PAT Testing Procedure Shared Practice

Transcription

1 PAT Testing Procedure Shared Practice Origin Housing

2 PAT Testing Department: Health & Safety Author: Jane Fraser, Health & Safety Manager Date Issued: Date the policy is valid from Date of next review: Version: 1.0 Approved by: Health & Safety Committee Date approved: 8/7/15 CONTENTS 1 Introduction 1 2 Responsibilities 2 3 Controls 2 4 Information, instruction and supervision 6 Version Control Item Reason for Change Officer/Manager Version Date 1 Jane Fraser 1.0 April

3 PURPOSE This Procedure describes the arrangements which must be made to ensure that all portable and transportable electrical appliances owned by the Company are subject to user checks, formal visual inspections or combined inspection and testing at frequencies appropriate to the level of risk of electric shock from the equipment or associated leads and plugs. DEFINITIONS Portable appliance: - An appliance of less than 18 kg in mass that is intended to be moved while in operation, or an appliance which can easily be moved from one place to another, e.g. toaster, food mixer, vacuum cleaner, fan heater. Movable equipment (sometimes called transportable): - This is equipment which is either 18 kg or less in mass and not fixed, e.g. electric fire, or equipment with wheels, castors or other means to facilitate movement by the operator as required to perform its intended use, e.g. air conditioning unit. Hand-held appliances or equipment: - This is portable equipment intended to be held in the hand during normal use, e.g. hair dryer, drill, soldering iron. Stationary equipment or appliances: - This equipment has a mass exceeding 18 kg and is not provided with a carrying handle, e.g. refrigerator, washing machine. Fixed equipment/appliances: - This is equipment or an appliance which is fastened to a support or otherwise secured in a specified location, e.g. bathroom heater, towel rail. Appliances/equipment for building in: - This equipment is intended to be installed in a prepared recess such as a cupboard or similar. In general, equipment for building in does not have an enclosure on all sides because on one or more of the sides, additional protection against electric shock is provided by the surroundings e.g. a built-in electric cooker. Information technology equipment (business equipment): - Information technology equipment includes electrical business equipment such as computers and mains powered telecommunications equipment, and other equipment for general business use, such as mail processing machines, VDUs, data terminal equipment, typewriters, telephones, printers, photo-copiers, power packs. User checks: - visual checks for damage to the outside of the equipment and its lead and plug by the person using the equipment. Where we are looking at the equipment we provide for the residents the estates inspection form has a section on checking equipment. For care and support this is in the fire safety check list Formal visual inspections: - Is an inspections by a competent person and is formally recorded which include visual checks and additional checks which could include removal of the plug cover (unless plug is moulded) and a check made that a fuse is being used, the cord grip is effective, the cable terminations are secure and correct, including an earth where appropriate, and there is no sign of 2

4 internal damage, overheating etc. Combined inspection and tests: - This is a formally recorded inspection and test that is carried out by a competent person to detect faults which may not be apparent by visual checks and inspections. As a minimum qualification the person should hold C&G Certificate of Competence for the Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment. RESPONSIBILITIES FM Managers for offices and property services for tenant accommodation must ensure: A register of all Company equipment (including electrical equipment) is drawn up and maintained for the location / mobile or home-based employee. Include those not frequently used such as Christmas tree lights. This is to include office equipment, care and support, hospitals, community halls, intermediate and market rent along with communal areas where items are provided. The list must also include estate services and HIA equipment. The frequency of inspection and / or testing (and calibration, where appropriate) is determined for each item of equipment with reference to Appendix 1 frequencies of this Procedure and carried out. Appropriate entries are made in the register to verify results of inspections and / or tests. The register is kept up to date by detailing new and removing old equipment. Defective equipment is withdrawn from use until a competent person repairs it or scrapped where appropriate. The use of personal electrical equipment (i.e. mobile phones) for staff at location is prohibited (or this equipment is included in the register and inspected and / or tested at Company expense if appropriate). Home workers/ Mobile workers are notified when inspections and / or tests are being carried out so that they can ensure Company-owned equipment they use at home is included Staff are instructed and trained in the correct and safe use of electrical equipment and told never to use defective or damaged items. Equipment brought onto sites by Origin contractors has been inspected and / or tested and labelled accordingly. Employees are expected to: Look critically at electrical equipment, leads and plugs for visual signs of damage before use. Avoid using defective or damaged items and report such equipment to their Manager. Co-operate with local arrangements on the inspection and testing of Company equipment. LEGAL REQUIREMENTS Electricity at Work Regulations Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 3

