Every electrical installation deteriorates over time and to ensure the safety of users it is important that the electrics of your building are tested at appropriate intervals. Not only does this ensure the safety of your employees and visitors, it also safeguards your organisation when it comes to your insurance company and of course abides by the Health and Safety regulations.
The laws covering Periodic Inspection and Testing are as follows:
Increasingly, insurers are insisting that inspection and testing be carried out on a regular basis. If an avoidable accident or a fire occurs where electricity is suspected to have been the cause, 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.
A visiting inspector will not necessarily identify the need to maintain electrical safety at every inspection he makes, especially if there are other issues to be addressed. Because testing has not been specifically demanded does not mean that the legal requirements to comply with electrical safety do not apply.
Inspection and testing will establish if an installation is safe for users and the Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) produced from the testing will tell you the overall condition of the electrics, whether they are satisfactory for continued use and detail any work that might need to be done.
"Under UK law the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSW Act) in Great Britain or the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 in Northern Ireland employers are responsible for ensuring the safety and health of their employees and also the public, if they are at risk from those work activities. This includes electrical safety. ;
Electrical Inspectors aim to reduce the number of electrical accidents by enforcing the law, providing advice on good working practices, and developing guidance in response to technical changes in equipment and working methods.
Electrical Inspectors work in cooperation with other responsible bodies including The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) , Local Authority Standards departments and The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem )."
If you have any questions about Periodic Inspection and Testing or would like to arrange a site visit for your upcoming electrical testing, contact Stephanie by calling 02380 610101 or email stephanie@intersafe.co.uk to book an appointment. Intersafe have been delivering tailored solutions and safeguarding organisations for over 20 years. They are specialist in Periodic Inspection and Testing, PAT Testing and Thermal Imaging.