How the Electrical Contractors Association Impacts Safety and Compliance
Electrical wiring and appliances pose the risk of fire and electrocution if the safety standards set by the Electrical Contractors Association [ECA(SA)] are not met. In South Africa, this professional body was founded under the terms of the Labour Relations Act in 1948 to provide a means for the public to gain access to trusted and competent electricians and for those who offer professional electrical or electronic services to establish, maintain, and confirm their competence and trusted status.
ECA(SA) also represents the interests of its more than 4 000 members in consultations and negotiations with various industrial and government bodies, including their pension and provident funds and national bargaining council. In addition, the association serves as the industry’s voice in dealings with other official bodies, like Eskom, the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), government supply authorities, and consulting engineers.
Other Benefits to Members of the Electrical Contractors Association
As a part of its overall mission to upgrade and maintain the performance of South Africa’s electrical contractors, the association provides the following additional services:
Professional Training:
In keeping with one of its premier areas of expertise, the training division of the Electrical Contractors Association provides various training and development opportunities for members, including the following:
- Free practical apprenticeships under a Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) contract and registration with the Sector Education Training Authorities.
- Assistance with skills development and instruction regarding the submission of required reports like the workplace skills plan, statutory training returns, and the annual training report
- Training in the areas essential for construction electricians, covering various topics, such as electrical theory, maintenance, assembly, installation, testing, and troubleshooting
- Refresher courses to assist those preparing for trade tests and evaluating the practical skills of those seeking artisan status
The association also conducts a broad selection of additional courses via its regional and national centres. Training offered includes preparatory and refresher courses for the Certificate of Compliance and training in photovoltaic solar systems, electrical fence installation, and earthing and bonding, to name just a few.
Advisory Services:
The knowledge and experience gained over three-quarters of a century means the ECA(SA) is exceptionally qualified to provide expert, informed advice and guidance in support of its members.
In addition to guidance with training, the association offers members advice regarding labour legislation, contract law, safety compliance, and technical issues.
Marketing and Publicity:
The Electrical Contractors Association promotes its members and their services in several ways:
- The ECA(SA) generates public awareness of safety, legal requirements, and compliance certificates, thus directly promoting its members’ services.
- The association has two publications with a circulation of about 22,000, providing precisely targeted vehicles in which to publish contractors’ advertisements and advertorial material.
- In 2011, the association held the first of its Presidential Excellence Awards. The event is intended to showcase outstanding achievements by members of the Electrical Contractors Association in one or more of 14 categories. These prestigious awards elevate the winners and finalists’ status within the industry. Furthermore, they can be of immense value to their business reputation, employees’ morale and, by extension, their bottom lines.
The above are compelling reasons to insist on an ECA(SA) accredited contractor to ensure safe and efficient electrical installations, especially in data centres in the IT industry where safe and efficient electrical wiring is crucial to preserve the integrity and uninterrupted flow of data.
Trust your Electrical Needs to an ECA(SA) Member and IT Industry Leader
CCI Technologies is a long-standing member of the Electrical Contractors Association and ticks all the boxes relating to the electrical requirements of the IT industry. We are leaders in the design, installation, and maintenance of computer networks. We welcome your enquiries and offer our electrical contracting services to companies in Gauteng, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, and Bloemfontein.
