Electrician Qualifications at Industrial Worksites

[jtinge]

I work at a large industrial complex that employees in-house electricians, contract electricians for construction work, and speciality electrical workers for fire alarms, security, HVAC, elevators, power limited electrical work, etc. Currently, we only specify that electricians for construction work be licensed. Our in-house electrical workers are formally trained and qualified through a state approved apprentice program but have no requirement to be licensed. Many have become licensed to do outside work, however. The specialty electrical workers have been a challenge. Their services are often procured outside of our engineering/maintenance organization on service contracts that do not impose any minimum worker qualification requirements. I'm finding many of these workers are not licensed, don't have a good understand of the NEC, and often utilize non-code compliant or unapproved wiring methods. I am trying to develop a policy for electrical worker qualifications for our center. I'm struggling as to what to base this policy on; voltage, type of work, contract method, who employees the worker, verifiable qualifications, etc. What is your experience if any with qualification requirements at multiemployer industrial worksites? Which sites have good requirements that I might be able to use in developing some consistancy at my workplace? Any other guideance? Any policy examples can be sent to me directly at john.t.inge@nasa.gov.

 

[charlie k.]

John, I noticed your email address. Are you at GSFC? I am finishing up a project there now. It is confusing to work there due to the number of in house groups and outside contractors.

Charlie

 

[jtinge]

No, I'm down at NASA Langley in VA. I understand your confusion, which is the reason for my interest in developing and documenting qualification requirements for all workers, whether they are in-house or contracted. Even if they are different, documented requirements helps everyone understand what qualifications need to be met and not guess everytime a new contractor comes on board.

 

[mkgrady]

JT, why not make it a requirement that all work be performed by licensed trade workers? You could make an exception for your in-house workers. If Virginia does not license some of the trades you hire, or the workers are from out of state, you could require each workers employer certify that the employees are proficient in their trade. Not a foolproof system but it may keep out some of the inexperienced workers.

 

[jtinge]

That's a thought, but to what licensing level is my quandry. Do I require general journeyman or master's license? What about a specialty license for contractor's that only do power limited work like fire alarms, access systems, and voice/data system? What about HVAC workers who do electrical for their equipment installs or sign electricians or elevator mechanics? Should I exclude licensed residential electricians for commercial or industrial type work? Should I base minimum licensing requirements on the type of work?

 

[mkgrady]

That's a thought, but to what licensing level is my quandry. Do I require general journeyman or master's license? What about a specialty license for contractor's that only do power limited work like fire alarms, access systems, and voice/data system? What about HVAC workers who do electrical for their equipment installs or sign electricians or elevator mechanics? Should I exclude licensed residential electricians for commercial or industrial type work? Should I base minimum licensing requirements on the type of work?

To require a master seems too restrictive. I'd lean towards a minimum journeyman licenses and in a case where no licenses are issued for a particular trade you can require a certification from their employer.