Frank Bertie, Chairman of the NAPIT Trade Association, reflects on the Electrical Safety Roundtable’s Parliamentary Reception in November, which highlighted the need for enhancing the standards of electrical safety within the United Kingdom.

Having been involved in the Electrical Safety Roundtable since its inception in 2012 and supported its growth and development over the past 10 years it was an honour to be able to celebrate it’s 10-year anniversary and address guests at a Parliamentary Reception in the House of Commons on the 16th November 2022.

Joined by over 70 industry stakeholders, guests heard from the passionate Lord Foster of Bath who provided an overview of The Domestic Premises (Electrical Safety Certificate) Bill and influential electrical safety campaigner Louise Adamson, who captivated the room with her heart-wrenching, powerful and moving speech, urging the industry to act to prevent fatalities resulting from unsafe electrical installations and unsafe working practices.

I used the opportunity to address the guests, by reflecting on how far the industry has come over the past 10 years and to praise the electrical industry’s activity, engagement and committed to maintaining and enhancing electrical safety standards. This is evident with the updated publication of four versions of the Electrotechnical Assessment Specification and the 18th edition of the Wiring Regulations, plus two amendments.

The Roundtable has proved invaluable in helping the industry achieve a long-standing goal of ours, to improve electrical safety standards. We recognise the importance of industry collaboration and have found the Roundtable to be a proactive and committed group that has demonstrated an ability to produce meaningful outcomes.

Over the past year, this has included the publication of guidance for industry on The Renting Homes Wales (Act) Fitness for Human Habitation 2022 Regulations, which require mandatory electrical safety checks in rented dwellings from 1 December 2022 in Wales. Recently, it has updated two excellent guidance documents on Managing Electrical Systems in Higher-risk Buildings, which has the support of Dame Judith Hackitt, and also the Code of Practice for the Management of Electrotechnical Care in Social Housing.

Earlier this year, it launched a Reporting Tool, in collaboration with TrustMark, to provide insight into the types and nature of non-compliant electrical installations in homes which NAPIT have promoted and supported. Most recently, it announced its Above and Beyond Awards, which recognise and celebrate individuals and organisations who go above and beyond their legal responsibilities to enhance and improve workplace electrical safety.

I am incredibly proud to be part of a group who delivers so much good for the industry, and we will continue to be committed to enhancing the standard of electrical safety across the industry. As an organisation, we are very much looking forward to seeing what the industry can achieve together over the next 10 years. This is especially important given the future looks set to depend on safe electricity generation and use, given the focus on the low carbon electrification of the grid, as we move forward as a nation to meet deliver the net zero targets.

To find out more about ESR’s Parliamentary Reception, click here

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