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Registrar's Review
Administration
During the year:
- The functions relating to worker competency and the
technical aspects of the legislation were split between the
Electrical Workers Licensing Group (EWLG) and the Ministry of
Consumer Affairs.
- A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Ministry
of Consumer Affairs on how electricalaccident follow-up will be
handled.
- A business plan which integrates the functions of the Board
and the EWLG was finalised.
- A business case for a new office IT system was approved.
- Filing systems have been rationalised.
- Participation continued in the Australian Electrical
Regulatory Authorities Council (ERAC) and the Australasian
National Uniform Electrical Licensing Advisory Council (NUELAC).
- A discussion paper on electrical service technician
registration was developed and released for comment. Reporting
back is expected in November 2000.
- A draft manual for safety training in the electrical
industry was released for public comment. Reporting back is
expected in November 2000.
- A draft policy paper on supervision of electrical workers
was released for public comment and reporting back is expected
by the end of 2000.
Structural Review
During the year considerable management time was put into
completing the review of the former Energy Inspection Group
within the Ministry of Economic Development (previously the
Ministry of Commerce). The Board fully supported the conclusions
of the review team and subsequently the Electrical Workers
Licensing Group (EWLG) commenced operation on 1 December 1999.
Both the Board and the EWLG have the statutory responsibility
for matters related to electrical workers’ licensing and
registration. These include electrical worker registration,
audit, employer licensing, live line approvals and complaints
against electrical workers. The EWLG acts as service provider to
both the Board (EWRB) and the Complaints Assessment Committees.
The establishment of the EWLG means that the Memorandum of
Understanding with the Ministry of Economic Development is no
longer required. The Board considers responsibility for its
operations lies with the Registrar in his now combined role as
Group Manager.
Communications
The Board has continued its strategy of focussing on its
statutory responsibility of "Safety - Competency". This message
is now used on all communications, publicity and promotions.
ElectroLink magazine has continued to be the Board’s primary
vehicle for communication to electrical workers. Through a
contractual arrangement between the independent magazine
publisher and the Board the magazine is made available to all
registered persons five times a year.
The Board’s web-site has continually been developed and it is
particularly pleasing to see the increasing number of persons
using the site both from within New Zealand and overseas.
Feedback on the site has been positive and the Board intends to
continue to upgrade and develop the medium in such areas as
e-commerce.
The Board held seminars during December in Auckland,
Wellington and Christchurch to provide information on its
functions, future direction and the introduction of the
Electrical Workers Licensing Group.
The Board joined with the Standards Association of New Zealand
and the Ministry of Consumer Affairs which enabled the
Association and the Ministry to contact all registered people to
make them aware of the introduction of NZS 3000 and the
nation-wide wide seminar series to introduce the standard. EWLG
staff fully participated in the seminars.
Advertising and Public Relations
In July 1999 the Board launched a new national advertising
programme titled "Don't Play With Power". The programme was aimed
at increasing public awareness of the need to use licensed
electrical workers thus ensuring that work carried out is done in
a safe and competent manner. The programme covered “long life”
magazine and billboard advertising and was considered to be
successful.
The Board will be continuing the publicity theme in the
forthcoming year highlighting the need for the public to engage
workers who hold a valid practising licence and who issue a
Certificate of Compliance or an Electrical Safety Certificate.
The programme commences in July 2000 and will appear in “long
life” magazines and on television in an informational format. The
Board is also exploring partnership possibilities to expand the
value of its advertising programme.
Bookshop and Advisory Service
With the introduction of the EWLG the functions of the
previous Energy Inspection Group bookshop and advice service have
been incorporated into the Board’s functions. This has enabled
people requiring both licensing and technical advice access to a
“one-stop shop” process. Now certification documents, handbooks,
codes etc can be purchased through the outlet.
Disciplinary Process
The Registrar received 55 complaints against registered people
during the year. 29 of these complaints were referred to the
Board after assessment by a Complaints Assessment Committee.
