Faulty in-floor heater work leaves one man dead

After pleading guilty a year ago, 1137749 Ontario Ltd., a Licensed Electrical Contractor (LEC) known as Pro-Teck Electric in Niagara Falls, Ont., was fined $537,500 in a Niagara Falls, Ont., court on March 30, 2016.

This is the largest fine in the history of electrical contractor licensing in Ontario. Pro-Teck Electric* pleaded guilty in April 2015 to multiple charges.

All fines include a 25 percent victim surcharge as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.

On April 5, 2014, an elderly gentleman fell on the floor in the bathroom of his Niagara-on-the-Lake home where Pro-Teck Electric had installed an in-floor heating system.

The man suffered second and third degree burns from the over-heated floor and succumbed to his injuries weeks later in hospital.

An Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) investigation revealed the floor system’s heat sensor had not been installed, and the heating system was wired to an incorrect voltage level.

Pro-Teck Electric pleaded guilty to three charges: leaving an unsafe electrical condition, failure to procure connection authorization before use, and failure to apply for an electrical inspection.

“We are terribly saddened by this incident and it underscores how dangerous electrical work can be when it’s not done properly,” says Scott Saint, Chief Public Safety Officer, Electrical Safety Authority.

“We aggressively pursue those who work outside the law and we’re pleased the court has delivered a strong message that if you break the law and put public safety at risk, there will be serious consequences.”

Licensing laws, permits and inspection requirements are in place to help protect consumers and make Ontario a safer place in which to live, work and play.

When hiring someone to conduct electrical work, homeowners and businesses are reminded to check to ensure the contractor holds a valid ECRA/ESA electrical contractor licence (there is a searchable database at www.esasafe.com), and confirm they are arranging the appropriate permits and inspections from ESA.

When the work is complete, always ask for an ESA Certificate of Inspection. This document is important not only for safety and peace of mind, but also for insurance and resale purposes.

*Note: there is a separate licensed electrical contracting company in Richmond Hill, Ont., with a similar name (Pro-Tek Electric Inc.). The two companies are not related.