Annandale, VA (PRWEB) November 22, 2011
The D.C. Council is moving closer to passing a bill that jeopardizes the safety of all District residents and workers, according to the Washington, D.C. Chapter of NECA.
The “Electrician’s Equality Act, would eliminate the require for electricians to pass a test based on the National Electric Code (and administered by the Citys Board of Industrial Trades) to be licensed in the District, requiring only a certificate from a recognized national trade organization certifying that the applicant has passed its needed examination and is considered and classed by that organization as a journeyman electrician.
PEPCO, the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), many individual contractors, and the Districts own Board of Industrial Trades have provided testimony in opposition to the Act. To view a video recording of the hearing, check out the DC Government website.
By eliminating the examination, the Council is removing a safeguard that has been in location for numerous years to defend the public from potentially harmful circumstances in a stated effort to create higher wages for a couple of electricians who dont have licenses, explained Washington, D.C. Chapter, NECA Executive Director Andrew Porter.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, electrical malfunction resulted in 32,500 fires nationwide in 2009 (the latest year information is readily available). Electrical malfunctions have been responsible for current notable fires in Washington, D.C. such as the Eastern Marketplace and Eisenhower Executive Workplace Building fires in 2007.
We have D.C. residents that are injured or killed each year due to harmful electrical conditions and we really should be undertaking everything we can to lessen these instances, not escalating dangers by no longer requiring licensed electrical workers to demonstrate expertise of the safety Code, added Porter.
The bill is sponsored by D.C. Councilmember Phil Mendelson and co-sponsored by a number of fellow Council members. It passed the 1st reading unanimously on November 1st and will be up for the second reading on December 6th. At the moment, no other locality troubles electric licenses based on such a certification – from private entities that might have competing interests and/or much less demanding standards.
About Washington, D.C. Chapter of NECA
The Washington, D.C. Chapter National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) represents more than 150 qualified, dependable, and experienced contractors in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, who carry out most of the electrical and telecommunications installations in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan location, suburban/southern Maryland, northern and southwestern Virginia. A lot more details is available at http://www.wdcneca.org.
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