We assume government is there to protect and serve the community. It's easy to do because we take for granted some of the protective services it provides.

Government restaurant inspectors protect us from food contamination at local restaurants. They provide us with monthly reports on the cleanliness of the facilities they visit.

And the state mandates drivers pass a test to ensure they are not hazards to the driving public.

But what about your safety at home or where you shop or conduct business transactions? In particular, what about the safety issues prevalent in electrical work for residential and commercial customers?

According to the National Fire Protection Association, 13,100 fires in the home nationwide are caused by electrical faults in electricity distribution or lighting equipment, causing 140 deaths and $340 million in damage each year.

Forty-five percent of the fires were attributed to faulty wiring, switches or receptacles; 28 percent to bad lighting; and 8 percent to incorrect overcurrent protection.

Granted, electrical wiring in older homes and buildings may eventually decay and corrode, however the skill and knowledge of those performing electrical installation in Monroe County may be suspect under the current electrical ordinance that is in place.

Many "electricians," and I use that word loosely, in and around Bloomington are not required to prove or demonstrate their qualifications or training in their trade to Monroe County authorities. Workers performing electrical work in your home or on commercial sites are not required to secure any type of license.

A non-union electrical contractor may find himself in need of some additional manpower and call a temporary employment agency requesting an "electrician," without scrutinizing the worker's background and training.

Literally, a teenager, working his first summer job, could install the electric system in your home or on a commercial job. It's scary, but it's real.

Organized electricians mandate that their electricians attend school after work for at least 800 hours and experience on-the-job training for three to five years under a qualified journeyperson (those who have completed a Department of Labor-approved, five-year apprenticeship training).

However, when you talk to some workers out there who are performing electrical installations, and they tell you that they do not know or understand the electrical theory behind their work, you should be concerned, especially when they just do what they are told by the boss, no questions asked, because of fear or from lack of knowledge.

Union electricians are there for the long run. They are not jumping around between temp jobs or trades trying to figure out what they want to be when they grow up. They are committed to their craft, dedicated and professional in their duties. Organized trades workers are capable of following the proper techniques and will question installations when something doesn't seem quite right.

It's a trait that may have prevented the tragic death at the Wal-Mart site last year.

You probably do not realize it, but the state of Indiana does not have any electrical licensing requirement. We have licensing for plumbers, beauticians, barbers, dieticians and home inspectors but not electricians.

So Monroe County, and by default Bloomington, does not require workers performing electrical installations in this community to have the experience, training or skill to perform some of the most dangerous and potentially fatal work in construction.

All that is required is that a master license holder "sign-off" on a job, not actually perform any of he work. One license holder could, legally sign off on every job in Monroe County, regardless of who actually performs the work.

An improved electrical licensing ordinance in Monroe County could improve the safety and quality installations throughout our community. It can't be disingenuous or a sham, but a true commitment to protecting the interests of the public.

What would be wrong with requiring electricians in Monroe County to have at least nominal experience or to be in an approved Department of Labor apprenticeship training program? Or requiring that electricians attend and pass yearly upgrade code training classes or have to prove they are competent and qualified? Why not set standards that would employ more local workers?

Contact your Building Department, contact the County Commissioners, and contact your County Council representative, because you may be surprised as to what type of "protection" you are getting for your safety and for your tax dollars.

Tom Szymanski can be reached at toms@ibew725.org.