Hiya Bobbins. The following is purely my own opinion and although I am fortunate to sit on the Council I have no mandate whatsoever to speak on its behalf.
I am not convinced that if the FIA proposed a national scheme at this time that it would currently have the standing to focus the industry, to achieve any greater penetration or lead to any greater take up of accreditation than the IFE, Warrington or any other scheme currently has. Yes these schemes are all very different and some appear to offer very little to any party.
You correctly point out the RRO is a toddler and potty trained- a good analogy - but are you suggesting now is the time for the embryonic FIA Risk Assessment Council to teach it to run a 4 minute mile? The Council has only met three times!
The role of the FIA is first and formost as a trade association set up to represent the interests of the member companies, and in doing so to offer some tangible assurance of professional standards to help market the services of its members. It has done this with huge success in respect of the alarms and extinguisher branches of the fire industry. The Risk Assessment Council is embryonic, it is currently looking at what is out there and assessing the value of the existing certification schemes and where these fit within its own objectives. The Council has to establish its own standing in the National forums- Politicians, Civil Service, Enforcers, Professional Institutions and to attract a ground swell of member companies in order to have a credible voice. In all honesty we also have to attract a broad spectrum of companies if we are to be fully representative, from the one man bands to the multinationals.
A huge number of risk assessments are currently carried out by micro companies. We have to be careful as an industry body to attract and to represent the interests of all member companies.
We should not be seen as seeking to introduce additional hurdles for them to overcome simply because of the inherent weaknesses in the way the legislation was concieved, implemented and enforced. Once the membership base has become established we will then be able to assess how best to represent their interests.
In my opinion now is not the time for the FIA to try and develop its own criteria for certification scemes. To do so could easily develop into yet another betamax/VHS scenario. I agree that leadership is a great thing to aspire to but first you have to amass your troops. Its all about the right judgement over timing and readiness. The Council has some very high profile members of huge standing which should help the organisation establish a credible voice, and what we do and how we do it will determine our success in attracting new member companies.
I reckon if not already on the Council you would have a lot to offer?
