Doing "Work on the Side"

[Paul.M]

Whilst in training some of you will be approached by family and friends to do small bits of work, extra socket, light in the cupboard, install a shower circuit etc etc. It depends on your competency on what you can do but other things are involved.

No work should be undertaken unless you are insured. One of the members years ago (that was a first year student) installed a new lighting circuit in a kitchen for a friend of his family. Unfortunately he put his hole saw straight through the toilet soil pipe and the kitchen ceiling had to be ripped off and replaced, also the plumbing had to be fixed as well. All out of his own pocket!


To do any electrical works we need to look at the 3 main things that make us an Electrician.
i) Design. Can you safely and correctly design a circuit under the current Regs and the correct electrical standards?

ii) Install. Are you able to install cables, sockets, switches, appliances and light fittings within the standards of the Regs and Part-P?

iii) I&T. Not many people in training will have calibrated test equipment. If you do, are you able to carry out the correct test procedures and understand the readings? An Inspector & Tester must know everything about Design (cals etc), Installation and be able to know if the test results are acceptable.


It will be tempting to take on the odd little job every now and again but please just think about it first. It would be better to ask a forum member in your area to join you and do the job together, or just walk away from the offer all together.

Any Trainee taking on such jobs and asking how to do them in the TS, the thread will be deleted and the member questioned with regards to his/her TS member status. Staff and Mentors will not give help to Trainees undergoing what could be dangerous work.

Paul M

 

[pennychew]

Interesting points raised, something that i struggle with all the time at the moment. I have £10m PL insurance for 'Building maintenance' but its obviously a grey area exactly what that would cover me for when it comes to electrical work. I'm not insured for work on three phase but a lot of the buildings have a three phase supply so does that mean i can't change a ballast on a MH fitting? something i need to look into more!

I pretty much limit myself to like for like replacement of components e.g. light switches, lamps, ballasts, socket fronts, led strips and stuff. I'll add existing sockets into a ring or similar if I'm fitting a kitchen for someone i know locally but anything over that i bring lads in. Its difficult sometimes when I'm travelling down to manchester or birmingham and its just a small electrical job and not cost effective to take someone down for a full day.

I know theres guys on here that i could call on, would be cheaper to pay someone a couple hours when its in their area than take someone down for the full day but it obviously takes a bit more co-ordination.

 

[Pete999]

Whilst in training some of you will be approached by family and friends to do small bits of work, extra socket, light in the cupboard, install a shower circuit etc etc. It depends on your competency on what you can do but other things are involved.

No work should be undertaken unless you are insured. One of the members years ago (that was a first year student) installed a new lighting circuit in a kitchen for a friend of his family. Unfortunately he put his hole saw straight through the toilet soil pipe and the kitchen ceiling had to be ripped off and replaced, also the plumbing had to be fixed as well. All out of his own pocket!


To do any electrical works we need to look at the 3 main things that make us an Electrician.
i) Design. Can you safely and correctly design a circuit under the current Regs and the correct electrical standards?

ii) Install. Are you able to install cables, sockets, switches, appliances and light fittings within the standards of the Regs and Part-P?

iii) I&T. Not many people in training will have calibrated test equipment. If you do, are you able to carry out the correct test procedures and understand the readings? An Inspector & Tester must know everything about Design (cals etc), Installation and be able to know if the test results are acceptable.


It will be tempting to take on the odd little job every now and again but please just think about it first. It would be better to ask a forum member in your area to join you and do the job together, or just walk away from the offer all together.

Any Trainee taking on such jobs and asking how to do them in the TS, the thread will be deleted and the member questioned with regards to his/her TS member status. Staff and Mentors will not give help to Trainees undergoing what could be dangerous work.

Paul M

Couldn't agree more Paul, well said.

 

[amckay]

I agree with that Paul.
Trouble is (well, for older trainees at least) is actually getting testing experience.
Like myself I have limited testing experience and in all honesty wouldn't understand half the readings.
Its different for apprentices as they actually get taught it and how to interoperate the readings.
When I did 2394+5 we didn't get taught that.
That's possibly why I failed the two c&g exams....

Having said that, if anyone (north west/manchester/east cheshire) would like to teach me how to test & interoperate readings, I could return the favour in the form of free labour for a day or two.
I do hold PLI for £2m.

 

[telectrix]

i suppose it's a question of level of competence. adding a socket or converting lighting to LED may well be within the capability of a trainee, but PL insurance of , say, 2 mill. is a must. i,m sure some of the mentors would be prepared to give up a few hours to supervise, if the work was local.