Contractor fined for obstructing Electrical Safety Office investigator

A licensed electrical contractor from Tanah Merah was fined $1200 recently after an Electrical Safety Office (ESO) inspector was obstructed from investigating wiring defects in a Cornubia home in August 2007.

Peter Edward Mills pleaded guilty in the Beenleigh Industrial Magistrates Court to obstructing an ESO inspector in the exercise of his powers under the Electrical Safety Act 2002.

The court heard that in August 2007, the inspector was preparing to issue an improvement notice to Mr Mills listing wiring defects requiring attention, when Mr Mills became aggressive and used abusive language.

The inspector tried to show Mr Mills the wiring standards but was pushed in the chest, stumbling and falling over a retaining wall. He landed heavily on his back and sustained minor abrasions.

Industrial Magistrate, Mr Peter Webber, found the inspector acted professionally at all times and said inspectors monitoring and enforcing compliance with safety legislation should not have to consider such abuse and that the offence was serious.

Mr Mills pleaded guilty and showed remorse. He attended to all wiring defects when subsequently issued an improvement notice.

He was fined $1200 and ordered to pay investigation and court costs of $542.50, in default of payment 33 days jail. The Industrial Magistrate took account of Mr Mills’ remorse and personal circumstances in making an order that no conviction be recorded.

ESO Executive Director Peter Lamont said anyone who offered violence to ESO inspectors should expect to be prosecuted.