Petition: Make working with electricity a criminal offence unless qualified

[Adam W]

This hasn't been defined at all. What level of 'qualification' do you want? Have you considered how you're supposed to gain experience to work towards being "fully qualified" if you can get locked away for not already being qualified?
How do you define "working with electricity"? Changing a plug? Changing a lightbulb?
Do we not already live in enough of a nanny state as it is?

There are too many holes in this idea so I won't be signing the petition.

 

[Dave OCD]

I suppose death by food poisoning is not as bad as death by electricution

Totally irrelevant to the context of this thread in all honesty. And death by electrocution wouldn't be too pleasant either.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Never heard of Food poisoning?
Never seen the reports of E-coli deaths related to poor food preparation
Not aware of the thousands of people employed in the food industry without proper training?

I suspect you're more likely to be harmed by food than electricity.

I don't know really as I work with electricity every day but take a Pack up for lunch made by myself.

 

[bigspark17]

I think if wholesellers and diy shops werent allowed to sell to general public without showing proof you are a qualified spark/signed up to regulating body/jib card this would be first move to stop people putting themselves and there families at risk.

 

[KennyKen]

The OP has a point... Esp after experiencing the licencing system in Australia. Yeah you get DIY'ers but to combat that you get the OTR a regulator that will check every job, even domestic before sign off. Any sign of shoddy workmanship or Do it your Self ******** then... "Hey Bruce here's your 10,000 dollar fine and you got 10 days to rectify the install by a licenced sparky" Ok a licenced spark might have already completed the shoddy install, it was a Friday and the spark wanted to get down the pub, so bodged a few things to get done quicker... The home owner knows about the OTR. The home owner knows that he or a 3rd party should check the install before the OTR sign off on it... In doing so... Deters the DIY'ers and enforces home owners or Non electrical people to be more viligent when choosing their spark.

 

[snowhead]

I think if wholesalers and diy shops weren't allowed to sell to general public without showing proof you are a qualified spark/signed up to regulating body/jib card this would be first move to stop people putting themselves and there families at risk.

As post 16, the first problem is define qualified in a form easily recognised by Sales assistants.
The next problem would be how to stop fake I.D

 

[Leesparkykent]

I don't think they should be stopped from selling the goods to the public but a single scheme ran like gas safe would be ideal Imo.

 

[bigspark17]

As post 16, the first problem is define qualified in a form easily recognised by Sales assistants.
The next problem would be how to stop fake I.D

Of course it wouldnt be easy, but big fines for diy shops selling yo fake id would get them on the ball, spot check on organisation numbers. Think something meeds to be done and i would have thought all qualified sparks would want it. Scary that some whopper could walk into a diy shop buy 5m coil of wire and use it as a cooker cable from outlet because that was cheapest roll. Something needs to be done imho

 

[Lucien Nunes]

Before deciding that something 'needs to be done', please can we have some figures? How many people seriously injured or killed by faulty installations where the fault was due to being installed or interfered with by someone who would not at the moment be comitting an offence, but would be under the suggested regulation, and who would be deterred from doing the faulty work by the existence of the regulation? I think you'll find it's quite a different story to gas, but we need the numbers...

 

[PEG]

For me,with respect to the OP,it's a ridiculous notion. I've followed up a plethora of "Qualified schemed up" sparks,who have made things worse,not better. Gentlemen who have staff,and liveried vehicles,who then tail up a supply for a new bungalow across two phases,and blow a dozen household items...i could wax on a plenty...but what's the point?

We have robust,current and specific laws regarding firearms,drugs and drink-driving...anyone notice a shortage of these?

This,is one of those dreamy notions,that those who consider that they are bone-fide,feel may strengthen their position,when in truth,just ensuring we do our own tasks,competently and professionally,is the best to hope for.

New laws and regulations,are worthless additions,when the current ones are ignored by the "applied-to",and not enforced,by the "appliers".

I would have more respect for our law makers,if i had been actually prosecuted,for the offence i was accused of...i would have worn its' charge like a badge of honour...but they bottled it.

The offence? ..."taking fish,by means of a trick...":hurray:

 

[Vitesse]

If something was implemented similar to gas safe for our trade I think it would be a good thing.

I agree that a single scheme would be a much better idea than the current one where there are multiple organisations for electrics. Rightly or wrongly NICEIC are seen by the general public, estates agents, property management companies etc as the leading body. When I first meet up with these type of companies they always ask are you NICEIC registered never any of the other bodies.

I think there are possible misunderstanding about the Gas Safe Register as well that it is some government run scheme? Well it is in some respect but it's actually run on behalf of the government by Capita Plc often called Crapita Plc because of their poor service, they are no different to our schemes they are also in it for the money. I am sure plenty of short course plumbers get registered that that really shouldn't because of lack of experience or being poor at their trade.

I agree with the majority, from what I can see, that it would be impossible to police and preventing wholesalers from selling to Joe Public would be madness and will never happen.

 

[KennyKen]

For me,with respect to the OP,it's a ridiculous notion. I've followed up a plethora of "Qualified schemed up" sparks,who have made things worse,not better. Gentlemen who have staff,and liveried vehicles,who then tail up a supply for a new bungalow across two phases,and blow a dozen household items...i could wax on a plenty...but what's the point?

We have robust,current and specific laws regarding firearms,drugs and drink-driving...anyone notice a shortage of these?

This,is one of those dreamy notions,that those who consider that they are bone-fide,feel may strengthen their position,when in truth,just ensuring we do our own tasks,competently and professionally,is the best to hope for.

New laws and regulations,are worthless additions,when the current ones are ignored by the "applied-to",and not enforced,by the "appliers".

I would have more respect for our law makers,if i had been actually prosecuted,for the offence i was accused of...i would have worn its' charge like a badge of honour...but they bottled it.

The offence? ..."taking fish,by means of a trick...":hurray:

Lets agree to Disagree then. Like I commented on my previous post. I've seen it work to a standard much better then I remember in the UK.

 

[7029 dave]

Yes but what does that mean, Electrical Trainee are out there, in the eyes of the law they are qualified, I rest my case.!!

 

[Darkwood]

Yes but what does that mean, Electrical Trainee are out there, in the eyes of the law they are qualified, I rest my case.!!

The customer is still protected by the law, be it a short course Electrician or a 3 to 4 yrs college/apprenticeship - Yes in general the odds are more against the short course but you cannot paint brush them all, I know a few who I hold many a respect to through determination and their own personal research - we have many full term seasoned sparks in the industry that haven't got a clue!

 

[7029 dave]

The customer is still protected by the law, be it a short course Electrician or a 3 to 4 yrs college/apprenticeship - Yes in general the odds are more against the short course but you cannot paint brush them all, I know a few who I hold many a respect to through determination and their own personal research - we have many full term seasoned sparks in the industry that haven't got a clue!

Yes I agree,if you kill or injure somebody no matter if time served or what ever , your arse will be in a sling, the industry has gone down hill over the years, I have seen it with my own eyes, times have changed to, the nonsense of domestic and industrial today to different animals , in my day it was just another electrical job no matter what. Skills have diminished very sad state of affairs IMO.