44 LAST WORD REVISITED !
World Plumbing Day
By
Rory Macnamara
This day was created by the World Plumbing Council ( WPC ) some years ago to recognise plumbing . The day is the 11 March every year .
Credit to the companies that do good work on this day in the service of the poorer schools , townships , and other places of need .
In addition to these good works , I would like to add another idea for the plumbing teams . Simply , in our busy days and nights , competing or not with the unqualified , incompetent , and noncompliant person , the Four Pillars of Plumbing remain a constant reminder of why we are in this business , as well as the high standard given to the practice of the trade , one of the oldest in the world , if not the oldest ! ( A discussion for another time .)
• Fact : We are fighting against a price-driven market .
• Fact : We are constantly inundated with cheap and nasty non-compliant products .
• Fact : We sometimes wonder what we are doing in this business .
• Fact : We sometimes forget the essential service we offer .
• Fact : We forget how proud we should be of our trade , our staff and our customers and our workmanship .
“ The ‘ Four Pillars of Plumbing ’ remain a constant reminder of why we are in this business .”
The four pillars are a constant reminder of why we are doing what we do , and doing it as well as we do against the odds . ( These pillars are not to be confused with the IOPSA / PIRB strategy pillars we are reporting on in a five part series .)
As qualified plumbers and compliant companies we go high . We do not stoop down to the level of cheap and nasty . One comment on the PPSA WhatsApp put it simply when the plumber was told by the customer that he has a cheaper price and the plumber ’ s reply was , “ Here ’ s my card , call me when you need the cheap installation fixed !” that is going high , politely .
So , Plumbing Africa ’ s contribution to World Plumbing Day is to provide high resolution artwork of the four pillars only as placed on our cover of the 2021 directory for you to use as you choose in your workplace or vehicles , to constantly remind us of the importance of why we do what we do , and discuss with your team the real meaning of the pillars . ( reproduce just the 4 pillars )
PARTICIPATION
PRACTICES
PRODUCTS
PROTECTION
Primarily the training requirements to work in the industry .
Standards and accountability in day-today work in the industry .
Features and quality of the materials , fittings and appliances used in industry .
Measures to minimise risks and provide redress when failures occur .
For your copy of the artwork , email me at rory @ interactmedia . co . za . PA
www . plumbingafrica . co . za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline March 2021 Volume 27 I Number 1