The main role of an electrician is to maintain and install electrical power systems for businesses, homes and other premises. A main part of being an electrician is to maintain wiring in these systems, ensuring that electricity flows correctly and to legislative guidelines. An electrician may also be tasked with working in a factory or production environment, or a construction environment in which they supply new homes and other buildings with electrical power systems and rewiring.
An electrician typically begins their work by consulting the blueprint (or technical diagram) of a circuit, taking into account the various outlets and components of that circuit, before connecting wires to circuit breakers, transformers and outlets. An electrician uses tools such as conduit benders, screwdrivers, saws, hacksaws, voltmeters, harmonics testers and other equipment to test connections and to ensure the safety of the equipment they are installing. If a circuit has faulty wiring, it is an electrician’s responsibility to repair or replace it, and to do so in a timely yet safe manner. Replaced items include switches, fuses, circuit breakers and other electrical components. All equipment installed by an electrician should be inspected regularly to ensure it is safe.
