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Hey Guys, just looking for your thoughts on this one, our local council contractors are undertaking maintenance on water supply pipelines and sewer lines with staff that hold no formal qualifications. Is this Legal? should it be? What are your opinions??
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with the introdution of the 2006 act councils and government departments are subject to the same rules as everybody else , they will need to have at least one person who holds a full licence or the job would need to be supervised by someone who has
supervision is pretty vague , and something that needs clarifying by the pgdb ,
I think we will see a lot more unqualified people carrying out plumbing and drainage work and supervised at a distance ...
having a licence will mean didly squat in the future unless there are clear guidelines as to who can do what and there is a mechanism ensuring the rules are complied with , I dont see any sign of this at the moment
at the end of the day whoever employs unqualified people is taking a risk as insurance companys are getting more vigilant about claims and rejecting any damage claim caused by unlicenced people
Further to that people who knowingly engage unqualified people can also have legal action taken against them .
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The PGDB have clear guidelines on supervision - who needs to be supervised and who can supervise and what supervision means on their website pgdb.co.nz You can also get copies of their brochures relating to supervision. Anyone not properly qualified and licensed to do any work of regulated work should be reported. Short. Simple. If you don't do this then you are not protecting your ticket.
Sometimes, however it is a matter of education first - some people simply don't understand the rules surrounding supervision. Perhaps you could approach the local council office with copies of the Board's brochure on Supervision. Then bring out the big guns if they don't listen.
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Jaxcat
they may have clear guidelines , and I am well aware of them, I am certified in three trades so know my responsibilities,
The point I would like to make is unless someone is employed by me , I wont supervise them , In the past with the permit system I didnt mind so much as you were able to check that job ,
With the current situation once you agree to supervise someone , who is likely running their own buisness , you have no idea what work that person is carrying out day to day ,
All I would say is if anyone is supervising someone who they do not directly employ ie pay their paye acc etc , better have a good relationship with their insurance co , as they will be the one in court should something go wrong , The board dont have clear gudelines on this as far as the protection of the public is concerned ,something I would also like to see is when a person advertises there needs to be a way of determining if they have the qualifications , lately in my area I have seen buisnesses advertising they are fully qualified , and after checking found they arent ,
I intend writing to the board to see what their response to this is
Be good to see some debate on the above issues
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This is a very worrying subject i now have licensed plumber/gas status but need a certifying plumber/gas to be able to work for myself, as know one in my area wants to sign off on my work because they dont want to be responsable which i fully understand as i would feel the same,so ive been told to look outside my area for someone to help me i wont tell you who says i have to look outside my areayou will have to guess
kiwigas.engineers@yahoo.com
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You're being a bit coy on that one JD. If someone in any authority has told you to look outside your area and you have evidence to back up who has told you this then I believe you should name and shame.
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Hi jax
I just have to say registrar of pgdb
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What a shame you don't have it on tape or in writing because this is truly shameful - the registrar should not be giving this sort of advice, especially as he would be the person prosecuting you if it all goes pear shaped. I'm not saying I don't believe you - I saying I think the system, made by them, and then obviously ignored by them at their choosing is shameful.
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The company I'm working for, contracts to our local council. The work being done is not particularly difficult or technical in any way. But it does involve working on the potable supply. All staff involved in this work are upskilled on a daily basis, we have qualified and non qualified working side by side. ALL are blood tested for 'water Borne' diseases and police vetted.
You get a flu bug, you're off that job till proven ok by doctors cert.
Myself, not involved in that contract, so not part of the testing regime..
I been plumbing 27 years (3 to go yay!) - never been subjected to that bullshit, yet daily I come into contact with the potable water supply with NO testing for any kind of disease at all.
Legal or not. I don't know, but as far as safety goes for the public, the council can't be faulted..