We return again in this post, to the somewhat misunderstood area of Testing and Inspecting.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (EAW Regulations) have been in force since the
1st of April 1990. This important regulation requires that all electrical systems to be installed and crucially, maintained to a safe standard and to ensure that all reasonable precautions are taken against the risk of death or personal injury from electricity in work activities.
These Regulations are made under The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSW Act), with the onus of absolute responsibility resting with employers, who are ultimately responsible for ensuring the health and safety of their employees But what is sometimes disregarded, is that this responsibility is extended to any member of the public who may be on the premises, and to ensure that they too, are not at risk from their activities – there is no exception.
Lets be very clear at this stage – Electricity is a killer and regrettably, even now, there are many avoidable deaths that occur because of unsafe installations.
We see here many instances of unsafe working practices where serious injury or death could arise – amongst those that we hear of are:
• Control of site earthworks, and buried cables
• Use of poorly maintained electrical equipment
• Dangerous Mains electricity supplies
• Use of unsuitable electrical equipment in explosive areas such as car paint spraying booths
• Fires started by poor electrical installations and faulty electrical appliances – all of which cause
many additional deaths and injuries.
We are now calling upon the great and the good in the electrical industry to try and lobby for a change of attitude and if needs be, a change in the law so that ALL premises – commercial, industrial and domestic – are periodically inspected and tested to the necessary standard to ensure that electrical safety is not compromised.
It came to late though for a single mother of 2 children, who died because of corrosion of the main cpc – to repeat the words of the coroner, “Anyone who has listened to the evidence today cannot but have been starkly reminded of the potential perils of electricity in our homes. But there is no requirement for periodic inspections of electricity in our homes, and that to me, seems inexplicable”
This tragic death can and should have been avoided – please post your comments on this blog