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Registrar's Review
Administration
- During the year the professional and administrative
services provided to the Board, by the Ministry of Economic
Development through the Electrical Workers Licensing Group,
were altered to align with the newly formed Operations Branch.
- The Board released a policy on supervision of electrical
workers.
- A business case for a new electronic office system was
progressed.
- The system for distribution of Certificates of Compliance,
Electrical Safety Certificates, legislation and associated
documentation was refined.
Discipline
The hearing of complaints lodged against electrical workers
continued to take a considerable amount of Board time. The
Registrar received 60 new complaints this year bringing the total
complaints being dealt with by Complaints Assessment Committees
to 79. Of the 79 complaints, 67 were completed during the
financial year. Of these 67 complaints completed, 35 were
referred to the Board by Complaints Assessment Committees.
Of the 67 complaints completed 63% were completed in 18 weeks,
23% were completed in 25 weeks and the remaining 14% took more
than 25 weeks.
The Board has introduced a policy whereby penalties imposed
for breaches of regulations are now directed towards encouraging
electrical workers towards compliance instead of a purely
monetary penalty. For example, a number of electrical workers
were required to participate in a system where their work was
closely monitored to ensure appropriate testing and certification
was carried out, rather than a fine being imposed.
The two major areas of concern identified from the
disciplinary process were the lack of testing being carried out
and the failure to issue certification. Strategies to address
these concerns are being implemented.
Industry Training
Changes in the Electrotechnology Industry Training
Organisation have resulted in the Board no longer having
representation on the Organisation's Board. However, the Board
now fully participates in the newly established Electrical
Engineering Advisory Group and provides advice to other sector
Advisory Groups.
Work continued through the year on developing and refining
competency requirements for electrical workers. This work has
involved all Training Organisations who offer services to the
electrical and associated industries.
The ETITO have had an excellent response to their Bright
Sparks programme and the Board was pleased to be a sponsor of the
Electrical Excellence Competition.
Communications, Advertising And Public Relations
The publicity campaign that began in 1999 continued through
2000 with a television campaign featured on "Good Morning" and
"5:00 with Jude" and a print media campaign using well read
magazines. This campaign highlighted the need to engage an
electrical worker who holds a valid practising licence and who
issues certification in the form of a Certificate of Compliance
(for any fixed wiring work, including any fittings [e.g., power
points] that are connected to that wiring) or an Electrical
Safety Certificate (for maintenance work or electrical appliance
repairs).
In early 2001 the Board reviewed the information it sends to
registered electrical workers and how it does it. The revised
strategy will increase the educational material given to licensed
workers and a substantial start has been made with the 2001
Practising Licence renewals.
Due to popular demand the "Technical Corner" of the Board's
"Update" has been expanded.
A pocketsize testing guide was distributed with practising
licences and the Board thanks the Electrical Contractors
Association, the Appliance and Electronic Industry Association
and Avo New Zealand for their support.
A plain English copy of Electricity Act Amendment 2000 was
provided with practising licence renewal documentation in May
2001.
The continuation of this strategy in the next financial year
will see a a complimentary copy of AS/NZS 3760 titled "In-service
safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment" being
issued with practising licences.
Energysafe
During the year the Board submitted a response to the
EnergySafe legislative programme. The response was made in
partnership with the Electrical Contractors Association of New
Zealand, The Appliance & Electronic Industry Association and The
Electrotechnology Industry Training Organisation. The response
was consistent with previous joint submissions on occupational
licensing in the energy sector.
Review of Fees and Charges
Last year the Board reported that it was reviewing fees and
charges. That review was completed during the period covered by
this report and highlighted a number of fees that require
adjustment. This has been held in abeyance to ascertain the
extent of the expected savings resulting from the extended use of
Ministry of Economic Development systems and the continuing
savings in Board overheads.
Reciprocity with Australian Licensing Authorities
Membership of the Electrical Regulatory Advisory Council of
Australia continued and the Board was represented at a number of
Uniform Electrical Licensing Advisory Council and licensing
meetings. Good progress was made on the continued development of
competency requirements for electricians trained in both New
Zealand and Australia.
Board Meetings
The Board now holds the business section of it's meetings in
the boardroom of it's Wellington office. This has resulted in
significant cost savings. Disciplinary hearings are held on
demand in main centres.
Bookshop
The revitalised Bookshop facility is busy with sales above
expectation. A huge amount of electrical safety legislation was
purchased by trainees and registered electrical workers alike.
The Bookshop also distributed 5,186 books of Electrical Safety
Certificates to practising licence holders. These certificates
are provided free of charge at this time.
Appointments to the Board
John Howarth, Lawrie Jefferson and John Churchill completed
their terms on the Board during the year and Gordon Forgie
resigned for personal reasons. The contribution made to the
Board's overall objectives is gratefully acknowledged as is their
knowledge of the sectors of the industry in which they work.
The Minister appointed Murray Willis and Tim Elms in July
2000. In March 2001 Dennis Amiss and Brian Velvin were appointed
and Barrie Mason was re-appointed. The Minister has called for
nominations for the remaining member and it is anticipated that
the position will be filled early in the new financial year.
In February 2001 the Board elected Murray Willis as Presiding
Member and Barrie Mason as Deputy Presiding Member.
Advisory Service
The extension of the advisory service to provide information
on technical subjects has proven to be a success with electrical
workers.
While enquiries on some specialist topics (such as hazardous
areas and medical electrical situations) needed to be referred to
other organisations, in general the "one stop shop" approach
implemented by the Board in 1999 was achieved.
Legislative Review
The Board was again actively involved in promoting amendments
to the legislation applicable to electrical workers. During the
year the Electricity Act was amended to address areas of concern
with the complaints assessment system. The amendments have had
the fundamental effect of "streamlining" the process.
A copy of this amendment, including a plain English
explanation, was given to all registration holders.
The Board has also proposed amendments to Electricity
Regulations relating to:
- practical difficulties the industry has with complying with
the certification, testing and inspection requirements
(regulations 37 and 41),
- the type of information required to be kept on the public
register,
- aligning practising licence requirements to meet industry
expectations whilst maintaining worker competence.
It is anticipated that amendments to the regulations will be
promulgated in the forthcoming year.
Website
Development of the Board's website progressed during the year
and the site now contains a lot of up-to-date and useful
information on the Board's functions. Feedback has been very
positive and further development is expected to enable on-line
applications for practising licences and other services.
Conferences, Roadshows and Trade Days
Participation continued in the roadshow for the introduction
of New Zealand Standard NZS 3000 (NZ Wiring Rules) and the
countrywide roadshow on the EnergySafe legislative programme.
The Board participated in the government run equality
programmes in the East Coast area. Electrical Workers Licensing
Group staff attended the annual conferences of the Electrical
Contractors Association of New Zealand, the Appliance and
Electrotechnology Industry Association, the Electrical Institute
and the Electrical Engineers Association.
Auditing
The Board's risk based audit programme was continued during
the year. Contracts for 500 work inspections were entered into
and this work is continuing.
Telephone interviews with over 5,000 registered people were
carried out in line with the Board's risk based audit strategy.
The results of the interview exercise were considered very
worthwhile.
In the coming year the Board plans to build on the audit
results as well as building industry partnerships and increasing
the number of work inspections carried out.
Accommodation
The Board and Electrical Workers Licensing Group offices have
now been at 86-90 Lambton Quay, Wellington for 12 months with
significant savings accruing as a result of the relocation.
John Sickels
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