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ECA News ECA appointment to HSE SME board KEEP PART P, Paul Reeve
PAUL REEVE, HEAD OF SAFETY and Environment at the ECA, has joined the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) ‘SME board’. The board represents the interests of small businesses to the HSE, and has direct communication with the HSE staff at all levels. The board comprises a small number of representatives from leading trade or employers’ bodies, representing SMEs across all business sectors. Reeve will be directly representing
the interests of ECA members on the board, which considers both policy and practical issues. Reeve has already presented to the board on how some key health and safety legislation could be simplified, and this recommendation is now being considered by government via a group headed by Professor Löfstedt of Kings College, London. Reeve has also brought to the table pre-qualification and HSE’s advice on risk assessment for contractors.
EAS agreement ensures safe, better practices
THE ELECTROTECHNICAL Assessment Specification (EAS) Management Committee, chaired by the ECA’s head of Technical Services, Giuliano Digilio, has universally agreed with the electrical industry partners to make the Level 3 NVQ the minimum technical competence required for all new applications for qualified supervisors.
Coming into force on 1 January 2012, this decision recognises the importance of reflecting the industry’s accepted standards in a Level 3 qualification, and sets it as a benchmark for ensuring safety standards within electrical contracting. n For further information, contact
the ECA’s Technical Services Department on 020 7313 4826.
Giuliano Digilio
ENERGY MANAGEMENT STANDARD LAUNCHED BY THE BSI
THE BRITISH STANDARDS Institution (BSI) has launched the first internationally recognised energy management standard to help organisations reduce energy costs and achieve carbon reduction targets. BS ISO 50001 is a management systems standard that can help organisations to understand baseline energy use, develop action plans, targets and energy performance indicators and identify, prioritise, and
record opportunities for improving energy performance. The BSI says it clearly sets out processes and actions that can enable any organisation to start saving money, and is applicable to all types of organisations. Energy shortages, rising costs, and increasing legislation to curb emissions of greenhouse gases have all driven the development of the standard. According to ECA’s head of Environment, Paul Reeve: ‘The
ISO 9001:2008 presentation for ECS
Following the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme’s (ECS) successful ISO 9001:2008 certification, the ECS team celebrated their achievement recently with a presentation held at the scheme’s Sidcup office. Steve Bratt, group CEO of the ECA, joined the event to present a special plaque, which Jackie Cross, ECA Education and Training
administration manager accepted on behalf of the team. ‘This was truly a combined effort from every member of the team,’ Jackie commented. ‘The ISO certification involves a process of continual improvement, so we can ensure we will constantly provide a quality service to ECS card holders.’
emphasis on cost savings is particularly welcome, because if the rationale for this standard was solely to manage carbon impacts, then ISO 14001 (the world’s leading environmental management standard) has shown time and again that it is suited to the task of reducing selected environmental impacts’. It is expected that the new ISO standard will quickly replace BS EN 16001, which is set for withdrawal in mid-2012.
SAYS SURVEY An industry survey has revealed that 85 per cent of registered electricians believe Part P of the Building Regulations for England and Wales should be retained – but with improvements. More than 3,500 electricians registered under Part P completed the survey, which was co- ordinated by the Electrical Safety Council (ESC). Also, 90 per cent of respondents believe all electricians undertaking notifiable work in domestic premises should have to register as competent persons. The survey forms part of an evidence-gathering exercise on Part P, which will be submitted to the government’s review of the Building Regulations.
Phil Buckle, director general of the ESC, commented: ‘…we have been working with a range of partners to identify changes that can be made to Part P while ensuring that it remains fit for purpose. Our objective is to provide an informed view and information which will allow the government to balance the needs of the public – who need to feel confident in the standards of work being carried out in their homes – with the industry’s desire to avoid unnecessary red tape.’
LIGHT TOUCH
The Lighting Association and the Lighting Industry Federation are consulting with their members about closer cooperation – including a possible merger. The councils of the two associations believe the dynamic changes that are taking place in the market – including new technology and the drive for energy efficient solutions – may be more effectively managed by one association, speaking with one voice. In recent years the two associations have increasingly cooperated on areas of common interest such as legislation and standardisation. The consultation process is expected to take several months.
July 2011 ECA Today 11
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