What to Expect During Your Electrical Apprenticeship

Once you have secured an electrical apprenticeship, you have another four years ahead of you before you become a qualified electrician. These four years may feel like a long time, but they are imperative in building the foundation of your knowledge and skillset required for your electrical career. Our Director Brent offers his insights into what you can expect over the next four years to help prepare for this experience.  

Work Hours 

It’s not uncommon for electricians to work consistently 8-10 hours a day, 5-6 days a week. Where possible, arriving fifteen minutes early every day and being prepared for working overtime will not only impress your employer but help you adjust to these hours once you are a fully qualified electrician. Over your 4 years, there will be 8 weeks of TAFE learning per year. It’s important not to be discouraged by the lower pay initially, as electrical apprenticeships are a unique chance to earn while you learn. Most people still studying aren’t offered this opportunity. 

Impressing Your Employer 

Be prepared to get your hands dirty. Sometimes you will find yourself in stressful situations, which will be a great learning experience and will likely make you a more resilient and efficient worker. In the beginning, you might be standing around a lot, which is the perfect time to ask questions and learn from your supervisor. Don’t let yourself get distracted but instead, ask where you can be of assistance and take the initiative to clean or complete outstanding tasks. Finally, be respectful, and show your appreciation often. 

First Year

The first year of your apprenticeship will be a lot of learning, observing and cleaning. This includes dump runs and deliveries. You will be shadowing your mentor and completing mostly roof work, installation of powerpoints, lights and running cables. This could feel like basic and repetitive work, but you must develop these safe habits early before you move onto bigger jobs.

Second Year

Your second year will be a bit more exciting. It will include learning how to test and run circuits, fitting switchboards and completing components of the larger jobs. You will also have more expectations. More will also be expected from you when it comes to customer service, which is a significant part of being a successful electrician. 

Third Year

Once you are in your third year, you will have limited supervision when completing work and running smaller jobs. You will be responsible for discussing and planning work and organising materials for it. You are expected to complete the job paperwork and report to the office, and to have the required tools needed for the job.

Fourth Year

You’re nearly there! During your fourth year, your responsibilities will increase, as this is when you will potentially be running and completing jobs autonomously. These jobs could include air conditioning / solar , completing capstone and sign-offs and e profiling. In some cases, you will have access to a work car, too. 

After completing your apprenticeship and receiving your electrical license, get ready to apply your skills and learnings. You are now responsible for signing off on all work, and you might also have an apprentice to mentor. Depending on your employer, you can expect a work car, phone allowance, and a pay increase. 

Enjoy the process of becoming an electrician and get excited about a long, rewarding electrical career. If you have any questions or are interested in becoming an apprentice with Ehlerth Electrical, contact us here.

Tips for Becoming An Electrician

Our Director, Brent, with Dan while he was still completing his apprenticeship with Ehlerth Electrical.

Completing a trade is one of the best career pathways you can take. Not only do you get paid to learn, but you also will gain professional skills in an industry that is always growing in Australia. A trade can open up an opportunity to work overseas or quite easily set you on a path to own a business one day. 

The hardest part we found when talking to electricians was finding an apprenticeship. They are really sought after and hard to come by, but once you have comfortably begun one and eventually complete your trade it will open up a world of opportunities. In this blog our Director, Brent Ehlerth, gives insight to how to differentiate yourself from the crowd and solidify the start of your electrical career. 

Advice for School Leavers

If you’re currently at school or about to graduate, this is a perfect time to venture into your electrical career. You want to make sure that you are putting in the effort in Mathematics and English classes while also practising effective communication skills. To be a good electrician, you not only need to know your trade, but it helps to have a well-rounded understanding of business to make you an admirable employee and someone who people will want on their team. At Ehlerth Electrical we employ personality first before anything else, being able to talk to all types of people and communicate well is the greatest skill you can have. 

Reach Out To Electricians 

If you’re lucky enough to know someone in the industry - great! Contact them to ask valuable questions about their experience and any advice they may have. Don’t rely on your parents or friends of friends to do this on your behalf, show initiative and offer your time for potential work experience to see if you enjoy the work. Letting your parents call or send your resume just tells an employer you're not ready and potentially being pushed into a job. Keep in mind also that electricians are generally really busy, so if they don’t answer the first time, keep trying to call them to catch them at the right time and don’t be discouraged if it takes a few calls. Following electrical companies on social media and getting to know them and the business is another great way to familiarise yourself with their projects and work.

