I knew someone would raise that! It's really very hard to know how many, if any, of the fires that result in death(s) have anything to do with DIY electrics. For a start, 'electrical fire' seems to be used as a scapegoat for any fire for which some other cause can be found. More to the point, when one does see breakdowns of 'electrical fires', it seems that most have nothing to do with the electrical installation at all, whether work was done by a professional or DIYer - they are mainly due to domestic appliances, some are due (hardly 'electrical') to items being put too close to electrical sources of heat. I strongly suspect that the total number of deaths per year due (directly or indirectly) to DIY electrical work is quite probably in single figures.
I don't think it's up to professionals (electrical or otherwise), but rather to 'society' to decide to what extent it wants laws to 'protect us from ourselves'. We live in a society which finds it acceptable for people to climb mountains, crawl around in potholes, jump out of aircraft or off clifftops, sail around the world in a tiny craft etc. etc. etc., most of which activities, I feel sure, have the potential result in more morbidity and mortality than does DIY electrics (not to mention other types of DIY) - and that's even before we consider the fact that we are allowed to smoke, drink alcohol, over-eat and under-exercise etc. etc.!
Opinions clearly vary about this, and probably always will. FWIW, only a very small number of countries (of which Australia is the most obvious example) have, so far, decided to essentially ban DIY electrical work. I do, however, find it a little odd that some people (maybe including yourself) who do not really believe that DIY electrics should be allowed (other than by people who have essentially the same knowledge, skill and resources as electricians) should choose to participate in a "DIY Electrics" forum!
Kind Regards, John
