In an announcement designed to help lift the financial and red tape burden on electrical contractors, NICEIC Group executive chairman Jim Speirs has called on Government to adopt risk based assessments for Competent Persons Schemes.
“I’m calling on Government to help electrical contractors during this period of instability by removing unnecessary red tape,” explained Jim Speirs. “Risk based assessments would allow Part P scheme providers, such as NICEIC, to extend the time between periodic visits for contractors who have an exemplary track record of enrolment and registration with them.”
Under current Part P scheme requirements, periodic “surveillance” visits on installers are required every 12 months but can be more frequent, for instance if an enterprise has a culpable complaint made against it.
“Risk based assessments would remove from contractors the burden of having to schedule in unwarranted visits to maintain their registration and the associated loss of earnings and productivity this may bring,” Jim Speirs continued.
“This system would not mean a compromise on safety, nor would it mean annual surveillance visits being completely abandoned. Rather, this would be a constructive and value added compromise which saves cost, stress and time for electrical contractors.”
NICEIC Group are asking that if Government are to adopt this idea there must be a standard, evenly applied risk based assessment criteria across all schemes.
For more details on NICEIC log onto www.niceic.com or visit its consumer website at www.findanelectrician.com.