This article was posted 09/17/2009 and is most likely outdated.

Homeowners Hire Unlicensed Contractors-Canada
 

 

Topic - Safety
Subject - Homeowners Hire Unqualified Contractors - Canada

September 17, 2009
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Homeowners Hire Unqualified Contractors for Dangerous Work - Canada

 

Despite laws that were passed in Canada two years ago, a study reveals that Ontario homeowners continue to try to save money by hiring unqualified contractors to do electrical work. The Canadian Electrical Safety Authority reports in the following article that not only is it unsafe, but it ends up costing more in the long run.

 
Homeowners hire unqualified contractors for dangerous work
Canada

Study reveals unlicensed workers cost homeowner’s unnecessary time and money

Mississauga, ON, Sept. 14, 2009 – Almost half of Ontario homeowners allow an unqualified person or contractor to perform dangerous electrical work in their homes despite a law making it illegal to do so.

According to a recent Leger Marketing survey, 45 per cent of Ontario homeowners do not find it necessary to check the credentials of contractors before hiring them to perform electrical work, such as rewiring a fuse or breaker panel or adding new electrical receptacles or switches. In addition, more than 70 per cent of homeowners would allow a neighbour or friend to install a new light fixture for them, while 47 per cent would permit them to repair an electrical outlet and 43 per cent would let them wire an outdoor light timer — all of which are considered dangerous if not performed properly.

The data comes more than two years after the Ontario government passed a law requiring all contracted electrical work to be performed by a Licensed Electrical Contractor (LEC). The law came into force in January 2007 in response to the increasing number of electrical incidents involving property damage, injury and death.

We are concerned that Ontario homeowners continue to put the safety and lives of their loved ones at risk by not ensuring that the contractor they hire to do electrical work is qualified to do so, says Lucy Impera, Registrar-Licensing & Certification of the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA), the governing body that administers and enforces these licensing laws.

Homeowners’ impulse for hiring unlicensed contractors has cost them a significant amount of time and money. More than one-third of homeowners have had negative renovation experiences while an equal number have had to pay to fix improper electrical work.

We understand today’s homeowners are looking to save money, but hiring an unlicensed person will inevitably lead to more costs down the road, says Impera. It’s better to hire someone who is licensed and insured to protect the safety of your family and property, right from the start.

In the last ten years, 106 Ontarians have died as a result of electrocution. In addition, there have been 33,739 electrical fires reported by the Office of the Fire Marshall.
Homeowners looking for additional information on electrical safety requirements or for a list of LECs in their area can visit www.pluginsafely.ca.

 

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Comments
  • The article states that more than one-third of homeowners have had negative renovation experiences while an equal number have had to pay to fix improper electrical work. However no comparative data is presented showing the percentage of homeowners with negative renovation experiences who did use a "LEC" or the number of homeowners having to call back an LEC to correct problems.

    Articles like this raise important issues, but to be credible they should include objective and comparative data - otherwise the conclusions are suspect regardless of the merits....

    Trust But Verify....
    Reply to this comment

  • Here in Winnipeg, Manitoba - the same thing has been going on for over 25 years. I have not heard of any one being convicted for doing electrical work for which they are not qualified! Usually carpenters and/or renovators do most of the smaller wiring jobs in homes iligally..

    Manuel Correia
    Reply to this comment

  • there are some are questioning how safe is this new "pluginsafety" device. What is the scenario if the device overheated due to overload or misuse of abuse by the unscrupulous person who pretend to be knowlegeable in electrical work.

    Ariel V. Pineda
    Reply to this comment

  • "will inevitably lead to more costs down the road, says Impera."

    The assumption that all non-LEC work is done wrong.

    Bottom line is the home owner doesn't want to pay LEC rates to change an outlet; but the government mandates the minimum rates and travel charges.

    PFalcon
    Reply to this comment

  • None of these statistics surprise me at all. As already pointed out, without further comparative information they seem perfectly reasonable. The lack of adequate comparison makes the assertions of the article unsupported and so casts doubt on their veracity.

    On the other hand, there is deliberate inflationary language used in the article that indicates the author or editor are border line luddites living in abject fear of electricity or that they are disbelieving that anyone other than an LEC can safely perform routine maintenance activities.

    Obviously, if people are doing this for hire they should be LEC’s. Those that work on their own homes or work together with their neighbors on their homes take on a responsibility to work within their means. Some will and some won’t.

    However, LEC’s come out of the general population of intelligent people. This article seems to posit that all of the intelligent people in the population have been taken up into the ranks of LEC’s and none are left behind in the general population able to safely perform routine maintenance within the limits of their understanding.

    The lack of adequate support for the articles assertions and the inflationary language suggest this article is written with an agenda and not fairly discussing the subject.

    Ken Lillemo
    Reply to this comment

  • We have the same problem right here in Florida with unlicensed persons performing electrical work. The states and counties need to address this problem asap.

    Peter Burghardt
    Reply to this comment

  • Good to know about Canada, How about the USA. I would love to know this info., so I can pass it on to my customers. Then when I give them an estimate they're not going to tell me their Uncle Jake the snake, or Brother Joe Smoe will install that timer switch so it saves them money.

    Steve Cattron
    Reply to this comment


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