EDITOR – In reply to the article “Bid To Flush out unregistered plumbers begins” this is not a new phenomenon, and has been an ongoing problem for the past 15 years. It will continue to grow until the consumer learns how to qualify the credentials of the “plumber” they are engaging to perform work for them, just as they would if they were to visit a doctor or specialist.
The Plumbing Industries Registration Board (PIRB) is the watch dog of the plumbing industry nationally and members are registered in specific categories from learners through to fully qualified registered plumbers and will have identification to verify their degree of qualification in the industry.
The PIRB is not a compulsory body, but is the only tracking system available in South Africa to date that is able to reasonably keep track of who is a professional plumber and who is a phony imposter.
Most plumbers now days, more specifically the younger plumbers have not been exposed to the national sanitation regulations and have not had the advantage of attending any form of technical college to learn the theory of plumbing.
Unfortunately our government has ignored the serious plight our country is facing with their interference in the plumbing and other industries by lowering standards and allowing a quick fix approach by acknowledging that a person is able to be qualified in 12 weeks. This is the dilemma the consumer is faced with now and are therefore unable to distinguish between a professional plumber and a phony plumber.
In short, these are the steps one should adopt when attempting to identify if the plumber you are wishing to engage is registered and fully compliant in terms of local authority requirements and if all the legal aspects of the business are legitimate.
These plumbing imposters are responsible for bringing the good name of professional plumbers and the industry as a whole into disrepute since a large number of uninformed consumers will believe that these imposters represent the plumbing industry and equate their performance with that of professionals, which is like comparing chalk and cheese.
Most industries suffer similar dilemmas, but unfortunately despite the State having the powers to police and manage most industries, they simply do not have the manpower nor the ability to do so effectively, hence the flood of unqualified people entering professions they are not qualified in.
In the plumbing industry the general move is for clients/consumers to engage the services of a plumbing consultant prior to commencement ,who will manage the installation and prequalify the plumber ensuring that he is suitably qualified and fully capable of successfully carrying out and completing the work to the clients’ satisfaction.
This option allows the consumer/client peace of mind .
Gordon Parkin
Sarnia
