BUSINESS AND TRAINING 19

By

Rory Macnamara

The opportunity exists for unqualified people doing plumbing work to get qualified !

Whilst ARPL is not the magic answer to getting qualified , it is certainly a critical step for those who for all the reasons stated again and again over the years continue practising a trade without being qualified . In doing so , these people create problems for the customer , the professional trade , warranties , compliance , and enforcement .

The customer is placed at great risk when using an unqualified person to do plumbing work . This can potentially place the safety and health of their family at risk . So , if saving a few bucks to have a job done on the cheap is worth doing this to a family , that is criminal . Also remember that all plumbing work must be done by a qualified plumber , failing which warranties will not be honoured and finally one is upsetting the economics / sustainability of business by prostituting the honoured trade of Plumbing and Qualified Plumbers , who has studied for three / four years to earn the qualification and the right to be called a Qualified Plumber .

So , to the unqualified person doing plumbing , instead of living a hand-to-mouth existence and bringing a noble industry into disrepute , consider ARPL . Such an individual will have some experience we can accept that and by going through an ARPL these skills gained are identified and the skills still to learn are also identified and that is what one learns – leading up to a qualification which may / most likely require some formal on the job training or classroom learning . the plumbing industry , the fact remains that the Constitution of this country expressly forbids such activity . Chapter 2 section 22 of the Bill of Rights states ,

“ Every citizen has the right to choose their trade , occupation , or profession freely . The practice of a trade , occupation or profession may be regulated by law .”

The second part is often forgotten as is so often the case with South Africans who prefer to choose the part that suits their thinking . PLUMBING is regulated by law even if the word COMPETENT is used in standards . An unqualified person doing plumbing is INCOMPETENT . Having said that , there is ample opportunity for such a person to become competent .

Credit must be given to official bodies like IOPSA and PIRB which provide such opportunities at their own cost . For bodies like

“ The practice of a trade , occupation or profession may be regulated by law .”

August 2022 Volume 28 I Number 6 www . plumbingafrica . co . za