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Niceic And Elecsa Partner With Eca To Deliver Free Industry Webinar On Furlough Scheme

gazza — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 11:55:41 +0000

Niceic And Elecsa Partner With Eca To Deliver Free Industry Webinar On Furlough Scheme gazza Wed, 29/04/2020

Industry leaders NICEIC, ELECSA and the ECA, come together once again to deliver a free webinar exploring the current guidelines surrounding the government’s furlough programme.

Darren Staniforth, Senior Technical Presenter NICEIC & ELECSA, will pose your questions to ECA's Director of Employment & Skills, Andrew Eldred, who will provide tailored advice.

Open to anyone working in the electrical contracting industry, the event will be broadcasted live on Friday, May 1 at 11 am

NICEIC and ELECSA will once again partner with ECA, the industry's leading trade association, to deliver the second in a series of business support webinars aimed at supporting electrical contractors. The next webinar, which takes place on Friday, May 1 at 11 am, will examine all the latest advice surrounding the government’s furlough scheme. Open to all, this session will answer contractor's questions and provide specific guidance on how the support programme applies to the electrical contracting industry. To register, please visit www.niceic.com/COVID-19-Support-Webinar

"As the economic realities of the COVID-19 continue to take hold it is vital that all electrical contractors have access to sound and tailored advice," said Darren Staniforth, Senior Technical Presenter NICEIC & ELECSA.

"The landscape is moving at pace, and while the government's furlough scheme has been well documented in the media, we are acutely aware that there are still a lot of unanswered questions surrounding the eligibility criteria and the process associated with claiming grants.

"By way of supporting our registrants and the broader electrical contracting industry, we have partnered with the ECA to deliver expert tailored advice to our sector.

"Please join myself and ECA's Director of Employment & Skills, Andrew Eldred, on Friday to get the answers you need to make the right decisions for your business.”

The previous webinar, which explored the financial support available to small businesses and sole traders, is available to watch on-demand via the NICEIC and ELECSA websites.

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Certsure, ECA and ESF propose to simplify who is deemed competent

gazza — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 14:58:10 +0000

Certsure, ECA and ESF propose to simplify who is deemed competent

gazza Wed, 27/02/2019

Certsure, ECA and Electrical Safety First (ESF) have worked together to develop plans to raise standards across the industry. The trio are the driving force behind proposals to change the ways competence within the industry is measured. While the electrotechnical industry prides itself on a robust approach to competence and safety, and indeed
has an excellent safety record, there is always more that can be done. Driving up standards of electrotechnical work is a fundamental objective if the sector is to thrive in the years ahead.

As leading bodies in the industry, Certsure, ECA and ESF have worked together to develop a blueprint which we believe will ensure that only qualified individuals with the right knowledge, skills and understanding are deemed competent to undertake electrotechnical work. This approach will help to drive up standards, works for industry, and aligns with Government policy on technical education standards and competence.

We have put forward proposals to simplify yet strengthen entry requirements into the industry, and ensure consistency across all registration and certification bodies. This aligns with our thinking that all applicants to a scheme should be from one of two routes: the apprenticeship route, or the experienced worker route.

The proposals will ensure that individuals seeking to become a qualified supervisor or electrical operative undertaking periodic inspection must have the following:

an electrotechnical apprenticeship (or proscribed alternative)
a minimum of two years’ experience
a recognised knowledge of the latest Wiring Regulations
be well versed in inspection and testing electrotechnical installations

The proposal is fairly straightforward to implement for new applications. However, there remains a challenge for existing registrants. Our proposal is that there must be proportionate quality management systems, for new and existing registrants, in place for demonstrating business process and operative competence. This would need to be assessed in situ as part of the ongoing assessment process by registration and certification body assessors.

We believe that this proposal is the best way to properly ensure the competence of the registered organisation, qualified supervisors, and operatives undertaking electrotechnical work and provide the consumer protections that are required.

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ECA launches updated building services survey

gazza — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 00:00:00 +0000

ECA launches updated building services survey

gazza Tue, 19/01/2016

Thousands of building services contractors are being urged to complete the new and improved Building Engineering Business Survey, launched today by the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) with the support of the Scolmore Group.
The survey, which is targeted at the ECA’s almost 3,000 members operating across the building services, electrical and electrotechnical sectors, aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the prevailing business environment across the industry, and to show market trends.
ECA members completing the Building Engineering Business Survey, which covers October – December (Q4) last year, will also have a chance to win an Apple iPad Mini.
ECA Chief Executive Steve Bratt commented:
“The ECA is delighted to launch the sector-leading Building Engineering Business Survey, supported by Scolmore.
“The survey will show how the sector is performing, what it expects to happen next, and the key business trends across the building services sector”.
Scolmore Group Marketing Manager Marie Parry added:
“Scolmore are proud to be providing sponsorship support for the ECA’s ‘Building Engineering Business Survey’.
“We understand the importance of supporting these types of initiatives within the industry and are committed to providing assistance wherever possible.”
The results of the ECA survey will be published in February, and made available to government and key stakeholders. Please complete the survey below:

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ECA warns of a drop in electrical safety standards in the workplace

gazza — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 23:00:00 +0000

ECA warns of a drop in electrical safety standards in the workplace

gazza Mon, 20/08/2012

The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) warns that poor interpretation of HSE guidance on Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) could result in a drop in electrical safety standards in the workplace. Misinterpretation of the new guidelines could lead some businesses to underestimate the risk of electrical fault, shock and fire, or lose sight of the need for ongoing electrical inspection and maintenance.

The HSE’s recent guidance says that in many everyday situations, a competent, visual inspection of plugs and leads may be enough to ensure electrical safety. However, Paul Reeve, Head of Business Policy at the ECA and Chartered Fellow of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, has expressed concern, saying: “The HSE is keen to show how PAT can be done cost-effectively and we welcome their practical approach. However, businesses still need to be aware of the risk of faulty electrical equipment, and how to manage that risk properly.”

The ECA says that to ensure the safety of portable electrical appliances, businesses need:

*A good understanding of the risk from portable electrical equipment, taking into account what the equipment does and, importantly, how it is used.

*On-going, risk-based portable appliance inspection, visual or otherwise, carried out by competent people.

*Knowledge of what to do when inspection finds problems with leads or equipment.

Reeve continues: “Electrical inspection remains vitally important to personal safety and fire prevention. Competent electrical contractors can help businesses to get the balance right for a practical, cost-effective approach to PAT which will help to ensure electrical safety at work.”

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