Complete Certificate II In Electrotechnology

A great way to kick start your career in the electrical industry is by completing a Certificate II in electrotechnology. It provides you with the base-level knowledge and skills necessary for the industry and can help get your first foot in the door for your apprenticeship. The good news is this course can be covered by JobTrainer, meaning that school leavers, young people and job seekers could have this course fully subsidised. 

Look Out For Apprenticeship Intakes

By showing your interest in the electrical industry early on with local electricians and leaving a positive impression, you can open up doors for future apprenticeship opportunities when they become available. Check social media as many small businesses now use these platforms instead of job listing websites. Make sure you personalise your resume for each role to show you have an understanding of their business. If you can, invest in yourself and purchase the tools before you begin your apprenticeship, this will demonstrate both your eagerness and commitment to your employer. 

Understand The Various Electrical Fields You Can Specialise In

There are several sectors you can branch out and specialise in during your electrical career. These include general electrical, commercial, industrial, solar, air conditioning, television and communications, and smart systems. Once you have worked as a tradesman for two years, you can apply for an Electrical Contractors License and begin your own business. On top of this, Australian trades are recognised all over the world, meaning you could travel or move to another country and be able to find job opportunities. 

Feel free to reach out to the Ehlerth Electrical team today with any questions about becoming an electrician or if you want to express your interest in starting an apprenticeship with us.

5 Electrical Safety Tips For Parents

Becoming a parent means you have a long list of things that you are now responsible for, including your child's safety within the home. Electrical safety should be prioritised considering the repercussions.

Introducing electrical safe practices for your family will give you peace of mind and assurance you're doing everything possible to prevent any electrical accidents in your home. Below we recommend 5 electrical safety tips for all parents to consider.

1. No Exposed Outlets 

Babies are very inquisitive creatures and when they start crawling and walking will explore every nook and cranny they can get themselves into. As there is a minimum of two power outlets in every room of the house, keeping the inactive ones covered is the first step in creating a safe environment to explore. You can purchase clear outlet plug-ins to do this that securely covers the open outlets and are difficult for children to remove. This primarily eliminates any potential of your child putting things into the outlet. 

2. Be Mindful Of Cords and Powerboards

Having a handful of loose cords and power boards around your home, especially if they are on the floor and easily accessible, is something to be mindful of when child-proofing. Where you can, avoid using a powerboard in main areas unless you can hide this behind large furniture pieces or out of sight. Avoid using extension cords unless absolutely necessary, and if you do have to, consider getting an electrician's advice on relocating your powerpoints.

3. Practise Caution With Electrical Appliances 

Household appliances can pose a threat in the wet areas of the home like the bathroom, kitchen, laundry and garden. Avoid electrical emergencies by consciously making an effort to put these appliances, such as hairdryers and toasters, away and out of reach and only using them when the areas are clean and dry.

4. Consider Safer Electrical Alternatives

If you are in an older house or apartment, it may be worthwhile to enlist the help of a qualified electrician to inspect your home for any underlying electrical issues, whether it be upgrading faulty light switches or removing any unnecessary lamps by installing more lights in the home. It is also worth mentioning the need for the smoke alarms in your home to be installed and serviced as per the Australian standards. Annual checks for these areas removes the likeliness of a house fire or other serious electrical emergencies occurring at your property.  

5. Educate Them About Being Safe 

You will learn early on that kids will follow your every move so modelling safe techniques around the house is the first place to start when educating. You can do this by showing them that you always dry your hands before touching anything electric, explaining to them that you are switching the power off at the wall before taking an appliance out of an outlet, showing them how you remove and insert the plug safely, and making sure they understand that even parents aren’t allowed to be doing anything dangerous with the electrical work. 

Taking these precautions limits the amount of stress you'll feel when preparing for your baby's arrival and their safety as they grow. If you do have any concerns about electrical safety in your home, the Ehlerth Electrical team are well-experienced to assist you. Contact us here.

