3 Important Reasons to Hire a Licensed Electrician

Today in most nations around the world, qualified electricians hold licenses. These credentials verify they have mastered the skills required to perform electrical work safely and correctly. At least three strong reasons support this requirement:

One: Complying With The Law
In most places, laws regulate who can (and cannot) market electrical skills to the general public. In order to obtain building permits, contractors must comply with applicable building codes and standards. These regulations typically mandate the use of qualified construction contractors licensed to perform work in their fields. Electricians undergo education and extensive supervised training in order to master skills involved in correctly wiring and maintaining electrical systems.

Hobbyists who enjoy working on electrical projects often possess considerable skill and knowledge. Yet until they meet the requirements of licensing jurisdictions and demonstrate their ability to perform the duties of an electrician safely and accurately, they cannot market their services as electricians to other people legally in most places. Today, many professional electricians obtain very in-depth training. They often spend years learning different aspects of their trade.

Two: Safety
Perhaps the most important reason you should only consider hiring licensed electricians relates to safety issues. Among workers at construction sites, electricians routinely perform some of the most hazardous types of activities. As a group, these workers possess a higher-than-average chance of sustaining serious or even fatal injuries on the job. Working safely with electrical systems requires extensive training and meticulous attention to detail. Electricians frequently perform tasks while situated in uncomfortable or awkward positions: crouching on the ground or standing on top of ladders. A well-intentioned but incorrect decision during the process of wiring a building might result in electrocutions, falls, or other accidents. Data collected between 1992 and 2003 by the federal government testifies to the potentially significant risks electricians face at work.

Consider the awesome power stored within the electrical grid. Just as a lightning bolt during a thunderstorm occasionally reeks destruction on the ground, connecting the wrong wires at a construction site can produce horrendous damage. To insure the safety of people working in the area and the satisfaction and well-being of customers, conscientious builders always make certain they utilize the talents of licensed electricians. These people have established their qualifications in the field.

Three: Liability Issues
A third reason to rely on licensed electricians relates to liability issues. “Builders and property sellers who fail to secure the services of qualified contractors sometimes face costly litigation if accidents and losses eventually occur as a result of shoddy work,” said Jackson Electrical Contractors, Inc. Since an unlicensed contractor has not demonstrated a minimal level of proficiency in the performance of electrical work, hiring one of these individuals to perform skilled electrical contracting services may prove costly for a project manager.

For example, when a project manager retains an unlicensed person to complete electrical work in a home and faulty wiring later contributes to a fire that causes losses, the property owners or their insurance company may seek compensation from the contractor for negligence. A jury might view the project manager’s failure to verify the electrician’s licensing status as evidence of a careless safety culture at the job site. In order to avoid that type of allegation, anyone responsible for overseeing the construction of the home at a minimum should require full compliance with occupational licensing codes.

Verify License Status
For all of these reasons, it remains a prudent idea to verify an electrician’s licensing status before you hire one of these professionals to work on a construction site. The experienced professionals who install electrical wiring, lights, electrical outlets, generators and appliances possess in-demand skill sets. As license holders, they maintain a vested interest ensuring that their work complies with applicable standards.