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