The results of the Board’s hearings into the complaints were
published in the New Zealand Gazette and ElectroLink magazine. In
line with its overall communication strategy the Board will also
release the results to the media and provide summaries for
educational purposes.
The Ministry of Economic Development carried out a further
review of the complaints assessment process and Electrical
Workers Licensing Group management is now considering the
findings of that review.
To ensure consistency and transparency of approach in the
assessment process the Ministry developed standing orders for
Complaints Assessment Committees. These are being checked from a
legal perspective and will be introduced in the near future.
Most prevalent areas of non-compliance
The three most prevalent areas of non-compliance were:
- Failing to provide cables with adequate protection from
mechanical damage. This included failure to support ("clip")
cables in ceiling spaces, not enclosing cables in conduit or
trunking where located below 2 metres, and not installing
underground cables correctly.
- Failing to provide adequate protection against contact with
live parts. This included unterminated live wires, wires
wrapped with insulation tape, and exposed live parts.
- Failure to issue a Certificate of Compliance where legally
required.
Penalties
Outcomes included no penalty or costs for the single offence
of not issuing a Certificate of Compliance, censure for the
single offence of not providing adequate protection against
mechanical damage and a fine for the single offence of failing to
provide adequate protection against contact with live parts.
However, where there was more than one area of noncompliance,
fines of up to $2000 were imposed (plus costs of $750) and
suspension of the workers registration. One electrical workers
name was removed from the register for a minimum period of two
years.
Prosecutions for Breaches of the Electricity Act
The Board continued to take action against people working in
breach of the Electricity Act 1992. This function has now come
under the direct jurisdiction of the Registrar/Group Manager. At
the time of writing 81 investigations were being undertaken.
Results of any prosecutions are published in ElectroLink magazine
from time to time.
Auditing Programme
The Board’s risk-based audit programme has continued during
the year. Five hundred inspections of work under the Certificate
of Compliance scheme and 3,000 interviews of non-licensed workers
were carried out.
Industry Training Organisations
Work continued during the year on the development and
maintenance of relationships between Industry Training
Organisations (ITOs) and the Board.
The Memorandum of Understanding with the Electricity Supply
Industry Training Organisation (ESITO) is operating well and
agreement on unit standards for line mechanics was reached early
in the year.
A new Memorandum of Understanding (covering electricians and
electrical service technicians) between the Electrotechnology
Industry Training Organisation (ETITO) and the Board was signed.
Further development work is being undertaken on unit standards
for electrical service technicians.
Work also continued on unit standard development with the
Competenz Industry Training Organisation and a draft memorandum
of understanding has been developed.
As in previous years the Board is appreciative of the
assistance, advice and co-operation of the ITO Chief Executives
and their staff.
Energysafe Programme
Work on the EnergySafe programme continues with a view to
implementation in 2001. The Board fully participated in both the
working party that developed the EnergySafe legislative programme
and the countrywide seminars conducted after the Minister of
Energy released the working party report for public comment.
Amendments to the Electricity Regulations 1997
During the year the Board was instrumental in having the
regulations for Certificates of Compliance amended. Due to
savings made in other areas, all certificates (except "on-going")
now cost $6. The on-going certificate now costs $50.
The review of other fees and charges was held in abeyance
awaiting the formation of the EWLG so that appropriate costings
could be used. The review has now commenced and it is anticipated
that the results will be reflected in amendments to the
Electricity Regulations 1997 during the forthcoming year.
The Board is also supporting an amendment to the Electricity
Regulations 1997 to enable prescriptive schedules relating to
registration requirements to be revoked and replaced with Gazette
notices. It is anticipated that such schedules will be removed
from the regulations during the forthcoming year.
Accommodation
In June 2000 the Board and the EWLG’s offices moved to 86-90
Lambton Quay, Wellington. The Board’s postal address is
unchanged, as are telephone, facsimile and email contacts.
John Sickels
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