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Report from the Board
The Electrical Workers Registration Board has pleasure in presenting its Sixth Annual Report.
This has been a year of both consolidation and progress with several major initiatives commenced in previous years coming to fruition while new initiatives were launched to maintain the Boards momentum.
Review of the Act
The review of the Electricity Act was completed and the Board's report was forwarded to the Minister in October. The report included a great deal of information from submissions received from industry during the public consultation phase. Substantial change to the disciplinary process was recommended. These changes will speed up the process and ensure natural justice is observed for both the complainant and the respondent electrical worker.
The Hon Max Bradford, Minister of Energy commissioned a Review of the Gas and Electricity Safety Regime which, by its nature included the Electricity Act. It is expected that the outcome of the Minister's review will encompass most of the aspects covered in the Board's report.
Complaints and Discipline
During the Board's review of the Act, a number of submissions were received that expressed concern about the time it was taking to resolve complaints. This is expected to change once the effects of the review of the electricity and gas safety regime is completed and new legislation is introduced.
In the interim, the Board, through the Deputy Secretary, Operations and Risk Management Branch, has made strong submissions to the Ministry of Commerce (the Ministry) on the Complaints Assessment Committee (Committee) process. These submissions led to an indepth review of the Committee system and its support structure by the Ministry, with the specific objective of the timely resolution of complaints.
While legislative constraints cannot be fully overcome, the outcome of this internal review has enabled the Ministry to make significant progress in reducing the backlog of complaints. In turn, the increased throughput of Committee reports required the Board to hold additional meetings during the year to hear these cases.
Electrical Worker Competency
During the year the Board concluded the public consultation phase of the proposed audit strategy. A revised "risk management" based audit strategy was introduced to the industry through a publicity campaign in industry publications.
The risk management audit programme will mean a substantial reduction in the number of certificate of compliance based work audits. This is in response to strongly expressed industry concerns over excessive auditing of workers known to carry out work in a conscientious manner. The major focus of auditing will be high risk electrical workers (those who do not hold current practising licences) and medium risk electrical workers (those not using certificates of compliance or electrical safety certificates). By early 1999 the Board intends to have a team of full time auditors working throughout the country. They will audit all workers in the high and medium risk categories. Pilot audits are expected to be carried out in Auckland and Christchurch during late 1998.
Electrical Safety Certificates were introduced to the industry during the year. These are used to show that the required safety testing has been carried out for work not requiring certificates of compliance. They were made available free of charge during the introductory phase but it is anticipated that a charge will be made in the future to recover printing and distribution costs.
The safety and competency message will be delivered to the public in a campaign called "Electrical Safety Week" planned for early in the new financial year. This campaign will have a dual function; the introduction of Electrical Safety Certificates and the reinforcement of the message to ask for a certificate of compliance when electrical work is carried out in the home or business.
Internal Issues
During the year the Board adopted a Standing Orders ' and Policy Manual. The Manual consolidates, into one document, much of the legislative, legal and policy matters that govern the Board's meeting procedures and activities. Adoption of this document has ensured consistency and accuracy in the decision making process.
In particular, the Board has adopted a more formal approach to the conduct of disciplinary hearings. This will ensure the rights of the complainant and respondent are fully protected and that natural justice is observed at all stages of the process. There have been an increasing number of hearings where the respondent is represented by legal counsel and there have been substantial increases in the level of fines and costs imposed when electrical workers are found guilty of serious disciplinary offences. The higher penalties increase the likelihood of an appeal to the District Court and the Board needed to adopt a more formal approach to minimise the risk of its processes and procedures being found in any way deficient.
The Board is of the view that many of its activities and services contain a substantial "Public Good" element and it is inappropriate for industry to fund aspects of the regime for which the public is the direct beneficiary, not the industry. "Public good" activities should be funded from the public purse.
A review of the cost of the services provided by the Ministry and the charges made to industry for Board services was conducted. A draft review document was released for public consultation and the report has since been released. These reviews are essential because the Board is fully funded by industry and its charges must reflect the actual cost of providing services and, wherever possible, avoid cross-subsidisation.
Board Membership
The year has seen further changes to the membership of the Board with Mr Don Moffatt resigning due to pressure of business commitments and Mr David Daniel completing his term of appointment. Don and David made substantial contributions to the activities of the Board during their terms as members. In particular, David's expertise in the areas of financial and business management was significant to the development of sound internal control mechanisms and in the evaluation and management of the Board's agreement with the Ministry for the supply of services.
The new Board members are Mr Lawrie Jefferson and Mr Barrie Mason. Lawrie is a registered Electrical Inspector and is employed in the Energy Distribution industry. Barrie is a lay member with extensive business experience in publishing and related industries. Their input will be invaluable as the Board prepares for the future.
The Board wishes to record its appreciation to the management and staff members of the Energy Inspection Group of the Ministry for the services provided to the Board through the Memorandum of Understanding. The Board also expresses its sincere appreciation for the dedicated and professional service it received from the Registrar, Mr John Sickels, and from the Board's secretary, Mrs Janine Anderson.
John Churchill
Presiding Member
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