Energy Vampires: Appliances That Are Draining Your Bank Account

Are you often finding yourself surprised at your electricity bill despite making conscious efforts to be power-saving? You could be suffering from a vampire infestation. There aren't the blood-sucking, big fangs, black cape Transylvanian type. These are the energy-draining appliances that suck your energy even when turned off, and they could be costing you thousands on your electricity bill. 

We've compiled a list of common household devices that are the most dangerous energy vampires and provide solutions that you can easily implement to avoid these extra costs. 

Chargers 

Yep, any electronic device that also includes a charger is a massive culprit for energy draining. Phones, laptops, speakers, vacuum cleaners, if you can charge it you can count the dollars of electricity it's using by just having their charges always plugged in. A tip we recommend is utilising a power strip adapter and turning it off at the wall when the chargers aren't in use. You can also invest in a smart adapter that will automatically turn the power off if it recognises the devices aren't in use. 

Televisions 

Having your TV constantly plugged in and on standby is another deadly offender. While we can appreciate the annoyance felt when you finally get comfy on the couch only to go to turn the tv on and find it's been turned off at the wall, implementing the daily practice of turning it on and off manually could be the difference between getting a takeaway dinner on Friday night or having to resort to 2-minute noodles. A power strip near your TV outlet will also be useful for any gaming consoles or DVD players you have in use, as these are also energy vampire devices.

Kitchen Appliances 

Energy-draining tendencies of kitchen appliances are a bit easier to combat. Things like the kettle, toaster, microwave and coffee maker (if it has a LED clock function) are all relatively easy to plug and unplug in the kitchen as they don't require constant use. Try getting into the habit of unplugging these before you head to work for the day. Appliances like fridges are obviously always on, but you can try and make your next upgrade one that is more energy-efficient to limit the power it uses. 

Washing Machine & Dryer

Because these aren't always in action, having them unplugged from the wall is going to be an easy thing to implement. Whilst they don't have the highest usage costs when idle, they can add up and contribute significantly to your electricity bill. 

For any assistance with your business and domestic electrical needs in South East Queensland, get in touch with the Ehlerth Electrical team on 1800 940 413 or make an enquiry here: https://bit.ly/3inSG0S

Your Checklist When Choosing an Electrical Team

Your electrical needs around the house, office or on a new project are a big deal. Cutting corners and working with an unreliable team can cost you more in the long run, not only with your initial investment, but stress and repair costs, and most importantly safety issues. Many businesses can ‘talk the talk’, but it’s important to check they can ‘walk the walk’ too, and that the services and expertise they offer are credible and reliable.

In this blog, we share 5 things to look for and consider when choosing an electrical team — whether you’re a business looking for a reliable trades partner for a new build, or you’re looking for an expert team for a residential job.

Specialised Services

A good starting point when choosing an electrical team is to look into what services they offer and if they offer specialised services. Some companies may specialise in commercial projects while others may primarily do emergency maintenance. At Ehlerth Electrical, our team is skilled and specialised in a number of electrical services, from Solar to Commercial to Hazardous Areas. We can help you evaluate and scope out your electrical needs for a project over a quick chat and provide a personalised quote. Explore our services here.

ISO Certifications and Accreditations

When choosing an electrical team to work with, something to look for is whether they have ISO certifications, industry accreditations and memberships. These accreditations can back up the credibility of the electrical business’ skills, systems and management to feel assured you’re in good hands. As well as this, many of these accreditations have a lengthy process where a high level of standards must be met, showing a company’s commitment to excellence.

Ehlerth Electrical holds the following certifications that display our commitment to excellence and industry standards:

• ISO9001 Quality management systems

• ISO14001 Environmental management systems

• ISO 45001 Occupational health and safety

• Gold Master Electrician

• Arc Tick Certified

• Active Safety System by Safety Connect Australia

• Industry Association Member for The Electrical Contractors Association

Testimonials and Reviews

Another way to assure an electrical team’s credibility is to read their testimonials and reviews on Google and Facebook. Real people sharing their experiences can help you decide if this is the right team to work with. Look for what their customers and partners say about their electrical services, such as:

• Reliability

• Level of professionalism

• Expertise, knowledge and skills

• Customer service and satisfaction

• Whether they become their customers’ go to

• Partners in project work

Industry Partners and Network

Look into what teams, partners and professional associations the company has in their network. When searching for an electrical business to work with, you want to choose a team who is well-known in the industry and has a network of industry connections who can back up their skills and values. 

