Electron Issue 088
Keeping you up to date with the latest regulatory changes, exam reports, technical issues, consultation results and other issues affecting electrical workers - published May 2017.
Meet your presiding members
At the Board’s first meeting each year, as require by the Electricity Act, they elect one of its members as Presiding Member, and another as Deputy Presiding Member. The Board has confirmed Shane Dolan, Presiding Member and Mel Orange as Deputy Presiding member.
Shane Dolan
Shane runs a business that provides auditing, geospatial and consulting services to utility companies. He is a registered line mechanic with 29 years of experience in the electricity industry and holds a Graduate Diploma in Geographic Information Systems as well as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. Shane brings to the Board expertise in implementing and managing quality and safety systems.
Mel Orange
Presiding Member
Mel Orange is a self-employed barrister and solicitor and business consultant from Christchurch who works in the energy and construction industries. He has previously held senior management positions and board positions in the energy industry. Mel is a former Presiding Member of the Electrical Workers Complaints Assessment Committee and a current member of the Building Practitioners Board.
Registrar update
Welcome to issue 88 of Electron.
The first thing you will notice is that Electron looks a little different.
I trust you’ll find the new format easier to use, and easier on the eye. We welcome your feedback and will try and evolve the newsletter to ensure it meets your needs. Send any comments to info@ewrb.govt.nz.
The first quarter of this year has been a busy time for the Board and the Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment (MBIE). The Prerequisite Competency Training, new website and Electrical Workers’ Toolbox projects began in 2016 have now been delivered this quarter. The Board has also continued the pilot audit programme, with all pilot audits aiming to be finished by 31 May with an analysis to follow.
As you will all be aware relicensing is the priority for the Board at the moment. I am pleased to report that relicensing is going well with around 5200 licences issued as at the end of April. If you have not applied for your licence yet, I would encourage you to do so as soon as possible. There’s more information on relicensing in this issue.
Richard Stubbings
Registrar
Electrical Workers Registration Board vacancy
On behalf of the Minister for Building and Construction, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is seeking expressions of interest for new Electrical Workers Registration Board members.
Applications close at 5:00pm, 2 June 2017.
Read more about the roles and how to apply
2017 relicensing round is now open
As you know, all 2015/17 practising licences will expire on 30 June 2017. You must renew your licence prior to 30 June, if you want to continue to carry out prescribed electrical work.
Welcome to our new refreshed website
We have refreshed our website with improved content and made it quicker and easier to access information on electrical and regulatory information.
New classes of registration
From 28 October 2017, there will be 16 classes of registration, and new prescribed competency aligned to these classes. These changes were approved by the Minister of Building and Construction recently.
Disciplinary hearings
Read a summary of two recently completed disciplinary hearings conducted by the Board. They are hearings at which the conduct of an registered or licensed electrical worker is examined.
Prosecutions
The Board v Campbell Murray
Campbell Murray pleaded guilty to performing unauthorised prescribed electrical work under the Electricity Act 1992.
New competency programme for electrical workers
The Board is pleased to announce that a new competency programme for electrical workers is now available. It was released to 24 approved competency training providers in early April 2017.
Read about the new competency programme for electrical workers
Board’s pilot auditing programme
We are pleased to report that 270 of the planned 300 audits have been completed. The rest should be completed by the end of May.
Examinations review underway
The Board has identified a number of issues relating to the examinations process, and has enlisted MBIE to undertake an end-to-end review of examinations. The first phase of work began at the end of March, when a series of workshops with education providers were run in Christchurch, Tauranga, Auckland and Wellington. Interviews are also being conducted with industry representatives, students, and others involved with the examination process itself.
New Board logo
The Board logo has a new look. In essence, it was a simplifying process that is future proof and delivers cost savings to the board.
Could you use your expertise to develop standards?
Being part of a standards development committee provides a unique opportunity to work with your peers to create something that is of great benefit to both your sector and New Zealand as a whole. Would you like to be involved?
As electricity sector workers, you will be familiar with the use of standards such as the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules, but have you thought about being part of developing them?