FAO DIYers

[Andy78]

Press Releases News : Electrical Safety Council


An article from the Electrical safety council about the dangers of overconfidence and lack of knowledge when it comes to electrical work in the home.

Electricians say they are spending an increasing amount of time repairing such blunders and are concerned that ‘Dive-in DIYers’ are endangering themselves and their families. This is a serious concern – someone dies as a result of an electrical accident in their home every week in the UK, and electricity is the cause of 350,000 serious injuries each year, as well as half of all house fires.


And FAO forum members

The overconfidence partly comes from relying on the advice of unqualified friends or family (half of those surveyed said they do this) or seeking help online where the advice might not be appropriate – two fifths of people say they use Google to get tips and the same number use online video tutorials, such as on YouTube.

 

[Guest111]

Well said Eng,the last time I looked assisted suicide was still an offence,which is what it amounts to if we give too much advise to people with little knowledge and no test gear.

 

[sean_ork]

in that case, what's the point of having such a forum ?

 

[Guest111]

in that case, what's the point of having such a forum ?

to offer advice to fellow electricians who will have sufficient knowledge and some test gear to do a job safely without killing themselves or others.

 

[Engineer54]

in that case, what's the point of having such a forum ?

Errr, What's the name of this Forum?? Might give you a bit of a clue as to who the forums actually for!!

There are plenty of DIY forums out there, many do a cracking job too. But it's up to them, who and how they are going to help anyone asking for say, qualified knowledge...

 

[sean_ork]

to offer advice to fellow electricians who will have sufficient knowledge and some test gear to do a job safely without killing themselves or others.

that's far enough - but unless you implement some form of ''prove you're qualified'' system at the front door, and effectively hide from the DIYer all this forum becomes is yet another source of data for the DIYer to pick through

so it's back to my point, rather than just slag everyone off who shows a hint of incompetence, why not offer helpful guidance and illustrate any errors of understanding they may have made

at least with the right guidance they then might decide they aren't actually up to the task, or be able to complete the task with some degree of accuracy and safety - slagging them off just results in them going elsewhere

 

[Guest111]

Agreed Sean, if I asked you did you have a set of test lamps,you'd say yes but how do I know you really have? Unfortunately I've seen too many that have said they have the gear then cock up the job or even deny touching it when they call you out.I had one with a lighting fuse blowing constantly,went round asked if they'd done anything they said no,eventually i traced the fault to a lightswitch,it could never have worked the way it was wired,but they insisted they hadn't touched it.Then I spotted a bag of brass accessories on the floor,the guy was changing all the fronts himself.What made it more annoying was he lived 2 doors down knew I was a spark yet didn't bother asking till he came to grief,basically I got involved when his wife asked if I had any fusewire as he'd used all his and it was late.How many times do you replace a blown fuse,only for it to blow straight away before you admit you need help?As it was if he'd asked in the first place I'd have swapped the fronts and took 40 smokes off him,I dont like charging friends and neighbours,so for about a tenner he'd have had no aggro,was it all worth it honestly.

 

[robbo_luvs_pies]

I made a mistake by advising a DIYer and he ended up burning his roof. Sad story really. Never again *facepalm*

 

[Stevesplatto]

Interesting how people who've taken courses are berated on here. Hands up I'm a 56 year old man who has got back into electrics (first went out as a spark with my old man in the summer holidays when I was 14 but thats another story) I took a seven week course to get back up to date on regs etc (cost a fortune!). I agree that there were some kids on the course who'd never held a screw driver before and it's frightening that they will be playing with peoples houses. But there were plenty of people like me with C&Gs in multiple trades, experienced trades people who are augmenting their skills.
I've met many electricians who havent a clue about Part P and havent bothered to keep up to date with new methods and regs who think they know it all.
Been trading for 2.5 years now, every job is an education and not a single one without some kind of 'nasty' to deal with.
I agree that poor and incomplete advise is doing nobody any favours. Stressing the importance of testing using good equipment is part of that good advice and for many DIYers is the deal breaker in doing it themselves.
With the new Part P regs allowing third party certifying of works there's plenty of scope for DIYers to do the grunt work and get employment to test and certify work retrospectively.
If DIYers don't have this information, remain ignorant then how are they going to decide to get an electrician in? Or know what works need to be notified (which is mandatory, and a criminal offence not to!)
Cheers
s

 

[Guest111]

Steve, the government brought part P in and the NICEIC among others have made much money from it,surely it is up to them to publicise part P,we are electricians not the safety police.

 

[Dan]

Interesting how people who've taken courses are berated on here. Hands up I'm a 56 year old man who has got back into electrics (first went out as a spark with my old man in the summer holidays when I was 14 but thats another story) I took a seven week course to get back up to date on regs etc (cost a fortune!). I agree that there were some kids on the course who'd never held a screw driver before and it's frightening that they will be playing with peoples houses. But there were plenty of people like me with C&Gs in multiple trades, experienced trades people who are augmenting their skills.
I've met many electricians who havent a clue about Part P and havent bothered to keep up to date with new methods and regs who think they know it all.
Been trading for 2.5 years now, every job is an education and not a single one without some kind of 'nasty' to deal with.
I agree that poor and incomplete advise is doing nobody any favours. Stressing the importance of testing using good equipment is part of that good advice and for many DIYers is the deal breaker in doing it themselves.
With the new Part P regs allowing third party certifying of works there's plenty of scope for DIYers to do the grunt work and get employment to test and certify work retrospectively.
If DIYers don't have this information, remain ignorant then how are they going to decide to get an electrician in? Or know what works need to be notified (which is mandatory, and a criminal offence not to!)
Cheers
s

Be sure to report any nasties you find on the forum for me!
http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk...offensive-comment-made-member.html#post826490

 

[Stevesplatto]

I agree, I just let people know what the rules are.
Part P isnt policed which is why I'm constantly undercut by non registered electricians who provide no paperwork (ho hum).
How many householders go to court for not notifying works (oops, that's another thread!).
Cheerss
s

 

[decolad69]

Be sure to report any nasties you find on the forum for me!
http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk...offensive-comment-made-member.html#post826490

And what action is taken ? I receive patronising reply, defending the individual who posted the offensive post. Which was inappropriate and if used in the workplace would have resulted in disciplinary action being taken.

Decolad69

 

[Sintra]

It depends on the content of the offending post as to what action is taken.

 

[decolad69]

It depends on the content of the offending post as to what action is taken.

Yes, and if no action you end up exactly where you are now !!!!!!!!!

 

[Sintra]

Yes, and if no action you end up exactly where you are now !!!!!!!!!

Have you reported something?