Enhance customer satisfaction on a project by teaming up with an electrical partner who is experienced, has high industry standards that can provide the most support on your project.

Company Values

Lastly, look into the electrical business’s company values to check they align with your own and what you need to deliver your project successfully. Are they flexible, reliable and professional? Are they committed to training and up-skilling their team? These points can all help you make a better decision when choosing an electrical team to partner with.

For any assistance with all your business and domestic electrical needs or commercial projects across South East Queensland, get in touch with the Ehlerth Electrical team on 1800 940 413 or enquire here.

6 Business Benefits of Scheduled Electrical Maintenance

All electrical systems need maintenance from time to time. Waiting until electrical faults occur to carry out maintenance can mean being hit with a larger bill for expensive electrical repairs and replacements, as well as increasing the risk of workplace safety issues occurring. With regularly scheduled maintenance, your business can be proactive, prevent issues that impact downtime and add increased costs, and ensure the safety of your employees on-site is maintained at all times.

In this blog, we shed light on six benefits of scheduled electrical maintenance for your workplace environment.

Minimise downtime

From smart lighting and computer servers, to surveillance and security, these systems all rely on electricity to function properly. Minimise the risks of your business losing data, revenue, and downtime by ensuring that electrical maintenance is conducted regularly and all infrastructure is up to scratch. Underlying issues can go undetected for months before an experienced electrician checks it out.

Save time and money

Scheduling in the appropriate electrical maintenance as a proactive, preventative measure at a more suitable time for your team can save your business time and money by eliminating disruptions later on. For example if a system were to crash or break later and need to be repaired immediately, this would cause a workplace disruption.

Make the most of your equipment lifecycle

Maintaining your office equipment often allows it to have a longer life cycle, saving you on replacement and repair costs. A qualified electrician can conduct routine electrical maintenance checks, such as a Test and Tag inspection, to ensure that all equipment is compliant with Australian WHS and Electrical Safety regulations for the workplace, as well as help identify and address safety hazards your equipment may be posing a risk to.

Increase productivity and morale

Downtime and interruptions from electrical issues and repairs can be frustrating for employees, as well as decrease productivity levels and morale. Ensure your team can work at peak performance with optimised equipment and appliances to support high productivity.

Improve energy efficiency

Making regular electrical maintenance a priority can reap many advantages, including added energy efficiency. Outdated and faulty equipment can be energy draining and less efficient at serving its purpose. By keeping equipment maintained and being proactive with necessary repairs and replacements, you can ensure your business is as energy efficient as possible — better for the planet and your wallet too.

Regular electrical maintenance involves testing and tagging, monitoring electrical equipment and systems, troubleshooting, repairs, replacements, identifying electrical safety hazards, and installing new electrical systems.

For any assistance with all your business and domestic electrical needs in South East Queensland, get in touch with the Ehlerth Electrical team on 1800 940 413 or make an enquiry here.

Test and Tag Intervals: How often should your workplace book in a Test and Tag?

Testing and tagging was implemented in Australia as a strategy to ensure the safety of portable electrical appliances in the workplace. It is also legislated in Australia. Specified electrical equipment and safety switches need to be tested at intervals according to the type of work they are used for. These testing intervals are different for each field of work.  

For construction work, testing information can be found within the AS/NZS 3012 Electrical installations – Construction and demolition sites. For manufacturing, service, office, amusement and rural industry work, information is in the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013. 

Here we run through more information on who is able to test and tag electrical equipment in your workplace and how often it must be done.

What is a Test and Tag Inspection?

A Test and Tag is a method of ensuring compliance with Australian WHS and Electrical Safety regulations and workplace safety. The Test and Tag inspection is a process of carefully visually inspecting each appliance for damage to flex, connections, guards, covers and plug by a competent technician. If an item is safe to electrically inspect, the item’s insulation, earthing and polarity may be tested to ensure it is electrically safe.

