This article written by Mike Gulledge, Consultant, Thornton Fence Consulting Group and AFA Past President – Gulf South Chapter
You say you are against regulation because only the registered get regulated. While that may be true, there is some comfort in knowing that at least SOMEONE out there is doing that job according to whatever the standards are for that industry.
Take driver’s licenses – Everyone that drives are SUPPOSED to have one. Why? To make sure that the person that is driving that lethal weapon on the highway has the knowledge to drive SAFELY. No, not everyone may have a license, but so, we don’t require a license for anyone. NO.
What about the person that does electrical wiring? He is SUPPOSED to have a license, again to make sure that he has the knowledge to do that wiring according to the local standards and does it correctly AND SAFELY. Can you sneak around and do some wiring without a license? Yes, but that doesn’t make it right.
Take permitting. In East Baton Rouge Parish, a fence above four feet tall is supposed to have a permit issued by the permitting department. Why? To ensure that fence is not installed incorrectly on the neighbor’s property and that the fence is built to the code of the parish. Do all fence companies acquire a permit before starting the job? No! Those guys try to “cheat” the system and save money AND potentially cause a headache for the homeowner if that job is ever discovered. It’s a roll of the dice and the fence guy probably wins. Does that make it right? NO!
What about elevators? That industry is regulated to, again, ensure that the person that installs the elevator does it correctly AND SAFELY. But not everyone may have a license. But does that mean we don’t regulate it at all? NO
The reasoning you have for not having regulation or retro-inspections of gate operator systems was that it may “cripple” the guy that did that installation last year because he just may not have the money to now go back on that job and bring that installation up to the standards that regulate the industry, and it may run him out of business. That’s HIS fault. Not anyone else’s. And you say that the property owner is going to suffer. So, we don’t try to regulate the industry and get the job done correctly the first time?
I say that IF the installation had been done correctly in the beginning, then that installer would not have that situation now.
I say the only reason for not regulating any industry is so that a businessman may cut corners and not do the installation up to the standards, that by the way, are there to provide SAFETY! And cutting corners, to me, is cheating. And I’m not sorry I see it that way.
Ask the industry how they want to be viewed. Do they want to be seen as an industry of people that cut corners, do the minimum NEEDED? Or an industry that has reputable business owners that have their customers safety and welfare in their hearts? I’ll take that bet! PROVE ME WRONG! Mike Gulledge, a lifelong fence man