So what鈥檚 all the fuss about The Consulting Association鈥檚 building workers blacklist?

What鈥檚 wrong with a register of workers that accurately lists their skills 鈥� and their failings? We all know of supposedly 鈥榮killed鈥� workers that can鈥檛 hold a screwdriver, much less a conversation in English.

You can鈥檛 say that, I hear you say. Yes I can. If a driverless forklift truck is heading towards my back at a rate of knots, I want someone to shout me a warning in a language I can understand. Similarly, if a 鈥榯radesman鈥� is considered incompetent, why should I employ him, or want him stood next to me when I鈥檓 tinkering in a switchroom?

In these days of red tape, political correctness, and more rules and regulations than you can shake a hammer at, don鈥檛 we want to know who is safe to work alongside and who isn鈥檛? Isn鈥檛 it our right to know?

Surely a register of some sort is exactly what is needed? That is apparent, judging by the calibre of the sizeable companies that made use of the list 鈥� NG Bailey, Haden Young, Balfour Kilpatrick, and so on.

How exactly does such a list set out to 鈥渞uin construction workers鈥� lives鈥�? Surely, such a list, if properly compiled, will actually protect construction workers鈥� lives?

Andrew Ferguson, Solent Power Systems, Wiltshire

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor