Sparks Electrical News January 2015

6 contractors’ corner

Getting to grips with SANS 10142–1 by Hannes Baard

To your good health!

for theperiodof their designation in terms of Section 17 (1). It might sound trivial that someone has to be appointed in writing, but believeme, it’s not such a bad thing although it may be a tedious process. ( 4) Ahealthand safety committee shall holdmeet- ings as oftenasmay be necessary, but at least once every threemonths, at a time and place determined by the committee: Provided that an inspectormay by notice inwriting direct themembers of ahealthand safety committee tohold ameeting at a time and place determined by him: Provided further that, ifmore than 10%of the employees at a specificworkplace have handed a written request to an inspector, the inspectormay by writtennotice direct that suchameeting be held. It stands to reason that the safety committees meet regularly and, if there aremore than one, information and learnings can be exchanged. But in the total absence of suchmeetings, an inspector (of the Department of Labour) can give written notice that suchmeeting be convened. (5) The procedure atmeetings of ahealthand safety committee shall be determined by the committee. This should be a simple process. ( 6) (a) Ahealth and safety committeemay co-opt one ormore persons by reasonof his or their particular knowledge of healthor safety matters as anadvisorymember or as advisory members of the committee. (b) Anadvisorymember shall not be entitled to vote onanymatter before the committee. It’s such a pity that a lot of sections and subsections in the Act are not worded as simply as this last point above. ( 7) If an inspector is of the opinion that the number of healthand safety committees es- tablished for any particular workplace is inad- equate, hemay inwriting direct the employer to establish for suchworkplace suchnumber of healthand safety committees as the inspector may determine. Personally, I haven’t heard of any such interventions but, quite clearly, the legislator envisaged that some employers would try to shrug off their responsibilities in this regard. Stay safe and healthy in 2015.

safety committees with three safety representa- tives means that two representatives could serve on one committee and the other in the second committee. Pardonme if I sound blasé but I am only trying to illustrate what I believe that the legislator hoped to communicate. (c) The number of persons nominated by an employ- er onany healthand safety committee established in terms of this section shall not exceed the number of healthand safety representatives on that committee. It would be rather silly for an employer to nomi- nate seven safety representatives if there are only three safety committees, don’t you think? But then again, in the current situation where lots of people are pushed into positions purely for a company to be‘politically correct’, it is understandable that em- ployers can easily be put in a position where they may have to ask their employees if they washed their hands or brushed their teeth. (3) The persons nominated by an employer ona healthand safety committee shall be designated inwriting by the employer for suchperiod asmay be determined by him, while the healthand safety representatives shall bemembers of the committee

The above subsection follows on fromSection 18 in the Act and it must be understood that this kind of structure will only be found in fairly large and diversifiedworkplaces. Doing themaths, two employees in a company employing 20 people would constitute a good 20%, which is a bit much inmy humble opinion; I believe that the legislator envisaged a larger organisation when it comes to committees. (2) Ahealthand safety committee shall consist of suchnumber ofmembers as the employermay from time to time determine: Provided that (a) If one healthand safety committee has been established in respect of aworkplace, all the health and safety representatives for that workplace shall bemembers of the committee. This should pose no problem…three safety representatives make up one safety committee. (b) If two ormore health and safety committees have been established in respect of aworkplace, eachhealthand safety representative for that workplace shall be amember of at least one of those committees; and… This should pose no problemeither as two

FIRST, I wish all Sparks readers a very happy 2015! Let’s begin the year on a healthy note andwith a positive attitude towards the people who are elected tomaintain workers’health and safety. There are some employees who believe that wearing a reflective vest makes them invincible. Personal protective equipment (PPE) does not stop a truck, it won’t miraculously become a para- chute if you step off a 10metre high scaffold and it won’t stop a crane from crushing you – hard hat or no hard hat. And now on to Section 19 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85 1993) that deals (1) An employer shall in respect of eachworkplace where two ormore health and safety representa- tives have beendesignated, establish one ormore health and safety committees and, at everymeeting of such a committee as contemplated in subsec- tion (4), consult with the committeewith a view to initiating, developing, promoting, maintaining and reviewingmeasures to ensure the health and safety of his employees at work. with health and safety committees… 19. Healthand safety committees

Training and development by Nick du Plessis How to: A ‘wireman’s licence’ for people with degrees or diplomas

at http://pandttechnology.co.za/ To find information about courses – a course calendar and course content – click on‘courses’. To find information about supporting docu- ments, click‘supporting documents’in the menu bar or go to http://pandttechnology.co.za/portfo- lio-items/supporting-documents/ Here you will have access to the Department of Labour brochure as well as the exam instructions outlying the installation rules content. For more information, call (011) 827-4113/6 or email nick@pandttechnology.co.za

