; and
Failed to provide mechanical protection at the existing bollard pole; and
Failed to install danger signs indicating that the cable was buried; and
Failed to issue a certificate of compliance for the work carried out within ten days of the completion of the work.

The Board considered the complaint and found Mr. Gambles guilty of disciplinary offences in that he:

Carried out prescribed electrical work in a manner contrary to regulation 84(2) of the Electricity Regulations 1997 by failing to earth metal that is not fully isolated from both live parts and earth;
Neglected to furnish a return required in accordance with regulation 39 of the Electricity Regulations 1997 by failing to complete a certificate of compliance within one day of completion of the work. (The certificate must be given to the owner of the fittings or the occupier of the premises within 20 working days, reg 40)

Board fined Mr. Gambles $1,250 and ordered that he pay costs of $750.

Electrician

A complaint was lodged against an electrician by a homeowner from North Beach, Christchurch. The complaint alleged that prior to 2003 the electrician:

Incorrectly installed a 10 amp box on a spa pool installation when the manufacturers instructions called for a 15 amp box, which caused the fuses on the spa pool to “blow”; and
Failed to provide a certificate of compliance. The owner of the installation has not been furnished with a certificate of compliance for the electrical work carried out.

The Board considered the complaint and found the electrician guilty of a disciplinary offence in that he neglected to furnish a certificate of compliance in accordance with regulation 39 of the Electricity Regulations 1997. In view of the circumstances, the Board ordered that no action be taken. The electrician was ordered to pay costs of $350. The Board directed that the electrician’s name not be published.

Malcolm Leonard Boal (LM 466)

A complaint was lodged against Mr Boal by an employer of an electrical company in Christchurch. The complaint alleged that he:

Transposed phase and neutral conductors while connecting a street light circuit which subsequently caused the livening of the exposed metal at premises in a residential area when the streetlights were switched on in the evening; and

Failed to carry out appropriate tests to ensure that the work was safe before livening.
Certified prescribed electrical work which was not electrically safe.
Failed to ensure that the connected work was electrically safe.

The Board considered the complaint and found Mr Boal guilty of disciplinary offences in that he:

Carried out prescribed electrical work in an negligent manner by failing to test the work; and
Carried out prescribed electrical work in a manner contrary to regulation 37 by failing to test the work and
Carried out prescribed electrical work in a manner contrary to regulation 69(1) of the Electricity Regulations 1997 in that livened water mains present a significant risk of injury or death to persons and are not electrically safe;
and
Negligently created a risk to life and limb. Mr Boal was ordered to pay a fine of $2,250 and costs of $1000.

Electrician

A complaint was lodged against an electrician by a Government department. The complaint alleged that the electrician certified prescribed electrical work that had been carried out by another person and which he failed to test.
The Board considered the complaint and found the electrician guilty of a disciplinary offence in that he issued a false return.
The Board ordered the electrician to pay a fine of $1,000 and costs of $1,000. The Board directed that the electrician’s name not be published.

Electrician

A complaint was lodged against an electrician involved with the "Target" television program, by an electrician from Invercargill. The complaint alleged the electrician:

Left the terminals exposed on an appliance; and
Failed to carry out requisite testing on the appliance for the work carried out; and
Failed to identify that a socket outlet on the front of a range was faulty and potentially dangerous.

The Board considered the complaint and found the electrician not guilty of any disciplinary offence. The Board directed that the electrician’s name not be published and took no further action.

Electrician

A complaint was lodged against an electrician by a homeowner from Christchurch. The complaint alleged that the electrician, during the course of the installation of down lights in a kitchen area:

Carried out prescribed electrical work without a current practicing license.
Cut an unnecessary hole in the ceiling for the down lights.

The Board considered the complaint and found the electrician guilty of disciplinary offences in that he:

Contravened section 95 of the Electricity Act by not holding a current practicing license when he carried out the prescribed electrical work; and
Furnished a false certificate of compliance.

The Board fined the electrician $500 and ordered that he pay costs of $500. The Board directed that the electrician’s name not be published.

Evan Raymond Butt (LM 985)

A complaint was lodged against Mr Butt by an employee from an company located in Christchurch.
The complaint alleged that Mr Butt connected a street lighting circuit in such a manner that there was a transposition of the phase and neutral conductors with caused exposed metal to be livened in a residential area (when the streetlights were switched on for the evening).
The complaint further alleged that Mr Butt failed to carry out the requisite testing and certification requirements and that the work undertaken by him was not electrically safe.
The Board considered the complaint and found Mr Butt guilty of disciplinary offences in that he:

Contravened regulation 37 of the Electricity Regulations 1997 when he failed to ensure his work was tested; and
Contravened regulation 69(1) of the Electricity Regulations 1997 by causing water mains to be livened; and
Negligently created a risk to life and limb; and
Issued a false return.

