Regulation four of the 1989 electricity at work regulations states that all electrical appliances and systems should meet all the required British standards and crucially, be maintained as such. In addition any non-electrical works should be carried out within well-defined distances of such devices and systems. As required by Health and Safety legislation, the employer is required to provide any necessary protective equipment and cater for its storage and maintenance.
A component of DPG’s obligations under the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC) is to advise employers through our team of qualified electricians, how they can meet these legal obligations. However, we also advise that employers consult the relevant documents on the main health and safety Executive (HSE) website, where the address and other contact details of the nearest HSE office can be found
In addition to many industries and workplaces, the HSE and the local authority cooperate by means of a liaison committee, how this applies to a particular premises can be established with the HSE.
Testing and suitability regulations.
Every year the HSE publishes electrical accident statistics and through the various reports that quantify accidents in the workplace a clear emphasis is placed on regular testing and maintenance. A DPG electrician will also impart the value of checking electrical equipment for signs of wear and /or deterioration. We believe in preventing and predicting as much as possible, the likely occurrence of an electrical accident.
The electrical works and checks carried out by our electricians ensures that the equipment in question meets the requirements of regulation four outlined above. This is achieved by ensuring that the equipment is fit for purpose and is suitably located for the function it is designed to carry out. Such requirements are an obligation under regulations five to eleven of the 1989 Act. The key points in these regulations are:
– Regulation five states that no equipment should be connected or used in such a way that danger or accident is likely.
– Regulation six states that all equipment that is to be used in a harsh or demanding environment must be constructed and orientated such that the danger does not arise. For example, insulation cable on the shop floor of a chemical works must not react if it comes into contact with corrosive chemicals.
– Regulations seven, eight and ten refer to earthing, connectors and conduction. In short, the electricity must be conducted through the circuit and nowhere else.
In summary, a DPG electrician will be able to provide all the advice you need in meeting your obligations under the 1974 Health and safety at work act.