The Queensland Government’s Electrical Safety Office is set to audit electrical contractors to determine whether contractors are including their licence numbers in adverts and issuing certificates of test correctly.

Inspectors will start by checking that contractors are displaying their licence number when they advertise in places such as newspapers, the yellow pages or the internet. This allows the general public to see that they are correctly licensed, and check using the Electrical Safety Office’s licence holder search.

Inspectors will also ensure that certificates of test have been issued correctly. When they work on electrical equipment, contractors must issue certificates of test to certify that the equipment is electrically safe. Copies of certificates of test must be kept for at least five years.

A contractor may be required to provide evidence that these certificates have been issued. For example, if an incident occurs involving that equipment, an inspector will request evidence of the certificate of test. Alternatively, this information can be written on the invoice.