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| About the Electrical Program |  |
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The Electrical program's primary mission is to keep Washington's citizens safe, by ensuring that:
- All electrical professionals who operate in Washington State
are adequately trained and licensed to do safe and secure electrical work.
- All electrical work done in Washington is inspected for quality
and safety to keep Washington's citizens safe.
What we do
We keep Washington safe by...
- Licensing electrical contractors and certifying electricians,
trainees, master electricians and electrical. administrators to ensure
installation competency and professionalism.
- Reviewing electrical plans for schools, hospitals,
nursing homes and prisons to ensure they meet appropriate safety standards.
- Inspecting all types of electrical installations and
maintenance to ensure public safety standards are met.
- Requiring amusement rides to be inspected and insured
for electrical and mechanical safety.
Why we do it
- Injuries - Coming in contact with electricity can be
dangerous, both at work and in our personal lives.
- Fire hazards - Improperly installed electrical wiring
and equipment are a leading cause of fires in the state.
- Unsafe electrical installations are costly - There
are great costs associated with fire damage, personal injuries and potentially
death.
How we’re doing
- Increased public outreach - Newsletters, public forums
and the Internet have allowed us to better inform our customers of our
services and their responsibilities.
- Improved technology – Inspectors are equipped
with on-site mobile computing devices for quicker more accurate inspections.
- Streamlined processes - Streamlined plan review processes
have eliminated backlogs and enabled projects to move forward in a more
timely manner.
- Reduced inspection time - 95% of our electrical inspections
are completed in 48 hours and 83% in 24 hours.
Where we’re going
- Inspection processes improved even more - Goals: 89%
of inspections within 24 hours; purchase permits over the Internet, inspection
requests by phone, fax or Internet; contractor accounts and electronic
transfers authorized.
- Education and outreach emphasized - Homeowners and
contractors will be targeted to emphasize the need for safe electrical
installations and maintenance.
- Strategic use of technology – Hand-held computers
will help inspectors in the field to immediately identify illegal contractors
statewide and improve customer service.
- Enhanced public/private partnerships – Enhanced
stakeholder involvement, including more interaction with the Electrical
Board and industry representatives will ensure a collaborative policy-making
process.
