|
  
Presiding Member's Report
The Electrical Workers Registration Board has pleasure in
presenting its 9th annual report.
Board Membership
This year, to a large degree, you have been served by a new
Board membership. It has become obvious that these new Board
members each have their own particular forte with respect to
our industry.
Tim Elms has shown his continued interest in and dedication
to the training aspect of the many apprentices and trainees in
our industry. His knowledge of both apprentice and unit
standard systems coupled with his "back to basics"
approach to electrical contracting has proved invaluable.
The total involvement of Dennis Amiss in the Appliance
Service sector of the industry is illustrated by his constant
vigilance regarding the interests of the very large proportion
of Registered Service Technicians in our industry (who now
represent 33% of all electrical registrations).
Brian Velvin, registered electrician and inspector,
maintains his concerns for the regulatory functions of the
Board. As another active electrical contractor he brings to
the Board an understanding of the difficulties and
idiosyncrasies faced by many electricians, electrical
inspectors and electrical contractors.
Recent Board appointee Tom Leong is well known and highly
respected in our industry. His many years of service in the
supply sector bring to the Board a wealth of knowledge and
invaluable experience in that regard. This is coupled with his
vast knowledge of the Electricity Act, the Regulations, Codes
of Practice and New Zealand Standards.
Another recent appointee, Deborah Rundle, has brought to
the Board considerable experience in dispute resolution, group
facilitation and consumer issues. It is important to remember
the role of our lay members on the Board and the balance they
bring, particularly with respect to the concerns of the
general public.
The continuity brought about by the second term lay member
and Deputy Presiding Member, Barrie Mason, has proved
invaluable to this current Board. Barrie is serving his fourth
year on the Board and has helped maintain the stability needed
with a changing Board membership. His background as CEO and
director of a number of companies, has been a major asset.
Lay member Belinda Greer recently completed her three year
term on the Board. Belinda made a major contribution during
this time, particularly in the legal field, and the Board has
benefited greatly as a result. The Board wishes to express its
appreciation of her considerable contribution to its function.
Complaints and Discipline
Unfortunately, while the time taken to hear disciplinary
complaints has been dramatically reduced, the number of
complaints heard by the Board during the year has not reduced
but has in fact increased. This has been brought about by
increased public awareness of poor work standards, which has
also been highlighted by the Target television programme.
The sad fact is that the complaints heard by the Board
represent less than 0.18% of total registered electrical
workers but involves the Board and the Ministry in massive
costs, and takes in excess of 50% of the Board's time. To make
matters worse, 90% of the complaints are about electricians
and over 70% of those complaints are identical; failure to
test and furnish a Certificate of Compliance or practising
without a current practising licence.
There seems to be a misunderstanding amongst some
electricians that only work requiring inspection requires a
Certificate of Compliance. It is a fact that virtually all
prescribed electrical work requires certification. The
Certificate of Compliance is the medium of the
self-certification system that gives the public the assurance
that a competent, registered and licensed worker has completed
the electrical work.
The Board has moved to tighten up the regulations
concerning the furnishing of Certificates of Compliance by
reducing the time allowed for furnishing a return to 20
working days.
Too many complaints heard by the Board are as a result of a
commercially generated complaint. If you feel that your
position is in danger of being impugned, use the Board's 0800
free phone and seek advice.
The Board has recently sent a clear message via ELECTRON
that it is taking a much stronger stance toward offenders,
endorsing the industry view that it should not have to bear
the high cost of the disciplinary process.
Supervision
During the year the Board heard a number of disciplinary
cases which involved registered workers and the supervision of
trainees. The Board considers such cases to be of a very
serious nature especially when most of the incidents cited
have resulted in electric shock, burns, or even death for the
trainee. It is evident that some employers and registered
workers lack an understanding of the responsibility of their
role with respect to supervision.
There are detailed guidelines available from the Board,
which clearly outline the responsibility of a "Supervisor
of Electrical Work". The document explains the
responsibility and takes into consideration the Occupational
Safety and Health Act, the Electricity Act and the Electricity
Regulations. The EWLG document, "Guidelines for the
Supervision of Electrical Work" is available from the
Board via the free phone at no cost.
Refresher Courses
There is growing evidence that the quality and format of
some refresher courses being offered by some service providers
fail to reach a standard acceptable to the Board. This is
shown in many of the disciplinary complaints heard by the
Board where basic fundamental prerequisites such as testing,
both for electricians and service technicians, are not being
considered.
Industry criticism of the refresher courses has included
the suggestion that they be held annually rather than
biennually as at present. Accordingly the Board has recently
prepared a document that prescribes the minimum standard for
refresher courses and I suggest that course providers take
notice that the Board is dissatisfied with the quality of some
courses.
Practising Licences
Many procedures have been improved during the year to
assist with the process of renewing the annual practising
licence. This includes a new bar coded renewal form together
with dedicated telephone services for relicencing questions
and for the first time ever online relicencing. You can now
relicence online by following the link to Online Services, the
EW Register and Practising Licence application.
Information Dissemination
This year has seen a major change in the method the Board
has taken for dissemination of information with both the
expansion of online information services and the introduction
of the publication ELECTRON.
The feedback has been very positive with the
"frequently asked questions" and the "technical
corner" in ELECTRON proving particularly popular. Many of
the questions fielded by Kay Lyons on the Board free phone are
of interest to all electrical workers and those of particular
interest are published in ELECTRON.
The change in the information dissemination process has
meant funding is available to develop additional direct
communication with licensed workers.
While you are currently receiving information such as new
codes of practice and standards at no cost, in the forthcoming
year you will receive considerably more information in the
form of AS/NZS 3000:2000 and associated documents, once
Government has mandated these documents.
The Board bookshop is proving to be very popular and a
wealth of information is available from it, including all
Board publications and Certificates of Compliance.
Audit Policy
The Board is beginning to introduce its zero risk based
audit policy. This policy applies to those registered workers
who possess a current practising licence and regularly use
Certificates of Compliance. The Board has established from a
very substantial audit study that these workers present the
least risk in our industry.
Accordingly the Board has recently entered into a
Memorandum of Understanding with one of the larger industry
associations to become part of the zero risk based audit
group. Negotiations are ongoing with other similar low risk
groups. While this might be seen as a change of direction by
some, the Board has in no way relinquished its statutory
obligation to continue with the audit of electrical workers.
Appreciation
The Board again wishes to acknowledge the excellent work of
the staff of the Electrical Workers Licensing Group, the
Ministry of Economic Development's, service unit for the
Board.
Lastly, the Board expresses its sincere appreciation for
the professional and quality service that it continues to
receive from the Registrar, Mr John Sickels and the Board
Secretary Mrs Janine Anderson.
|
Return
to Top