The role of the QS

[Octopus]

OK, I'll put my cards on the table here - I'm a sole trader and totally responsible for all the design, installation, test and certification of all my work.

A QS has responsibility to "over see" others work - so are there ANY guidelines for the ratio or QS to sparks? quantity of certs they can check? actually inspect etc?

Or as a cynic is it just a way to cut corners and reduce costs?

 

[Sintra]

As stated in a previous thread I have been a QS for more years than I care to remember. Not once have I countersigned a cert for a site that I have not managed through the construction. I will perform random tests and compare on every job. Each one of our project managers have QS status and countersign for there own jobs. To me this is the way the system was designed to work.

 

[Richard Burns]

Sintra has correctly defined how a QS should work, but in reality with no guideline limits on QS vs installation electricians it does open the way for companies to have 500 electricians across the country doing installation work "signed off" by the single QS.
Though I hope I am taking the example to extremes here!

The QS should be: supervising all the work, ensuring it is done safely and correctly, ensuring that the inspection and testing is done safely and to regulations, ensuring that the results are correctly recorded and, I feel the key one, verifying that the certification is in accordance with building regulations. (oh, and authenticating the certification)

I do not feel that someone who has not been on the site can do any of these things.

 

[snowhead]

It's also not possible for a Q.S to oversee / verify his own install work.

 

[Sintra]

It's also not possible for a Q.S to oversee / verify his own install work.

Why's that then? I would have no issues if I installed something to test and certify it. Surely it's no different from a sole trader issuing certs.

 

[snowhead]

Why's that then? I would have no issues if I installed something to test and certify it. Surely it's no different from a sole trader issuing certs.

You can't audit yourself.

 

[trev]

You're not auditing yourself though, you're declaring that this is what I have done and here are the test results which prove what I did is compliant and safe to use.

 

[snowhead]

You're not auditing yourself though, you're declaring that this is what I have done and here are the test results which prove what I did is compliant and safe to use.

Surely that's what the Installer is stating.

The Q.S should then be checking that statement is correct.

 

[trev]

In the case of a sole trader , who is the QS?
If I'm telling a gaffer that I've done something it's up to him to check it to make sure I've done it properly. Like others, I'm my own gaffer therefore the only audit possible is an annual check by a "guardian of electrical competency"
The certificate which I gave a restaurantuer last week is a statement as I said earlier. If he wants it auditing then he is at liberty to get someone else in to check it out if he has doubts.

 

[davesparks]

I think we have uncovered yet another crack in the current scams system. The self employed person, which a hell of a lot of domestic sparks are (me included) who checks their / my work? Well I do of course, and my concience.

I have found that being part of a forum populated with skilled tradesmen (not here but another forum) has made me think just a little bit more about it sometimes, kind of a 'what would be said if I posted a picture of this' mentality. But shouldn't the schemes be inspiring that kind of 'do the best job possible' attitude.

 

[Engineer54]

I think we have uncovered yet another crack in the current scams system. The self employed person, which a hell of a lot of domestic sparks are (me included) who checks their / my work? Well I do of course, and my concience.

I have found that being part of a forum populated with skilled tradesmen (not here but another forum) has made me think just a little bit more about it sometimes, kind of a 'what would be said if I posted a picture of this' mentality. But shouldn't the schemes be inspiring that kind of 'do the best job possible' attitude.

Hope you're not talking about the Screw-Fix forum?? lol!!:nono:

 

[davesparks]

I hadn't realised there was a screwfix forum! I assume it is a little bit like screwfix itself, mostly full of diyers, water European migrants and yeehaws

 

[Engineer54]

Seems to be like everything else that the Scheme Providers have their greedy little mits into!! In that No clear definitions or guidelines to work practices are defined. That is left to the companies themselves, many of which will take full advantage of the situation. The Scams aren't interested either. As the present situation as it stands, they aren't responsible in any way, shape or form!!