Mr. Butt’s line mechanic registration was suspended until he passes the line mechanics examination. The Board also fined Mr. Butt $1000 and ordered Mr. Butt to pay costs of $1000.

Electrician

A complaint was lodged against an electrician by a homeowner in Auckland. The complaint alleged that the electrician: failed to test the work that he certified, certified fittings which were not safe to operate and certified work which was not done in accordance with the Electricity Act 1992.
The Board considered the complaint and found the electrician guilty of a disciplinary offence in that he

Furnished a false certificate of compliance in contravention of regulation 39(6)(a) of the Electricity Regulations 1997 by failing to test work (in accordance with regulation 37), which he certified, that was carried out by others; and
Furnished a false certificate of compliance in contravention of regulation 39(6)(b) by certifying that downlight fittings were safe to operate when in fact they were buckling due to excess heat; and
Furnished a false return by certifying work that was carried out contrary to regulations 69, 87(1)(c) and 87(5)(c).

The Board censured the electrician and ordered that he pay costs of $500. The Board directed that the electrician’s name not be published.

Line Mechanic

A complaint was lodged against a line mechanic by a representative from an electrical supply company in Pukekohe. The complaint alleged that while the line mechanic was carrying out prescribed electrical work on a supply of power to a house, he:

Transposed a phase and neutral conductors in a two phase installation; and
Failed to test the work carried out.

The Board considered the complaint and found the line mechanic not guilty of disciplinary offences. Although the Board determined that the line mechanic did fail to test the work, which was carried out by others, the scope of that work was not effectively communicated to him before he started. The Board directed that the line mechanics’ name not be published. No further action was taken against the line mechanic.

Line Mechanic

Transposed a phase and neutral conductors in a two phase installation; and
Failed to test the work carried out.

The Board considered the complaint and found the line mechanic not guilty of disciplinary offences. The Board determined that the line mechanic did not carry out the work in question. The Board ordered that the line mechanic’s name be suppressed. No further action was taken against the line mechanic.

Andrew Francis Clarke (E 1986)

A complaint was lodged against Mr. Clarke, a registered electrician from Tokoroa, by an electrician from Mangakino for prescribed electrical work carried out by Mr. Clarke at a farm. The complaint alleged that Mr. Clarke:

Failed to bond metallic switchboard to earth; and
Failed to provide mechanical protection for cables entering into the board; and
Failed to label sub circuit mains;
Was responsible for a broken switchboard door which was lying on the ground; and
Was responsible for missing fuse carriers and exposed live terminals.

The Board considered the complaint and found that while Mr Clarke’s trainee carried out the work in question, Mr Clarke was responsible as a trainee can only assist.

Accordingly Mr Clarke was found guilty of disciplinary offences in that he:

Carried out work in an unsatisfactory manner by leaving live exposed parts accessible in a switchboard especially when they were in close proximity to switches used for function control; and
Carried out prescribed electrical work in a manner contrary to regulation 69 in that leaving live exposed parts in close proximity to function control switches creates a significant risk of injury or death and is therefore not electrically safe; and
Carried out prescribed electrical work in a manner contrary to regulation 69A(1) virtue of clause 1.7.3.4.1 of AS/NZS 3000:2000 by leaving live parts without protection by a barrier with at least IPx2 rating.

The Board noted the level of training Mr Clarke’s trainee had received and also noted that Mr Clarke was entitled to expect that the trainee should have carried out the work to the required standards.
In view of the above the Board gave Mr Clarke the option of his name being suppressed but Mr Clarke asked that his name be published.
The Board censured Mr Clarke and ordered that he pay costs of $850.

Electrician

A complaint was lodged against an electrician by a homeowner from Long Bay, Auckland. The complaint alleged that the electrician during the course of an electrical installation at the property:

Left an unterminated live wire hanging out of a wall into a hallway; and
Left TPS cables unprotected and accessible in the back of a kitchen cupboard.

The Board considered the complaint and found the electrician guilty of disciplinary offences in that he:

Contravened regulation 69 by virtue of regulation 87(1)(f) of the Electricity regulations 1997 by leaving TPS cabling with exposed primary insulation within a cupboard; and
Contravened regulation 70(1)(a) of the Electricity Regulations 1997 by leaving TPS cabling with exposed primary insulation within a cupboard;
Issued a false certificate of compliance.

