b'22 Member News March 2022Solving societal challengesA spotlight on individual professional competence for those in safety critical rolesBy Keith Marshall OBE BSc FCGI CEng HonFIETAs Conference Chair, Im delighted to be able to shineof individualsspecification a light, via the IETs National Conference, on thewithin engineering competences. Alasdair explained the requirement importance of the individual professional competencefor periodic revalidation of of those working in safety critical roles within theprescribed competence.electrotechnical and building service sectors. Part 1 ofOur Conference discussion panel the virtual Conference took place on 31 January 2022.with Graham Kenyon CEng MIET Part 2 will take place virtually on 21 February 2022. and speakers Charlie Pugsley, Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Our keynote speaker Dame JudithIET President, Sir Julian Young,London Fire Brigade and Chris Hackitt HonFIET who led the Grenfellalso shared his support atNorris, Director, National fire inquiry, explained how herthe Conference to drive upLandlords Association, shared review showed a current regulatorycompetence and professionalismtheir concerns about public system for ensuring fire safety inwithin the electrotechnical safety and ensuring transparency high rise and complex buildingssector with a specific focus about who is actually carrying as weak and ineffective with littleon technicians. out the works in buildings or no enforcement. Dame Judithand homes and the current showed a system that was broken,If we are working towards ancompetence and continuing not fit for purpose and that neededoutcomes-based framework toprofessional development to be fixed. Industry behaviourdrive ownership and accountability(CPD) of those individuals.was characterised as a race to thefor those involved in high risk bottom with significant evidencebuildings, surely we must allI am interested in your views, of gaming the system. In addition,step up and really get behindengineering commitment and a lack of assured competence andthis to ensure those doing thepassion to support the delivery quality assurance right across thework can demonstrate they knowof quality buildings where we can sector. It highlighted unspokenwhat they have done and howall feel safe to live and work in. knowledge regarding shortcutsthey manage and reduce risk.The National Conference being taken and no real actionAlasdair Coates, CEO of thespeakers provides us with for potential consequences.Engineering Council, highlighteda platform to move things the relevance of a sector specificforward, to support the We need to come togethercompetence framework and inprofessional journey of technical with employers andparticular, the contextualisedstaff and moreover to drive version of UK SPEC v4.0 whichchange. Individual professional collectively support changeembeds BSIs overarchingcompetence assurance and by putting in a new regimeframework for the competence systems thinking is essential.that is underpinned by keyI hope you will join me for Part 2 of the Conference on 21 February principles. A systems-based2022. To register for this, please email: electechs@theiet.orgapproach that has individual Join me, as part of an IET National Advisory Group, to drive a competence, accountabilitysolutions approach where the focus on individual professional and responsibility at its core. competence really matters. Email: electechs@theiet.org'