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Should the IET be employing investigative journalists?

Neil Bridgeman

So I am wondering how many of you caught the recent E&T magazine (August 2022) - Exposed: The national wiring scandal putting lives at risk | E&T Magazine (theiet.org)

When I read it it came across really quite aggressive IMHO towards both the NICEIC and NAPIT.  Citing unnamed sources and publishing hearsay and rumour as fact.  

Shouldn't we look towards the IET as 'politically' neutral on this type of thing?  Is any organisation really in a position to be throwing stones at others?  We have come so far in bringing the trade together with industry at its most promising, I think in terms of all trying to pull together for the greater good than I have seen in my 24 years within it.  

The many 'boots on the ground' electricians I have seen have suggested this piece was really quite out of order and tantamount to a 'hit piece' on the CPSs.  These are the same electricians the IET are trying to encourage into professional registration.  I wonder if this is the best way to do that.  

A little tip - If the IET want more professionally registered electricians then give them something in return.  It is not good enough to simply say letters after your name and increased earning potential.  How many boots on the ground sparks will impress Ms Miggins with an email with MIET EngTech after their name?  Ms Miggins could not care less, she just wants the work done at a reasonable cost.  Most sparks don't even like buying a new copy of BS 7671 every three years so good luck with Electricians' EngTech.  Maybe if the book was free or heavily discounted to members they might have some more truck with it????  Just a though!

Anyway we then go on to the fact that this piece was written by an investigative journalist.  So the IET can use membership money to employ an investigative journalist but cannot offer free books to members? 

I would love to hear what others think.  Maybe it is me that has read this all wrong.

Open to honest and respectful debate on the subject.

Parents

  • I take it that the OP is embarrassed to find out that the industry is corrupt? This has been covered up in many ways for a long time, and it is time it was stopped. This journalist has done a good job, and it has started a ball rolling that has been held or stopped for many years. Why do you trust a "cash for logo" scheme, when the chap who turns up may be unqualified and very incompetent, and completely unable to carry out an inspection and test of an installation. I suggest you refer to the IET evidence to the Grenfell Tower inquiry, available on the web.

    As far as EngTech goes, there is another problem, exactly the same as the CEng one, that is there is no underlying requirement for persons to have specific qualifications for particular jobs in the electrical industry in Law. Anyone may (and quite often do) design complex electrical installations in large buildings, and these are often unsatisfactory. Housing is very simple yet we have electricians who often consider perfectly satisfactory installations unsatisfactory, or unsatisfactory ones OK, because they have no grasp of BS7671 or the basic principles AT ALL! The "gold standard" qualification from the CPS is an open book one with a low pass mark on finding answers from BS7671. With a little skill in using the Index and a day learning a few electrical terms, my partner could pass, and she has no basic knowledge of electricity or installation at all and is totally uninterested. A good number of candidates for the exam could not use an index, and certainly did not know their way around the regulations and therefore could not inspect an installation.

    I am sorry that facts upset you, but claiming that these are "political" is ridiculous

    David CEng Etc.

Reply

  • I take it that the OP is embarrassed to find out that the industry is corrupt? This has been covered up in many ways for a long time, and it is time it was stopped. This journalist has done a good job, and it has started a ball rolling that has been held or stopped for many years. Why do you trust a "cash for logo" scheme, when the chap who turns up may be unqualified and very incompetent, and completely unable to carry out an inspection and test of an installation. I suggest you refer to the IET evidence to the Grenfell Tower inquiry, available on the web.

    As far as EngTech goes, there is another problem, exactly the same as the CEng one, that is there is no underlying requirement for persons to have specific qualifications for particular jobs in the electrical industry in Law. Anyone may (and quite often do) design complex electrical installations in large buildings, and these are often unsatisfactory. Housing is very simple yet we have electricians who often consider perfectly satisfactory installations unsatisfactory, or unsatisfactory ones OK, because they have no grasp of BS7671 or the basic principles AT ALL! The "gold standard" qualification from the CPS is an open book one with a low pass mark on finding answers from BS7671. With a little skill in using the Index and a day learning a few electrical terms, my partner could pass, and she has no basic knowledge of electricity or installation at all and is totally uninterested. A good number of candidates for the exam could not use an index, and certainly did not know their way around the regulations and therefore could not inspect an installation.

    I am sorry that facts upset you, but claiming that these are "political" is ridiculous

    David CEng Etc.

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