The Board ordered the electrician to pay a fine of $1,250 and costs of $1,500. The Board directed that the electrician’s name not be published.

Electrician

A complaint was lodged against an electrician by an Inspector from the Coromandel. The complaint alleged the electrician had made an illegal reconnection to the supply.
The Board considered the complaint and found the electrician guilty of a disciplinary offence in that he carried out prescribed electrical work in an unsatisfactory manner by interfering with the operation of a revenue meter.
The Board censured the electrician and ordered that he pay costs in the amount of $500. The Board directed that the electrician’s name not be published.

Line Mechanic

Transposed a phase and neutral conductors in a two phase installation; and
Failed to test the work carried out.

The Board considered the complaint and found the line mechanic guilty of disciplinary offences in that he:

Carried out prescribed electrical work in an incompetent manner; and
Carried out prescribed electrical work in a manner contrary to regulation 37(1)(a) of the Electricity Regulations 1997 by failing to identify and remedy a phase and neutral transposition through testing; and
Carried out prescribed electrical work in a manner contrary to regulation 69(1) by creating significant risk of injury or death; and
Negligently creating a risk to life and limb, and a serious fire hazard.

The Board censured the line mechanic and ordered that he pay a fine of $1,000 and costs of $1,500. The Board directed that the electrician’s name not be published.

Electrician

A complaint was lodged against an electrician by a relative of a homeowner in New Plymouth. The complaint alleged that the electrician:

Transposed the phase and earth conductors supplying a bathroom wall fan heater; and
Failed to ensure that the main earth conductor was effectively connected.
Failed to ensure that the TPS sub circuit cabling in the ceiling space was tidy securely fixed, thus exposing it to mechanical damage; and
Unsatisfactorily joined cables and
Failed to adequately test; and
Issued a false certificate of compliance.

The Board considered the complaint and found the electrician guilty of disciplinary offences in that he:

Neglected to furnish a certificate of compliance; and
Issued a false return by certifying work without personally testing it.

In the circumstances the Board made no order for discipline but ordered that the electrician’s name be suppressed.

Alan Grigg (E 1540)

A complaint was lodged against Mr Grigg, an electrician from North Shore City Auckland, by homeowners in Campbell’s Bay, Auckland. The complaint alleged that Mr Grigg, while carrying out prescribed electrical work at a residence:

Failed to issue a certificate of compliance; and
Failed to earth lights; and
Incorrectly connected lighting circuits by way of a junction box to an existing light circuit with no earth wire; and
Installed lighting and power circuits into the same double light switch; and
Failed to ensure that wiring was colour compliant; and
Failed to ensure that lighting and power cables were protected from mechanical damage.

The Board considered the complaint and found Mr. Grigg guilty of disciplinary offences in that he:

Carried our prescribed electrical work in an incompetent manner by failing to identify the associated active conductors of a common neutral when one is used; and
Carried our prescribed electrical work in an incompetent manner by installing lights without earth conductors; and
Carried our prescribed electrical work in a manner contrary to regulation 69 by virtue of regulation 87(1)(B) of the Electricity Regulations 1997 by using green and un-sleeved black conductors as phase conductors; and
Carried out prescribed electrical work in a manner contrary to regulation 70(2) of the Electricity Regulations 1997 by failing to adequately identify conductors; and
Negligently creating a risk to life and limb by allowing separately protected circuits to share a neutral conductor; and
Neglected to furnish a return.

The Board ordered Mr. Grigg to pay a fine of $2,050 and costs of $1,500.

Keith William Maisey (E 5341)

A complaint was lodged against Mr. Maisey, an electrician from Tauranga, by a homeowner in Tauranga. The complaint alleged that Mr. Maisey, while carrying out prescribed electrical work in a kitchen area:

Placed isolating switches in respect to an oven and microwave that were inaccessible.

The Board considered the complaint and found Mr. Maisey guilty of disciplinary offences in that he:

Contravened section 95 of the Electricity Act by not holding a current practicing license when he carried out the prescribed electrical work; and
Neglected to furnish a return in contravention of regulation 39 of the Electricity Regulations 1997.

The Board ordered that Mr. Maisey pay a fine of $1,750 and costs of $1,500.

Return to Top

Page Last Modified: 2006-08-31

This site uses cookies to track and analyse usage.