The CORGI Trust and The Electrical Safety Council announced that talks are underway over a possible merger of charitable arms.

The CORGI Trust and The Electrical Safety Council (ESC), two leading charities responsible for promoting gas and electrical safety, have announced that they have begun discussions about a possible merger. The combined charities would aim to be the most influential and respected body in the UK for gas and electrical safety issues.

Both The CORGI Trust, through its operational subsidiary CORGI Gas Registration, and the ESC currently develop and implement standards and information about gas and electrical safety. They ensure that gas and electrical safety messages to consumers are consistent and widely available. Merging the charities would create greater coherence and clarity about many of the critical safety issues facing both consumers and the trades people who provide gas and electrical services. The merger would also help to improve consumers’ confidence in finding professional, safe and reputable gas and electrical trades people.

David Dossett, Chairman of the ESC commented: “This is an exciting step for the organisation. CORGI and the ESC have each recognised the importance of providing easily accessible support and advice to installers to help them work to an advanced safety level. We believe that merging these two charities would create an even stronger foundation for improving the safety of gas and electrical installations in the UK.”

Mary Benwell, Chair of The CORGI Trust commented: “I am delighted about today’s announcement and the possibilities ahead. Both of these charities already have a reputation for independence and impartiality. They are trusted by a wide range of stakeholders. Combining our skills and strengths gives us the potential to increase our capacity to improve customer safety on all matters relating to gas and electrical installations.”

NIC Certification will endeavour to keep you informed of progress on the proposed merger.

Heath and Safety courses

At a number of recent road shows NIC Certification was pleased to announce an opportunity for approved centres to run a number of Health and safety courses in conjunction with JPD who are part of the NICEIC Group.

Courses that are available are;

One-day courses

• IOSH Working Safely
• Working at Heights
• Risk Assessment
• Preventing Accidents
• Manual Handling
• COSHH
• CDM Regulations 2007
• Regulatory Reform Order (Fire Safety)

Other courses:

• Abrasive Wheels (half-day)
• CDM 2007 for Duty Holders (two-days)
• OHSAS Implementation (two-days)
• IOSH Managing Safely (four-days)
• NEBOSH (12 days)

For further details on Heath & Safety courses please contact a member of the friendlt at JPD on
01565 724200 or visit the website www.jpd.co.uk and recieve £20 discount of any course booked on line.

A range of management courses are also available to approved centres

CLG (Department for Communities & Local Government) has recently approved two new MTC (Minimum Technical Competence) documents that cover the requirements for sole traders and companies who wish to self certify under the Building Regulations via a Competent Persons Scheme.

The MTC’s can be obtained via the following website: http://www.iphe.org.uk/mtc/index.html

NIC Certification has been in liaison with industry and a leading university who specialise in renewable energies to develop a package of training and assessment materials. Due to the vast and varied types of equipment now in the marketplace NIC Certification will be developing these products in phases, the first of which will be available from the start of 2008. Phase 1 includes;

• Solar thermal / mechanical
• Solar PV
• Ground source heat pumps
• Air Source heat pumps
• Under floor heating
• Rainwater Harvesting

Work on phases 2 and 3 has started but these training and assessment packages will be released following the implementation of phase 1.

Source: NIC Certification www.niccertification.com

In support of BS 7967 Carbon Monoxide in Dwellings and the Combustion Performance of Gas Fired Appliances, the ACS Scheme Committee meeting have agreed a new assessment (CPA1) covering the use of electronic combustion gas analysers where they are required by manufactures specifications to undertake maintenance, servicing or commissioning of domestic gas appliances.

CPA1 will be a stand alone assessment aimed directly at installers who carry out work on appliances that require a combustion analyses to be carried out. However, CPA1 is not designed to assess competency in investigation work where a products of combustion have been reported.

Source: NIC Certification www.niccertification.com

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