personwho has been registered as an installation electrician in terms of Regulation 11 (2) for the verification and certification of the construction, testing and inspection of any electrical installation, excluding specialised electrical installations ’. In this column, I will only explain Option 3 of the registration criteria for installation electrician registration, which can be found in the Depart- ment of Labour Registration Criteria brochure: OHS 3/1/5/7/9: Registration as a Registered Person, Revised March 2014. This document outlines the registration criteria with which a personmust comply in order to be registered by the Chief Inspector as an‘Electrical Tester for Single Phase’,‘Installation Electrician’ and‘Master Installation Electrician’as defined in the Electrical Installation Regulations, 2009 (promulgated by Government Notice R.242 of 6 March 2009). Installation Electrician Option 3 Theoretical Qualification A candidatemust: (a) Submit a diploma or degree in electrical engineering: • T3 Diploma (heavy current). • S4 Diploma (power engineering). • B Tech degree. • B Sc or B degree. • Government Certificate of Competency (factories or mines). (b) Submit documentary proof of successfully com- pleted unit standards on inspection, testing and certification of three phase industrial/commer- cial installations as prescribed by the EWSETA. Knowledge of statutory requirements Submit proof of knowledge on the legislation and relevant health and safety standards applicable to electrical installations by having passed the subject ‘Installation Rules’ as administered by the Depart- ment of Higher Education and Training. From this, it can be seen that it is possible for a person who has not completed an apprentice- ship as an electrician to register with the Depart- ment of Labour as an Installation Electrician for the purpose of issuing Certificates of Compliance for electrical installations. All registered persons must understand and apply the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993, applicable regulations and codes, before signing a Certificate of Compliance. Please be sure you understand the criteria and responsibilities before embarking on any training intervention. For more information please visit my web page

I FREQUENTLY receive requests that begin: “I have a B Tech degree in Electrical Power Engineer- ing and I have been in the electrical field for more than 10 years. I am interested in acquiring awire- man’s licence. Any assistance or directionwould be highly appreciated.” Before I begin clarifying the registration criteria, it must be understood that the term‘wireman’s licence’is an old term that was used in the electri- cal industry many years ago for people who inspected and tested electrical installations. The termwas changed to‘accredited persons’and, in the Electrical Installation Regulations, 2009, ‘accredited persons’became‘registered person’– and this registration is done by the Department of Labour. Put simply, this means that anyone who wants to acquire their‘wireman’s license’or become an‘accredited person’has apply to the Depart- ment of Labour in order to become a‘registered person’. This column will provide guidance to those persons who have not done a trade and who wish to register with the Department of Labour as a registered person. However, before reviewing the registration criteria, as determined by the Department of Labour, I will first provide some clarity on the purpose and responsibility of the registered person. When application is made to the Department of Labour, the applicant is re- quired to have a‘theoretical qualification’and be able to demonstrate that he or she is competent by being found competent in the unit standards on inspection, testing and certification of three phase industrial/commercial installations as prescribed by the EWSETA . Installation rules and unit standards Competent means that the applicant is able to practically carry out the verification and certifica- tion of the construction, testing and inspection of any electrical installation, excluding special- ised electrical installations. In addition, the applicant must be able to apply the legislation and relevant health and safety standards applicable to electrical installa- tions and have passed the subject, ‘Installation Rules’– which is usually written at a Further Education and Training (EFT) college – as administered by the Department of Higher

NewYear’s messages from the ECA(SA) and the ECB

Tony McDonald, chairman of the ECB: Thinking back over the last year I realise that it has been a difficult year for many. About a thousand people attended the ECB’s semi- nars this year and it was found that there has been a general perception amongst delegates that work opportunities are becoming fewer and competi- tion fiercer. One usually thinks of the employer having a tough time, but it may be tougher for employees, not knowing if they will still be employed in the New Year and realising that there is little that they can do about it. In 2014, we bid farewell to James Baker who had served the industry loyally for many years and we will miss him. I have learnt it pays to remain positive as things are seldom as bleak as they may seem and, for the ECB, the new year has started withmuch that is en- couraging and I look forward to announcing good news in 2015. I wish to take this opportunity on behalf of the ECB to thank everyone for their support during 2014 and wish all Sparks Electrical News readers and their families a prosperous NewYear.

Michael Straton, president, ECA(SA)'s: 2015 has started and I trust that the shutdown period for most has become a pleasant but dis- tant memory. I predict that 2015 will be a year of greater success. However, for success to be realised it must be remembered that, in the words of Vince Lom- bardi,“The dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Work is the key to success, and hard work can help you ac- complish anything.” We are proud of the artisan and Elconop training that was undertaken during 2014 in all the ECA’s regions and we intend to increase the number of train- ees in 2015. Personally, I amproud that the Eastern Cape Region – under the capable leadership of Lucas Bowles – took the award for Re- gion of theYear at the Presiden- tial Excellence Awards in 2014. Mark Mfikoe’s appointment as national director in May 2014 proved to be a masterstroke as Mark has done much to unite the association and improve service

the first quarter of 2015 will set the ECA’s strategic path for the next five years in order for the ECA(SA) to become more influential as an organisation on the African continent and internationally. We acknowledge that the bulk of ECAmembers comprise of small andmedium enter- prises and we will continue to support all members to the ultimate benefit of the industry as a whole. In 2015 the ECA will join forces with Safehouse, the in- dustry‘watchdog’that identifies non-compliant products and informs the industry and, in the process, assists in safeguarding our members and the South African public. We will continue strengthen- ing the ECA’s valuable partner- ships with industry suppliers and continue to bring our members together with these valued stakeholders. The ECA(SA) is proud to ac- knowledge our valued partners, members, staff and stakehold- ers as together we continue to usher in an era of prosperity in this magnificent country of ours.

Education and Training. Registration criteria Applicants need to understand that the

registration criteria and responsibilities are listed in the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 and within the Electrical Installation Regulations, 2009, which define‘installation electrician’as ‘a

delivery tomembers. Highlights for 2015 The Strategic Conference in

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january 2015

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