Sparks Electrical News

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IN THIS ISSUE
August 2015
• Energy efficiency
• Motor control centres and motor protection
15
16-18
FEATURES
• Contractors’ corner
• Buyers’ guide
• Lighting
• People on the move
REGULARS
2-14
12-13
19-23
24
T the Department of Labour’s‘Electri-
al Safety Indaba’held in Johannes-
urg on 18 June. Tibor Szana, DoL’s
ewly appointed chief inspector, gave
is assurance that the DoL is going to
ake a“concerted effort”to build up
he electrical industry in South Africa
nd that it is working on a“frame-
ork”for the electrical industry to
ove forward.
While this framework was not
evealed, the indaba addressed de-
elopments in the electrical industry.
arious presentations were given, and
heses included: the role of the South
frican National Accreditation System
SANAS); the certification of electrical
roducts by the National Regulator
or Compulsory Specifications (NRCS);
he role of Accredited Inspection
uthorities (AIAs); and feedback from
he ECA(SA).
Szana said the electrical industry
“complex”and needs a“structured
pproach”tomake it work. He admit-
The presenters at the Department of Labour’s ‘electrical safety indaba’ held in Johannesburg on
18 June were Jacob Malatse, director at the Department of Labour(DoL); Thabo Mabena (inspection
manager and technical specialist at the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS); Mark
Palmer (Electrical Approved Inspection Authority Southern Africa); Linda Grundlingh, field manager,
Inspection at the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS); Mark Mfikoe, national director
at the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA); Pieter Laubscher, deputy director at the Department of
Labour and Patrick Mmapheto, technical assistant at DoL. Absent: Tibor Szana, chief inspector, DoL.
oL to make“concerted effort” to build
p electrical industry in SA
ed that, over the past few years, the industry had
ecome“fractured”.
“However, we can no longer tolerate a situation
here more than 20 000 electricians roam freely as
law unto themselves,”he warned and reiterated
hat“health and safety are non-negotiable”.
“It is the public that pays the price if this depart-
ent doesn’t do its job – and there are regulations
o ensure that minimum requirements are in place,”
aid Szana.“Hazards must be removed or reduced
this is not an industry where you get a second
hance.”
He stated that the DoL wants to work“together
ith this industry andmove forward”.
“Let’s deal with the problems as they arise and
efore they become major problems,”he said.
“I’mnot interested in stories – an installation is
ither right or it is wrong – and anyone who en-
angers the health and safety of another person is
ontravening Section 9 of the Occupational Health
nd Safety Act,”he warned, adding that DoL will
take offenders to task”.
Szana mentioned a personal experience with
shoddy”electrical work when he moved into his
ew home and found loose, live wires in the ceiling
oid even though he had a‘valid’Certificate of Com-
liance.“Howmany more problems and unsafe
ituations exist out there?”he asked.
He admitted that the DoL would have tomove
aster to resolve issues and one of these issues is
n unintended consequence of load shedding:
Generators are being connected to installations
ithout adhering to the regulations,”he said, again
suing a stern warning that anyone who breaks the
wwould be punished.
He appealed to the legitimate electrical industry
the registered electrical contractors – to report
uspect installations and pirate contractors to the
oL.“We want to know about the‘funny’things
appening out there. And there will be successful
rosecutions,”he stressed.
“Without structure, this complex industry will not
Continued on page 4
work,”he said, adding his assurance that the
directorate for Electrical and Mechanical Engi-
neering would assist the industry.