5 Health and Safety at Work Act Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (IEE). CONTROLS CONSTRUCTION OF THE EQUIPMENT There are a number of types of equipment construction that are referred to in all standards for electrical equipment. They are important because they determine how the user is protected against electric shock and describe appropriate tests to apply when assessing safety. Class I This is equipment (including appliances and tools) where protection is achieved by: Using basic insulation and providing a means of connecting to the earthing conductor in the fixed installation wiring Where equipment is intended to be used with a power supply flexible cable, there must be a protective earthing conductor incorporated in the cable. Class I equipment relies for its safety upon a satisfactory earth in the fixed installation and an adequate connection. Examples of class I equipment include toasters, kettles, washing machines, lathes, pillar drills. Class II Class II equipment (commonly known as double insulated ) is equipment in which protection against electric shock is provided by basic insulation and additional safety precautions such as supplementary or reinforced insulation. There is no provision for protective earthing or reliance upon installation conditions. Class II equipment may be of one of the following basic types: Equipment having a durable and substantially continuous electrical enclosure of insulating material which envelops all conductive parts with the exception of small parts such as name plates, drill chucks, screws and rivets which are isolated from live parts by insulation at least equivalent to reinforced insulation. Most modern garden tools such as hedge trimmers, lawn mowers and also food mixers, drills, table lamps etc. and should display the following symbol: Extension leads The use of extension leads should be avoided where possible. If used, they should be tested portable appliances. It is recommended that 3-core leads (including a protective earthing 4

6 conductor) be used. A standard 13 A 3-pin extension socket-outlet with a 2-core cable should never be used even if the appliance to be used is Class II, as it would not provide protection against electric shock if used at any time with an item of Class I equipment. TYPES OF INSPECTION AND TESTING Three types of inspection and testing are described in the Code of Practice, suggested initial frequency of inspection and testing of equipment are given in the Appendix to this Procedure: User checks (visual) Employees who use electrical equipment must be encouraged to visually check it before use and to listen for sounds that suggest the equipment may be defective, for example: Damage (apart from light scuffing) to the cable sheath Damage to the plug such as cracked casing or bent pins Inadequate joints, including taped joints in the cable Insecure cable sheath where it enters the plug or equipment. Obvious evidence would be if the coloured insulation of the internal cable cores were showing Conditions the equipment is not suitable for e.g. wet or contaminated areas Damage to the casing or loose parts or screws Evidence of overheating (burn marks or discoloration) Unusual noises, vibration, smells or vapours / smoke. The checks also apply to extension leads and associated plugs and sockets. The user should make visual checks before and during use. Any faults should be reported to the Manager and taken out of use immediately. (e.g. the defective equipment should be labelled as faulty and its associated plug removed). Formal visual inspections The most important component of a maintenance regime is usually the formal visual inspection, carried out routinely by a trained person. Such inspections can pick up most potentially dangerous faults and they should include the visual checks listed above but carried out in a more formal and systematic manner. Additional items which should be inspected include: The removal of plug covers to check that the fuse inside the plug is correctly rated. A check to ensure the cord grip is effective and secure A check to verify cable terminations are correctly wired and secure including earth connections Looking for signs of internal damage, overheating or ingress of liquid or foreign matter. Check for good housekeeping to ensure that the equipment is installed and operated in accordance with the manufactures instructions. Check the means of disconnection from the supply under all conditions. 5

7 There is no need to take equipment apart during a formal visual inspection since this should only be done when conducting a combined inspection and test. Combined inspection and tests The purpose of the inspection and test is to detect faults which may not be apparent by visual checks and inspections e.g. loss of earth integrity or deterioration of insulation integrity. It should be carried out by someone who is competent in the safe use of the test equipment and who knows how to interpret the results obtained. This person must be capable of inspecting the equipment and, where necessary, dismantling it to check the cable connections. Care must always be exercised when conducting tests. Remember, inappropriate tests can damage equipment. Combined inspection and testing is the only reliable way of detecting such faults, and should be carried out to a set program. This program should be at periods appropriate to the equipment, the manner and frequency of use and the environment and should also be undertaken after any repair, modification or similar work. Arrangements to be made for new equipment owned by Origin The initial integrity (safety) of new work equipment when first supplied is covered by several pieces of legislation, and in most cases (e.g. office equipment etc.) it can simply be added to the register of Company equipment and should be covered by the normal cycle of inspections or combined inspection and tests when these are next carried out on site. However equipment with a higher risk of damage or used in harsher environments e.g. fabric workshop equipment, landscaping or cleaning equipment should be inspected before initial use. Equipment owned by Third Parties Where Origin employ contractors whose work involves the use of portable electrical appliances on sites, the Manager responsible for the contractor s activities must ensure the equipment has been inspected and/or tested, is in date and has been labelled accordingly. INFORMATION, TRAINING AND COMPETENCE User checks All employees using equipment should be encouraged to do this and for most, specific training will not be required but it may help to issue checklists. However for higher-risk groups using hand-held equipment such as Cleaners and Engineers simple training should be given via Toolbox Talks. 6

