Securing the Industry.......What is the way forward

Graeme Harrold · Sep 22, 2009

OK Im fairly new to the industry (fully as Ive been doing field eletrics from generators) and also fresh to this forum, however I do see a lot of trends in the threads that I have been reading over the last year, mainly:

Pricing - being undercut by non-trained/registered persons
Lack of work
Plenty of comments about registrations bodies NAPIT NIC etc
Woollyness of guidelines

To name but a few.........

It seems there is little regulation enforcement given the nature of the industry and things only come to prosecution/enforcement/prosecution when something goes wrong. In an ideal world the bodies taking the money from electricians should be helping secure the future of those who have taken the time to invest in their personal futures.

Who has the most clout in the big wide world....................Insurance Companies I tell ya........

They could revolutionise things qickley by insisting on certified modifications to electrical installations, inspections carried out at the recommended intervals and that registered/qualified electricians conduct the work.

Why would insurance companies insist on this..........its got to save them money........by reducing risk!!!

Currently very few policies especially domestic carry a clause about electrical inspections or its so well burried many dont think about it. So by lobying insurance companies to start insisting on this information it isgoing to be beneficial to both parties.......

Whats the sentiments on the above, and whos up for taking it forward.....................please discuss

supasparxs · Sep 23, 2009

You are totally right,

I personally think the JIB is he lowest of the low but a register and grading like the JIB is required so that the cowboys can be kicked out.

If it was sorted with the PL and PI insurance was only possible to those qualified then it would mean that only professional electricians and not chancers, those with soudo or paper quallifications.

Like many people here I have invested alot of time, money and effort on this industry and when there is a building boom. some "Training organisation" decides that we need more electricans, plumbers, brickies etc and creates quick courses that creates the new tradesmen and women.

As Graeme said above let the money people who have the real power in this country say the word.
if only quallified electricians could get the insurance then there would be alot less problems with this industry.

Phil Mumford · Nov 17, 2009

Quite right. I think it is getting better but how many domestic periodics actually get done every ten years? Commercial/industrial is improving and inspections due to buy to let or other landlords duty of care is becoming more popular but most of the housing stock is being overlooked.

People don't test their RCD's because they are scared that when it trips it may not reset. Same thinking with periodic inspections in a domestic scenario - who goes looking for bad news?

We need a government funded campaign to raise awareness of the importance of periodic testing and inspection. It needs to be given the same level of importance as CORGI was (now gas safe) but it could be driven through insurance as a 10% discount over ten years would pay for the periodic (if in place).

No easy answer then......

Anonomoose · Nov 19, 2009

As long as shops sell products to anyone, e.g. B & Q selling consumer units people will continue to do work themselves also allows cowboys to do work. I recently joined electrifix which you have to register with and they check with elecsa, NIC, ECA before they will sell you anything. Think if everyone did this it would eliminate people being able to do it themselves. would also stop the annoying customer coming out with "oh i got this on offer can you fit it?" obviously not stop selling sockets switches, light fittings just things like consumer units.