NEWS

Master Electrician Status Gained

Gold Coast residents urged to check their electrical contractors.

An alarming rise in electrical safety incidents has prompted a call for home and business owners on the Gold Coast to always use qualified tradespeople for electrical work. Matt Electric Pty Ltd has recently become one of the first contractors in Australia to achieve accreditation as a Master Electrician. Matt Electric Pty Ltd spokesperson Matt Hanley said Master Electricians Australia had recently identified an alarming increase in electrical accidents, fatalities and shonky workmanship in Queensland.

Statistics from the most recent financial year showed a serious electrical incident takes place in Queensland every working day on average.  The state has also experienced an increase in general electrical fatalities and electrical worker fatalities in recent years. Dangerous electrical events have also risen dramatically – up by more than 10 per cent in just two years. A serious electrical incident is when a person is killed by electricity or receives a shock or injury from electricity.  A dangerous electrical event covers a variety of circumstances, from issues with high voltage electrical equipment to electrical work being performed by someone without an electrical work licence.

Master Electricians CEO Malcolm Richards urged Queensland households and businesses to ensure they used only licensed contractors for electrical work. “In 2008 we simply should not be seeing increasing numbers of electrical accidents and fatalities.  Sadly we are, and in many cases it reflects a lack of experience or attention to detail on the part of some tradespeople,” Mr Richards said.

Matt Hanley said the simplest way for consumers to be certain they were dealing with a qualified professional was to choose a Master Electrician.
“Master Electricians are accredited to deliver the highest standards of safety, quality and professionalism, and we back it all up with a 12-month guarantee on our workmanship,” Matt Hanley said.“Consumers can be sure they will be getting the job done properly and safely if they ask for a Master Electrician.”

More information on Master Electricians can be found at www.masterelectricians.com.au
For more information contact Matt Electric Pty Ltd

Electrical Safety Facts

• Queensland recorded 275 serious electrical incidents and more than 3000 dangerous electrical events during 2007-08.
• The number of serious electrical incidents per million population jumped by more than 50 percent, from 39 to 65.
• The number of dangerous electrical events per million population has increased from less than 680 two years ago to nearly 780.
• The state suffered five electrical fatalities, down slightly from six in the previous year but higher than the levels recorded in 2001-02 (3 fatalities), 2002-03 (1), 2003-04 (2) and 2005-06 (3).
• While Queensland’s five year average of electrical fatalities is lower than the Australian average, it has increased over the last three years compared with a downward trend for the national figures.
• The five year average of electrical worker fatalities has also increased since 2005-06, compared with a downward national trend over the same period.

(Source:  Queensland Electrical Safety Office)

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