More funding for the inspectors of the inspectors

08 April 2008

Tragic construction accidents, like the recent crane disaster in New York, are less likely to happen here thanks to a new agreement by the Department of Labour regarding safety inspectors.

The Department of Labour has announced it has entered into a new agreement with the threatened Certification Board for Inspection Personnel (CBIP).

This year the viability of the CBIP, which provides examination and assessments of equipment inspectors under the Health and Safety in Employment Regulations, was again threatened by lack of funding. Last year CBIP announced it would have to wind-up but was saved by an injection of funds from the Department of Labour.

The Department’s Group Manager of Workplace Services, Maarten Quivooy, said CBIP had an important role as an independent body in the certification of safety inspectors. The Department had agreed to provide more funding to enable CBIP to continue its functions, he said. The Department recognised and appreciated the enormous effort of the CBIP Board and exam panel members who contributed considerable personal time to the continuance of the CBIP certification scheme.

The Department of Labour was also helping CBIP in obtaining ISO 17024 accreditation, he said. This is an international standard in general requirements for bodies operating such kinds of certification.

“It’s vital that safety inspectors are as safe as the equipment they inspect. These inspectors are responsible for a wide range of critical equipment such as cranes, boilers and passenger ropeways. If equipment like this fails, it puts lives at risk.”

A striking recent example of such dangers could be seen in the recent crane accident in New York, said Mr Quivooy. Six construction workers and a visitor to New York died in the accident last month when a huge crane collapsed and destroyed a four-storey Manhattan brownstone house.

CBIP members could be reassured that current services could continue as normal, Mr Quivooy said. The export industry relying on inspectors testing and certifying heavy equipment for export was believed to be worth about $630 million a year.

ENDS