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Thread ID: 36885	2003-08-22 23:07:00	OT - Qualifications needed for basic electrical work	somebody (208)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
169683	2003-08-23 03:29:00	Thanks for your comments everyone. I think it'll be easier just to get the school to send the stuff off to an electrician for repairs, instead of me going through years of training to do it.	somebody (208)
169684	2003-08-23 04:15:00	HWMO has an Electrical Service Technician Paper A qualification from Polytech that took a week to do and cost around $200. This paper allows him to do work and repairs on single phase 240 volt plug-in appliances for anyone for reward. He cannot do work on wiring (eg as in house wiring). This course would be ideal for what you are wanting, because it is illegal for you to do any repairs on extension leads, plugs, etc for anyone other than yourself for use in your own home.	Susan B (19)
169685	2003-08-23 04:32:00	Thanks Susan. Can I ask what HWMO stands for? (I'm not too good with abbreviations).	somebody (208)
169686	2003-08-23 04:35:00	I think the local polytech in my area is offering a similar course - however I think it is a night course which takes several months to complete. Is it possible to do such courses by correspondence?	somebody (208)
169687	2003-08-23 04:47:00	HWMO = He Who Must Obey = my other half :p :D Not sure about that course being available by correspondence, try the Open Polytech of NZ (or whatever it is - I am having a memory-blank session right now :-() website. The course was full-time for a week and not all Polytechs may offer it.	Susan B (19)
169688	2003-08-23 06:00:00	> > I had a job for a few weeks several years ago > removing the European style power plug and attaching > the NZ plug to [unnamed brand] power tools... I was > 15 and had no qualifications. Some of them I just > attached a new plug, others I opened the tool and > replaced the whole power-lead. > > illegal unless you where supervised by a registered > sparky. Which is why I suggested to get the work checked over by an electrician afterwards... wouldn't cost the same as getting one to do the work. When I did that work it was under the supervision of an electrician. Mike.	Mike (15)
169689	2003-08-23 06:58:00	First - Billy T, I must object strongly to your remark "Further information can be obtained at - most Polytechs, though don't count on the Polytechs knowing much about the applicable legislation as they are there to sell courses, not electrical safety.". As a Polytech tutor and a registered Electrical Inspector, I can assure you that all the polytech tutors that I know throughout the country are very familiar with the legislation and are passionate about electrical safety. You are correct on the rest of it however. The Electrical A Service Tech is the minimum grade of registration required to do electrical work other than "by the home owner in his / her own home" for no reward. Susan B is correct in that the EST A course is only one week for a refresher course or two weeks for a full course. This allows you to sit an exam set by the Electrical Workers Registration Board but you must still do at least 18 months supervised on-job experience to gain the qualification and become eligible for a practicing licence. This allows you to test and work on plug in, single-phase equipment. The Health & Safety In Employment Act is now being given precedence over the Electricity Act when it comes to prosecutions resulting from accidents arising out of non-qualified people performing "prescribed Electrical Work". This allows fines of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment as opposed to the $10,000 set under the Electricity Act, so it's really not worth the risk. And Mike - the fitting of new plugs, even under the direct supervision of a sparkt, is still illegal unless you have attended a basic competency course, which covers first aid, cpr, testing and safety. Regards, andy	andy (473)
169690	2003-08-23 09:25:00	Sorry Andy, no offence to you or your colleagues but I have struggled for years with this problem and I can assure you that getting bums on seats is a much higher priority to many Polytechs than worrying about the lawful use of skills taught. I used to go every year to Polytechs to talk to the outgoing "electrical" classes about job opportunities and one of my first questions was always "are you aware that you need to be licenced to do this work?" I'll admit that some Polytechs did a good job, and overall there has been a considerable improvement, but I am currently struggling with some others right now who simply don't seem to care about the legal requirments. The problem is worst in electronics and business equipment type courses, not core electrical. Of course, this does not apply to those running EST classes of course because that is the whole reason for the students' attendance. Your mileage may vary. Cheers Billy 8-{)	Billy T (70)
169691	2003-08-24 02:54:00	Thanks Billy - I know where you're coming from. The "Bums on seats" attitude is being pushed from Ministry and Corporate in all Polytechs these days as the push is to make education a profit making organisation - something most of us who actually do the teaching thing strongly object to. The problem is that trades cost too much to teach - there is a large resource requirement in equipment and a low student-tutor ratio due to safety aspects, so we are not liked by the institutes because we don't make enough profit (16 to 1 class size for trades does not rate against 150 to one for university type lectures to business studies classes). The government claim they want to support trades training but they don't seem to want to pay for it, so I guess the New Zealand tradesperson will become a thing of the past and we shortly gain true third world status.	andy (473)
169692	2003-08-24 03:12:00	and to help make a profit they charge more which makes it less appealing for new people to get into the trade. unfortunatly i know of a few trades which are simply running out of techs. not enough young people interested and the training system dosn't really suit older people either.	tweak'e (174)
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