Highlighting the importance of gaining proof of your skills in your chosen sector, a recent survey has urged homeowners to check the qualifications of electricians prior to taking them on to do a job, after it was found that many people did not do so.
The UK charity The Electrical Safety Council (ESC) found that one in five people living in Plymouth hired an electrician without first checking that they were fully qualified. The ESC warned that this was extremely dangerous, as faulty electrical work carried out by an unqualified electrician could result in electric shocks or worse.
Electrical accidents are responsible for 50 per cent of all house fires and one person dies each week in the UK as a result of an electrical-related accident, the charity confirmed, as it urged the public to ensure that they take on skilled and qualified workers only.
Across the country, a third of registered electricians reported that they have seen a rise in the amount of substandard or dangerous work carried out by non-registered electricians over the past two years.
Director general of the Electrical Safety Council, Phil Buckle, told the Plymouth Herald: “It is worrying that many people in Plymouth are simply unaware of the need to ensure the person carrying out electrical work in their home is competent."
“Electrical safety is not something anyone should take a gamble on – this is why we are providing information online, to support people in identifying registered electricians in their area. You wouldn’t get a non-registered tradesman to fix your boiler so why do it for your electrics,” Mr Buckle added.