While the thought of government regulations may raise concerns from some, it’s clear that without some standards and regulations, our collective health and safety would too often be at risk. It’s really one of the ways representative democracy is supposed work: we elect proxies (representatives and senators) to go to state capitals and Washington D.C., where their job is to pass laws that help to protect us.

In practice, in large part because legislators often represent many different competing interests, it doesn’t always work out that way. When it doesn’t, citizen organizations may step up to the plate.

This is certainly the case for the electrical contracting and construction industry, represented by NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association) and the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers). While federal standards for electrical construction job site safety and building and construction codes have been around since the 1890s, these professional labor organizations decided that these standards – known as the National Electric Code, or NEC – needed to go further.

The NEC Guidelines
The federal NEC was first published in 1897 (when most average homes still relied on gas and oil lamps for lighting and wood-fired stoves for cooking and heating). Unfortunately, it does not have the force of law, though state and local governments have widely adopted it in establishing their own building codes. State, county and municipal legislative bodies can also amend the NEC, make changes, and even reject it in all or part.

Expanding the NEC Guidelines with the NEIS
Labor and industry leaders at NECA felt that more was needed. The National Electrical Installation Standards (NEIS) established by NECA now provides specific guidelines and best practices for electrical installations. In addition, the NEIS addresses electrical construction job site safety, addressing the maintenance and upkeep as well as proper use of the equipment used in the construction of electrical systems. These standards go beyond those of the National Electric Code and are the only standards currently meeting the criteria of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI); NEIS standards have now been adopted by ANSI.

Putting Public Safety First
Establishing more rigorous standards for installation and electrical construction job site safety is yet another example of how organized labor works for the betterment of all of society. In addition to NEIS, NECA and its affiliate organization the IBEW have established equally rigorous standards for electrical engineers, contractors and workers. Through cutting-edge training and continuing education, these labor organizations make certain that its members do their jobs to the highest standards and do them right the first time. Between NECA and IBEW concern and commitment to electrical construction job site safety and its commitment to worker quality and professionalism, the rest of us who depend on electricity to run virtually everything in our lives are assured that these things will work safely and reliably – every time.

Learn more about the NEC & NEIS Electrical Codes and Standards in this video from Electric TV.