The laws of particular relevance to electric care is the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 as well as the Provision and application of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 places the duty of care upon both the company as well as the worker to make sure that the security of all individuals utilizing the work premises.
The managing of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 states:
„Every company shall make appropriate and sufficient assessment of:
(a) The threats to the health and safety of his workers to which they’re exposed whilst at work, and
(b) The hazards to make sure that the health and safety of individuals not in his employment arising out of or in relation to the conduct by him or his endeavor.“
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 states:
„‚System‘ means an electrical system in which all the electric equipment is, or may be, electrically connected to a standard source of electrical energy and contains such source and such gear“
„‚Electrical Equipment‘ includes anything used, meant to be used or installed for use, to generate, supply, transmit, transform, rectify, convert, conduct, spread, control, store, measure or use electrical energy.“
The duty on the company to ensure work gear is safe is additionally covered by The Provision and application of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. This says that „Every company shall ensure that work equipment is so constructed or adapted as to be suited to the function for which it’s used or supplied.“ (Regulation 4(1)). This consists of all work gear (fixed, mobile or transportable) linked to a wellspring of electrical energy.“
It’s clear the combination of the HSW Act 1974, the PUWER 1998 and the EAW Regulations 1989 apply to all electric equipment used in, or connected with, places of work. These cover the distribution systems down to the lowest piece of electric gear. It’s clear that there’s a prerequisite to inspect and examine all kinds of electric equipment in all work scenarios.
Alexander Melvin
PAT Testing
Safety-PAT Located at
56 Berkshire Drive, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 1SB.
Phone: 0800 612 8807
customerservice@safetypat.co.uk
http://www.safetypat.co.uk