THE LAW
Refer to; (The IEE Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment)
General
This Code of Practice has been prepared by the Institution of Electrical Engineers
with a view to determining the inspections and tests necessary to ensure that
electrical equipment is maintained properly so as to prevent danger. Although
reference is made to legislation, this chapter should not be considered as
legal advice. In cases of doubt, the specific legislation mentioned should be
consulted and legal advice obtained.
In recent years the responsibilities for safety of persons at work have been
prescribed in much legislation, some of which is listed in Appendix II.
The legislation of specific relevance to electrical maintenance is the Health and
Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Management of Health and Safety at Work
Regulations 1999, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, the Workplace
(Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and the Provision and Use of Work
Equipment Regulations 1998.
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 puts
a duty of care upon both employer and employee
to ensure the safety of all persons using the work premises.
This includes the self-employed.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 state:
"Every employer shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of:
(a) the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst
they are at work, and
(b) the risks to the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of
or in connection with the conduct by him of his undertaking".
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 state:
"Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is so constructed or adapted as to be
suitable for the purpose for which it is used or provided".
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) cover most risks
that can result from using work equipment. With respect to risks from
electricity, compliance with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 is likely
to achieve compliance with PUWER regulations 5-9, 19 and 22.
PUWER only applies to work equipment used by workers at work. This includes all work
equipment (fixed, portable or transportable) connected to a source of electrical
energy. PUWER does not apply to the fixed installations in a building. The
electrical safety of these installations is dealt with only by the Electricity
at Work Regulations.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 state:
"As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to
prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, such danger".
"'System' means an electrical system in which all the electrical equipment is, or may
be, electrically connected to a common source of electrical energy and includes
such source and such equipment".
"Electrical equipment includes anything used, intended to be used or installed for use, to
generate, provide, transmit, transform, rectify, convert, conduct, distribute,
control, store, measure or use electrical energy".
Scope of the legislation
It is clear that the combination of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974,
the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and the Electricity at
Work Regulations 1989 apply to all electrical equipment used in, or associated
with, places of work. The scope extends from distribution systems, be they 400
kV or simply those in buildings, down to the smallest piece of electrical
equipment such as a hairdryer, a VDU, a telephone or even in some situations
battery-operated equipment.
Who is responsible?
Everyone at work has their responsibilities including, in certain circumstances,
trainees. However, because of the all-embracing responsibilities of all persons
this does not minimise the duties of particular persons. Regulation 3 of the
Electricity at Work Regulations recognises a responsibility (control) that
employers and many employees have for electrical systems.
"It shall be the duty of every employer and self-employed person to comply with the
provisions of these Regulations in so far as they relate to matters which are
within his control.
It shall be the duty of every employee while at work:
(a) to co-operate with his employer so far as is necessary to enable any duty placed on
that employer by the provisions of these Regulations to be complied with; and
(b) to comply with the
provisions of these Regulations in so far as they relate to matters which are
within his control".
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 requires every employer to
ensure that equipment is suitable for the use for which it is provided
and only used for work for which it is suitable. They require
every employer to ensure equipment is maintained in good order and
inspected as necessary to ensure it is maintained in a safe condition.
This Code of Practice considers normal business premises such as shops, offices and
workplaces and restricts advice to non-specialist installations and equipment
that are commonly encountered.
Useful Links; to regularly maintain you're portable appliances for electrical safety.
Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.
The management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
The Provision & Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.
Refer to; (The IEE Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment)
General
This Code of Practice has been prepared by the Institution of Electrical Engineers
with a view to determining the inspections and tests necessary to ensure that
electrical equipment is maintained properly so as to prevent danger. Although
reference is made to legislation, this chapter should not be considered as
legal advice. In cases of doubt, the specific legislation mentioned should be
consulted and legal advice obtained.
In recent years the responsibilities for safety of persons at work have been
prescribed in much legislation, some of which is listed in Appendix II.
The legislation of specific relevance to electrical maintenance is the Health and
Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Management of Health and Safety at Work
Regulations 1999, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, the Workplace
(Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and the Provision and Use of Work
Equipment Regulations 1998.
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 puts
a duty of care upon both employer and employee
to ensure the safety of all persons using the work premises.
This includes the self-employed.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 state:
"Every employer shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of:
(a) the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst
they are at work, and
(b) the risks to the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of
or in connection with the conduct by him of his undertaking".
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 state:
"Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is so constructed or adapted as to be
suitable for the purpose for which it is used or provided".
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) cover most risks
that can result from using work equipment. With respect to risks from
electricity, compliance with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 is likely
to achieve compliance with PUWER regulations 5-9, 19 and 22.
PUWER only applies to work equipment used by workers at work. This includes all work
equipment (fixed, portable or transportable) connected to a source of electrical
energy. PUWER does not apply to the fixed installations in a building. The
electrical safety of these installations is dealt with only by the Electricity
at Work Regulations.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 state:
"As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to
prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, such danger".
"'System' means an electrical system in which all the electrical equipment is, or may
be, electrically connected to a common source of electrical energy and includes
such source and such equipment".
"Electrical equipment includes anything used, intended to be used or installed for use, to
generate, provide, transmit, transform, rectify, convert, conduct, distribute,
control, store, measure or use electrical energy".
Scope of the legislation
It is clear that the combination of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974,
the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and the Electricity at
Work Regulations 1989 apply to all electrical equipment used in, or associated
with, places of work. The scope extends from distribution systems, be they 400
kV or simply those in buildings, down to the smallest piece of electrical
equipment such as a hairdryer, a VDU, a telephone or even in some situations
battery-operated equipment.
Who is responsible?
Everyone at work has their responsibilities including, in certain circumstances,
trainees. However, because of the all-embracing responsibilities of all persons
this does not minimise the duties of particular persons. Regulation 3 of the
Electricity at Work Regulations recognises a responsibility (control) that
employers and many employees have for electrical systems.
"It shall be the duty of every employer and self-employed person to comply with the
provisions of these Regulations in so far as they relate to matters which are
within his control.
It shall be the duty of every employee while at work:
(a) to co-operate with his employer so far as is necessary to enable any duty placed on
that employer by the provisions of these Regulations to be complied with; and
(b) to comply with the
provisions of these Regulations in so far as they relate to matters which are
within his control".
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 requires every employer to
ensure that equipment is suitable for the use for which it is provided
and only used for work for which it is suitable. They require
every employer to ensure equipment is maintained in good order and
inspected as necessary to ensure it is maintained in a safe condition.
This Code of Practice considers normal business premises such as shops, offices and
workplaces and restricts advice to non-specialist installations and equipment
that are commonly encountered.
Useful Links; to regularly maintain you're portable appliances for electrical safety.
Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.
The management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
The Provision & Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.