8 Combined inspection and tests This requires a person who is competent in the safe use of the test equipment and who knows how to interpret the results obtained. Greater knowledge and experience is needed than that required for inspection alone, because the tests may require interpretation and appropriate electrical knowledge will be needed. The following are the minimum competency requirements: As a minimum qualification the person should hold City & Guilds Certificate of Competence for the Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (C&G 2377 series), or a qualified electrician. CONTROLS AND RISK ASSURANCE The responsible officer, M&E Manager, in order to ensure this policy and procedure is being followed, will: RECORDS Monthly, provide an update report detailing performance against targets to the Property Services HH&S meeting Quarterly, The AD of property Services will provide an update to the Origin H&S committee Annually, details of compliance and material issues will be provided by the Director of Housing Services (November) to the Origin Board through a detailed report of performance and compliance to the Origin Audit Committee. The following records should be established and maintained: A register of all equipment, which within origin is held by Fm services for offices and property services for all other locations. A record of formal and combined inspections and tests which is held by FM and Property services. All equipment formally inspected and tested should be labelled These records may be retained on paper or electronically. Previous test results must be made available to subsequent testers. Records should be maintained by the person / contractor carrying out the inspection and testing: Copy of the formal visual inspection and combined inspection and test results Register of all equipment repaired. FURTHER READING Memorandum of guidance on the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 HS(R)25 HSE Books Maintaining portable and transportable electrical equipment HS(G)107 HSE Books Maintaining portable electrical equipment in offices and other low-risk environments INDG236 HSE 7

9 FEI Recommendations for periodic safety checks for business equipment Federation of the Electronics Industry Electricity at work safe working practices HS(G)85 HSE Books Safety in electrical testing at work general guidance INDG354 HSE Books Safety in electrical testing Engineering Information Sheets HSE Books Electrical test equipment for use by electricians GS38 HSE Books Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing 8

10 Appendix1- suggested initial maintenance intervals from British Standards Type of Premises Construction sites 110 V } equipment } } Industrial including commercial kitchens Equipment used by the public Offices Type of Equipment Note (1) User Checks Note (2) Formal Visual Inspection Note (3) Class I Combined Inspection and Testing Note (5) Formal Visual Inspection Note (3) Class II Note (4) Combined Inspection and Testing Note (5) S 1 month 3 months 1 month 3 months IT 1 month 3 months 1 month 3 months M# 1 month 3 months 1 month 3 months P# 1 month 3 months 1 month 3 months H# 1 month 3 months 1 month 3 months S IT M O P H S IT M P H S IT M P H before use before use before use Note (6)+ Note (6)+ Note (6)+ Note (6)+ Note (6)+ before use 1 month 1 month 1 month monthly monthly 48 months 48 months 3 months 3 months 3 months 3 months 3 months 1 month 1 month 1 month S T M P H Stationary equipment Information Technology equipment Movable equipment Portable equipment Hand-held equipment User checks are not recorded unless a fault is found. The formal visual inspection may form part of the combined inspection and tests when they coincide, and must be recorded. If class of equipment is not known, it must be tested as Class I. The results of combined inspections and tests are recorded. 110 V earthed centre tapped supply. 230V portable or hand-held equipment must be supplied via a 30 ma RCD and inspections and tests carried out more frequently. The information on suggested initial frequencies given above has been obtained from the COP and is more detailed and specific than HSE guidance, but is not considered to be inconsistent with it. Additional maintenance information Origin will follow the guidance set out in appendix 1 for the offices and care and support. Origin has reviewed the guidance above as well as HSG107 and has adopted a risk based approach to the PAT testing for HMO s and determined the frequency for formal inspection will be every 3 9

11 months as it is deemed that although the facilities are used by all tenants it is not general public and thereby the usage is reduced along with the risk of misuse which will be managed through the neighbourhoods inspection sheet currently used. In terms of market rent and intermediate rent the tenants will have sole use of the equipment and again the usage is reduced along with risk of misuse. These will have an inspection and test every for all equipment types. Origin has a number of community halls where electrical appliances are provided for public use. For the purposes of PAT this will be required to be tested 6 monthly due to the use of the equipment. Origin has reviewed all the property types in its portfolio and has determined that there are particular risks regarding equipment such as personal fridges, kettles and microwaves that is being brought into properties by Enfield single housing tenants and by hospital accommodations where staff are coming from outside the EU. For those property types it has been determined that all equipment in the properties shall be tested regardless of ownership. 10

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