Gauteng Electrical Inspection Authority

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EVERY day I am approached by electrical contractors who are concerned about the continuing deterioration in the application of electrical standards - and the intolerable installation work that is within the electrical industry. This deterioration is evident in my everyday activities in dealing with public complaints.

As an AIA, I am asked to provide these contractors with solutions to improve the current situation. My dilemma here is that AIAs are looked upon as entities to provide solutions for an ailing industry when the very same industry continues to try and find means to do away with legitimate policing altogether. The AIA process has always endeavoured to provide a means to electrical contractors to ensure that a better understanding be imparted as to the correct application of safety standards and to create a level playing field in so far as is possible.

In attempting to try to find a solution, it is important that some reflection be given to the reasons as to why the current situation is so dire What part has the industry itself played to allow for the betterment of contractors or indeed the decline and possible extinction of the small electrical contractor?

Let's go back to the beginning:

The promulgation of new Electrical Installation Regulations in 1992, in essence, allowed for the electrical industry to self regulate. All the required tools were given to the industry on a plate by the Department of Labour (DoL) to ensure future growth and prosperity of the industry. The downside was that the regulations placed the responsibility of compliance on the electrical contractor and, by so doing, allowed the supply authorities to dispose of almost their entire inspectorate overnight.

The DoL in their wisdom (although this only manifested later) had assumed that because they had accredited persons to perform the requisite inspection and tests on electrical installations, that these persons were all competent to do so. Within five years, it became very apparent that this was a huge oversight and mechanisms were again put in place to re-introduce some form of electrical inspectorate.

The concept of AIAs was put forward to industry from 1996 and, by 1998, the first AIA had been accredited. This accreditation process, which was done with full involvement and input from the industry, led to the accreditation of some six or seven AIAs by 2002. The initial policing activities of the early AIAs began to uncover some glaring irregularities in the published standards and the application thereof by electrical contractors. Such were these irregularities and the effect on the industry that by 2002 legal action was implemented to stop the AIA process in its tracks and to prohibit the accreditation of any more AIAs.

This action lacked all substance and was defended by the Department of Labour. By 2004 the entire action had been withdrawn.

In order to satisfy industry however, the Department of Labour in 2002 began with a process to re-draft the Electrical Installation Regulations, which were published as draft regulations in 2005 after agonising resistance, and the regulations only managed to be promulgated in 2009.

To summarise: From 1992 until 2009, the industry had all the means at its disposal to implement good electrical practice, effective policing, and high levels of training and control of electrical practitioners. All that was required was to accept that change was necessary; supply authority inspectors would never to return as before, and to embrace the fact that new policing standards and entities were required.

Alas, this was not to be and in 2011, the industry is still reluctant to accept what is now legislatively enforceable.
Back to my original dilemma: How does the AIA benefit electrical contractors in a climate of continued resistance by current organisational structures?

Simply put, if electrical contractors want change, then a change of attitude is required in terms of the support for AIAs. The old adage applies: "You cannot keep hitting your head against a brick wall and keep hoping for a different result."
It is time that all electrical contractors accept the current system for what it is, work with AIAs instead of against them, and start supporting AIA activities in the application of standards and the training of registered persons to the required level of skills in order for them to positively influence the issue of valid Certificates of Compliance.

I believe that a positive change in the small things will lead to an easier road to change the bigger things.

info@geia.co.za