Portable appliances such as power tools and kettles are items that are most frequently handled by workers, and are also the most open to damage and hostile environmental conditions – which can cause them to become electrically unsafe. Under most state and territory regulations, these appliances in hostile operating environments must be tested and tagged on a regular basis to ensure their safe operation.

Who can test electrical equipment?

Only a qualified electrician can test and tag electrical equipment. Within a test and tagging inspection, an electrician can determine if the electrical equipment is safe for use.

Please do not carry out a test and tag inspection yourself as it is an offence under the Electrical Safety Act 2002 to repair electrical equipment unless you have the appropriate electrical work licence.

Recommended Intervals for Testing Equipment

After a Test and Tag inspection, a durable tag will be attached to the tested equipment that clearly shows the test date and the next scheduled test inspection date. 

The AS/NZS 3760 standard (table 4 shown below) should be seen as a minimum test and tag requirement guide. A lot of workplaces and company owners will have different test and tag frequencies because of their own risk management and OHS planning. 

For the most common environments, we recommend the following intervals:

Every 3 months: 

Building, construction and demolition - this requires the most frequent testing due to it being considered a harsh environment and therefore an appliance being damaged is more likely compared to other settings.

Every 6 months: 

Factories, warehouses and production - this type of environment isn't considered as harsh, but because appliances tend to be used constantly, they need to be tested every 6 months.

Every 12 months: 

An environment where the equipment/supply cord is prone to flexing or open to abuse - this is often referred to as a hostile environment, as the appliance can be overused and is therefore exposed to dust build-up, general deterioration and the weather.

Every 5 years: 

An environment where the equipment/supply cord is not prone to flexing or open to abuse - this is commonly referred to as a non-hostile environment - a typical example of this might be a company's server room.

Source: Test & Tag Training

For any enquiries in South East Queensland, get in touch with the Ehlerth Electrical team on 1800 940 413 or contact us, here.

Electrical Safety During Severe SE Queensland Storms

Storms, floods, cyclones and unpredictable weather are all a part of life in South-East Queensland. To ensure you are ready for the storm season, you can follow our tips on how to prepare your home and property before it’s too late. 

As experienced emergency-response electricians, we are here for you when the unthinkable happens. Here we share with you what to do in the wake of a weather emergency.

Your Clean-Up Checklist

If safe to do so, it is important to clean up after a storm. 

• Listen to your local radio station for further warnings and advice.

• Report fallen, low or damaged power lines to the emergency services or your local electricity distribution entity and stay away from them.

• Stay away from electrical signs, street lights, electrical cables, foil insulation or other conductive material that may be lying around your house.

• Stay away and don’t touch switchboards if they are damaged by water, fire or if lightning is close, and warn others to do the same.

• Don’t do your own electrical work - it's illegal and dangerous. Always use a licensed electrician.

• If you have a solar power generating system, avoid getting on the roof unless absolutely necessary and keep away from solar panels and their cables.

Property or Connection Damage

If your property or connecting line has been damaged by a storm or flood, you may need verification tests on your switchboard, wiring, equipment and appliances to be carried out prior to reconnection to ensure the electrical circuits are still working.

A licensed electrician will need to perform this task and a certificate of test will ensure your local electricity distribution entity can reconnect your service. We advise you do not conduct your own electrical inspection as electrical danger can be present in unexpected places.

Solar PV Systems

If your solar PV system has been damaged, get a licensed electrician to inspect it, make any repairs and check it’s electrically safe before it is re-commissioned. This check needs to be done before other clean-up work starts around the PV cells and associated electrical wiring.

Even if the network supply is turned off, PV systems will continue producing voltages during the day, so the PV cells and associated wiring will be still live.
During a clean up:

• Do not attempt to turn off the system after a storm/flood/cyclone.

• Stay away from the solar panels and wiring.

• Have an electrician check the system.

While the sun is out, your solar PV system is generating electricity. Always treat the system and associated wires as if they are live.

It pays to have our number close by this storm season, for any enquiries in South East Queensland get in touch with the Ehlerth Electrical team on 1800 940 413 or contact us, here.