Having read Mr Fernandes’ letter (EMC, September, page 5), the issue of qualification and self-appointed bodies requires further discussion, before all of our engineers opt for the ‘labourer’s position’ as being preferable to aspiring to running their own business.

I am a partner in a small contracting company in the South East. We endeavour to undertake work to the highest standards. However, regardless of all efforts we have found that since the NICEIC relinquished its charitable status to the Electrical Safety Council, the annual visits by the engineer result in humiliation and interrogation that would be the envy of the Gestapo.

Regardless of the quality of our installation works, we are ridiculed and treated as idiots by the area inspector. Surely it would be to the benefit of the industry in general to have a good working relationship with our governing bodies. Instead, the half-day visit has now been extended to a full-day visit, thus doubling the fee. Then, the revisit for supposed major non-compliance adds a further cost.

It has got to the stage where we are considering closing the business and trying a different career path.

We do not consider ourselves to be unique in this view as we have spoken to local contractors to gauge their opinion of the NICEIC, and found them also scathing of current practices.

We, as small contractors, have to wear many hats: buyer, quantity surveyor, tax collector, health and safety officer, personnel officer, designer and so on. Although we are not advocating slack and unsafe practice in the industry, we would appreciate being treated with some sort of respect and a modicum of intelligence. To that end, helpful comments and advice would go further than being treated like children and novices.

E J Moore, MS Electrical Services, Surrey

E J Moore wins this month’s drink vouchers.

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor