18C-048 (31) electrician shall have more than one learner or apprentice working with him and under his supervision as
aforesaid; but not more than one such learner or apprentice shall be so employed for each journeyman
electrician.
Electricians employed by theatrical companies may install temporary wiring and appliances required for the
purpose of the engagement of any such company,subject to the supervision of a person licensed under
this chapter.
Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, no permit for the performance
of electrical work pursuant to chapters one hundred and forty-one and one hundred and forty-three shall be
issued by any city or town unless the licensee provides p�oof of liability insurance,including"completed
operation" coverage,which has been issued by an insurance company licensed to do business in the
commonwealth,or a bond or other type of indemnity against liability providing substantially equivalent
coverage. In lieu of said insurance requirement the permit issuing authority shall accept the signature of the
owner or his agent on the uniform application for a permit for work to be performed by electricians.
History-
1915, 296, Sec. 8; 1948, 629, Sec. 1; 1962, 582, Sec.2; 1987, 764, Sec. 9; 1989,605.
Editorial Note-
' The 1962 amendment deleted the former first paragraph, made the third paragraph the first paragraph and
added at the end of such paragraph the words", provided that no such journeyman electrician shall have
more than one learner or apprentice working with him and under his supervision as aforesaid; but not more
than one such learner or apprentice shall be so employed for each journeyman electrician". For the
provisions of Sec. 3 of the amending act,see editorial note to Sec. 1 of this chapter
The 1987 amendment replaced "of'Certificate A', may"with"of certificate A, may."
The 1989 amendment added the third paragraph requiring insurance coverage for electrical contractors
ri Total Client-Service Library(R) References-
26 Am Jur 2d, Electricity,Gas, and Steam Secs. 51-55
14 Am Jur Proof of Facts 663, Electrical Wring
CASE NOTES
A petition to quash the action of the examiners in suspending petitioner's master electrician's license does
not become moot by reason of the expiration of the suspension period and the restoration of the license,
where error is alleged in the service of the notice and the supposed violation concerned work excepted from
the scope of Sec.7 of this chapter,and the court observed that under Sec.3,this chapter,the records of
the meetings of the examiners are public records,and that if the questions were regarded as moot it would
mean that a series of short suspensions could restrict the petitioner's business activities and at the same
time deprive him of all opportunity for a review of the decisions,no matter how contrary to law they might
be. Kenworthy&Taylor,Inc.v State Examiners of Electricians(1946)320 Mass 451,70 NE2d 247.
Joumeyman electrician may act as independent contractor,conduct his own business,or otherwise
contract to do electrical work in his own name,so long as he employs no more than one leamer or
apprentice. Maria v State Examiners of Electricians(1974) 365 Mass 551,313 NE2d 448.
Statutory phrase that journeyman electrician is person qualified to do electrical work"for hire"is not meant
to limit joumeyman to work only as employee or to preclude journeyman from acting as independent
contractor. Maria v State Examiners of Electricians(1974)365 Mass 551,313 NE2d 448.
A joumeyman electrician duly licensed under this section has the right, by contract or otherwise,to do the
same class of work as is done by master electricians, provided that he does the work himself with his own
hands and does not employ any journeyman to assist him,and he may in such work employ learners or
apprentices working with him and under his direct personal supervision. 4 Op AG 496.
A licensed joumeyman electrician may make a contract to install wiring and may employ an apprentice or
appliances are on its own premises;or the worts in connection with the installation,construction,
maintenance, repair and renovation of telephone equipment, cable television service or computer systems
by a person,firm or corporation primarily engaged in the telecommunications or the information systems
industry.
History-
1915,296,Sec. 7; 1987, 764, Sec. 8; 1992, 135, approved July 20, 1992, effective 90 days thereafter.
Editorial Note—
The 1987 amendment, after the second appearance of"installation",inserted"; public employees engaged
in the work of installing, maintaining, or repairing public signalling systems;"and, at the end of the first
sentence, inserted "; or the working connection with the installation, construction, maintenance, repair and
renovation of telephone equipment or computer systems by a person, firm, or corporation primarily
engaged in the telecommunications or the information industry."
The 1992 amendment, following "telephone equipment", inserted ", cable television service"
Total Client-Service Library(R) References-
26 Am Jur 2d, Electricity, Gas, and Steam Secs. 51-55
14 Am Jur Proof of Facts 663, Electrical Wiring
CASE NOTES
The State Examiners of Electricians lacked power under ALM c 141 Sec. 1,to adopt a regulation requiring
that all electrical work on fire and burglar aarms systems be performed by licensed electricians. Simon v
State Examiners of Electricians (1985) 395 Mass 238, 479 NE2d 649.
Exemption in GL c 141 Sec. 7 a pp lies only to telephone and telegraph companies ies and not to burglar and
fire alarm companies. Simon v State Examiners of Electricians (1984) 18 Mass App 17,462 NE2d 1116,
superseded by statute on other grounds (1985) 395 Mass 238,479 NE2d 649.
Employees of telephone and telegraph companies are not exempt from compliance with electrical code.
Simon v State Examiners of Electricians (1984) 18 Mass App 17,462 NE2d 1116, superseded (1985)395
Mass 238,479 NE2d 649.
Installation of radio-controlled peak-load switches on consumer-owned hot water tanks by nonlicensed
employees of electric company did not fall within exemption in GL c 141 Sec.7 affecting certain employees
of electric company on premises of customers. Westem Massachusetts Electric Co.v State Examiners of
Electricians(1984) 18 Mass App 953,468 NE2d 1088,review den (1984) 393 Mass 1104,471 NE2d 1355.
Exemption in GL c 141 Sec. 7 did not apply to unlicensed electric company employees who worked on
premises of customer to after internal wiring of appliance owned by customer,not by company. Westem
Massachusetts Electric Co.v State Examiners of Electricians(1984) 18 Mass App 953,468 NE2d 1088,
review den(1984) 393 Mass 1104,471 NE2d 1355.
Neither general street lighting nor traffic fight work performed by the department of public works or its
agents or employees on public ways is subject to the licensing requirements of GL c 141. 1976-1977 Op
AG, No.26.
X14<54c
C. 141 Sec. 8. Installation of Electrical Wiring by Certain Electricians; Employment
of Apprentices.
Electricians regularly employed by persons,firms or corporations other than holders of certificate A may
install such electrical wiring,conduits and appliances or make such repairs as may be required only on the
premises and property of such persons,firms or corporations;provided that such electricians hold
joumeymen's licenses,and have otherwise complied with this chapter.Any such person,firm or corporation
may employ leamers or apprentices to work with and under the direct personal supervision of electricians
referred to in this paragraph in said installation and repair work, provided that no such journeyman