ELECTRICAL WORKER

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 32, 8 February 1939, Page 19

ELECTRICAL WORKER

AWARD DEFINITION

A written, opinion that the definition of an electrical worker according to the 'Wellington Industrial District Electrical Workers' Award does not include an assistant who is engaged solely at dissembling, cleaning, oiling, reassembling, and testing electrical meters and time switches for a supply authority has been issued by Mr. J. M. Gilmour, S-M., Industrial Magistrate, after consideration of written submissions by advocates.

"Clause l(a) of the award defines 'electrical workers' work' as the constructing, erecting, installing, and repairing of all classes of, electric lighting, sighs, and power appliances, and of any other appliance which requires practical knowledge of electricity," the opinion states. "It would appear, therefore, that in order to bring a worker within the scope of the definition it must, be shown that the work performed requires a practical knowledge of electricity.

"The application concerns a youth who is engaged solely at. dissembling, cleaning, oiling, reassembling, and testing electric meters and time switches for a supply authority. According to the report of the inspector, upon which I place reliance, the work done by the youth requires no more knowledge of electricity than is necessary to connect two wires with two terminals for the purpose of testing the appliances, the rest of the operations of dissembling, cleaning, oiling, and reassembling being purely mechanical as distinct from electrical operations. I gather from the papers also that if the appliances, after cleaning and oiling, are found to be electrically defective, repairs are not done by the youth but are handed over to a qualified- electrical woi'ker.

"In the light of the facts as disclosed by the written material before me, I am unable to say that the work performed by the youth comes within the scope of 'electrical workers' work' as defined in the award."