Occupational Health and Safety » Electrical Safety in the Workplace: what are you obligated to
Electrical Safety in the Workplace: what are you obligated to
Article:
The maze of regulations and rules surrounding businesses can be
blinding at the best of times, but the last thing you want to do
is break a rule that is easy to put in place. Whether you're a
new business owner, or manager of an established business with
new equipment, electrical safety in the workplace is one
requirement that can be easily fulfilled.
While the law does not require electrical testing to be carried
out, it does require your electrical equipment to be safe at all
times. Electricity will always find the easiest path to earth.
Any faults or weaknesses within your electrical installation or
portable appliances can go undetected. In the event of another
fault developing, this could lead to serious risk of fire,
electrocution or death. For example, a 13-amp ring-main without
earth continuity could render all metal parts of appliances
plugged into it "LIVE" if one item on the ring developed a fault
to earth. In 1989 The Electricity at Work Regulations came into
force, which clarifies the need to maintain electrical systems
safely. Regulations require that "all electrical tools and
equipment used by construction workers must be safe to use" and
that "any electric tools hired out to end-users must be safe to
use". In the workplace the regulations specify that employers
take steps to limit the risk of harm from electricity and
electrical systems, and this includes both electrical
installations and electrical equipment.
These regulations apply to most electrical equipment - consumer,
commercial and industrial - operating between 50 volts and 1,000
volts AC or between 75 volts and 1,500 volts DC.
The only way to ensure every effort is made towards a safe
workplace, and to ensure you can back up your hard work if
things go wrong, is to have regular electrical testing carried
out on all the electrical equipment at your workplace. This will
accurately identify faults, their locations and usually the
recommended solution.
Increasingly, insurers are insisting that inspection and testing
be carried out on a regular basis. If you suffer an avoidable
accident, then under law if found guilty you will be deemed to
have committed a criminal offence. Insurers will not pay fines
or compensation suffered resulting from a criminal offence
Compared to the hassle and possible costs of a problem
developing, getting your installations and appliances tested is
easy and normally quite affordable.
The IEE recommend that Electrical Installations are tested every
10 years (for domestic), 5 years (for commercial) or 3 years
(for industrial). Depending on the risk-rating for a particular
item, Portable Appliance Testing should be carried out every
3-24 months. High risk items include site equipment and workshop
equipment, often involved in heavy workloads under arduous
conditions , and far more likely to develop a fault in a shorter
period of time than office equipment.
Worries over power-interruptions and work disruption can be
eased, as electrical testing rarely causes such delays. A short
power outage can be expected on each circuit within the system
as testing is carried out, but because most of the testing is
carried out whilst the system is still live, these outages can
be planned around your daily activities.
When choosing an Electrical Testing Surveyor or other contractor
to carry out your tests, ensure they charge by circuit numbers
and not floor space (which has no bearing on how much circuitry
there may or may not be in any given square foot). Also ensure
you are going to receive proper and elaborative reports and
paperwork for your reports, to give you ample documentation for
your efforts.
It is also a good idea to look for a company that holds a
certificate from the UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation
Service), ensuring they are accredited with the appropriate
qualifications and standards for the job.
Finding such a qualified professional to carry out your
electrical testing satisfies all of the legal requirements for
your workplace, and covers you and your employees for the future
in the eyes of the law - subject, of course, to any remedial
work requirements being addressed as identified by testing.
About the author:
About the Author: Electrical Testing Surveyors Ltd are a
well established and fully qualified electrical installation and
portable appliance testing company, able to provide testing to
companies and organisations all over the UK. You can reach them
at info@electrical-testi
ng.co.uk and find more information on their website.
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