Liam McNally
An unlicensed and unregistered worker who installed air conditioners in Wyndham and across Melbourne after advertising his services on Facebook Marketplace has been convicted following an Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) investigation.
Keenan Blair Grobler was convicted and fined $10,000 in the Werribee Magistrates Court on Monday, May 8 after being found guilty of 10 charges under the Electricity Safety Act 1998 and nine charges under the Building Act 1993.
Mr Grobler, who now lives in Scarborough, Western Australia, carried out works in Cobblebank, Wyndham Vale, Berwick, Tarneit and Clyde North between June and November 2020.
During that six-month period, Mr Grobler advertised his services on Facebook Marketplace, before installing nine split system air conditioners across five properties. He also installed two light fittings at one property.
An ESV investigation found the works did not comply with the relevant safety standards and posed a safety risk to the properties, one of which was a family day-care facility.
Fortunately, the works did not result in injury.
The investigation was prompted by complaints made to Energy Safe between June 2020 and January 2021.
Energy Safe chief executive Leanne Hughson urged the community to ensure people carrying out electrical and plumbing works carried the appropriate licences and registrations before starting work.
“We advise everyone to check that the people working on their property are qualified and accredited to carry out the work, before the work starts,” she said.
“Please also be wary when searching for electricians and plumbers on websites like Facebook Marketplace as it is common for unlicensed and unregistered tradespeople to promote themselves on these platforms.
“Energy Safe will always work to ensure people are caught and convicted when breaching these very important requirements.”
Mr Grobler did not appear in court.
Electrical and plumbing work needs to be carried out by licensed and qualified workers to ensure it is done safely and in line with regulations.
