Switched on to safety

TWO CRUCIAL areas related to electrical safety are safe isolation and portable appliance testing (also known as electrical equipment testing). Both are essential when electrical systems are being checked, repaired, or upgraded. Safe isolation is focused on the building’s electrical supply and is a safety process to ensure the circuit to be worked on is proved dead prior to any work commencing. PAT/Electrical equipment testing is vital to maintaining the safety of the equipment used within the building. 

An introduction to safe isolation

Electrical Safety First, the UK charity working across the electrical industry, reports that injuries caused by electrical accidents are still prevalent, highlighting just how important safe isolation procedures are on site. The Electricity at Work Regulations (EAWR) 1989 and The Management of Health and Safety Regulations at Work Regulations 1999 stipulate the steps those managing electrical work must take to ensure a safe working environment. 

The EAWR requires those engaged in electrical work to be competent to prevent danger or injury, or to be under the supervision of someone who is (Regulation 16). It also requires them to take adequate precautions to prevent electrical equipment that has been made dead from becoming electrically charged while work is being carried out (Regulation 13). 

Safe isolation and then proving dead sounds like it should be relatively simple. But establishing real confidence around the procedure, so that those carrying out work can do so without fear of harm, requires a rigorous approach to the electrical safety process. Isolation, locking off, proving dead, and labelling must be performed in a systematic and methodical manner.

Safe Isolation preparation

It’s important to choose the right equipment. A voltage indicator, proving unit, and lock-off kits should always be available. The point of isolation should be identified - it should be locked off and warning tags placed on all the equipment. A lock-off kit should include, at a minimum, a selection of MCB and breaker locks, a padlock with a unique key, and a hasp if more than one person is working on the system.

An important point to remember when working on existing sites is that labelling can be misleading. Unqualified or untrained staff could have made alterations. And even where changes are safe, the labelling might be incorrect.

Safe Isolation using the right equipment

Choosing the correct voltage indicator (VI) is essential. The best VI models use no batteries and have no ranges or switches, which makes them very user-friendly and reduces the chances of error. The unit should comply with BS EN 61243-3 and be specifically designed to meet this regulation. Another thing to look out for is whether the units have an appropriate category (CAT) and voltage safety rating following BS EN 61010, as suggested by BS EN 61243. This safety rating tells you that the unit can cope with the risks from hazardous transient impulses on the mains supply system. BS EN 61010-1 Installation Categories (CAT ratings) are based on where you are working.

The procedure for proving dead is to take the voltage indicator and check it against a known source, such as a proving unit, then test the circuit to make sure no voltage is present. Next test the voltage indicator against the known source again to prove the tester has not failed during testing.

By incorporating a dedicated proving device into an electrical safety process, the process becomes inherently more robust and reliable. Although a relatively straightforward addition, when working with or near electrical systems and equipment, a proving device can significantly reduce the risk of electrical injury.

Appliance testing

Portable Appliance Testing (PAT), sometimes referred to Electrical Equipment Testing (EET) is the term used to describe the examination of electrical appliances and equipment that have been classified as “portable”, to ensure that they are safe to use. In accordance with the Electricity at Work Regulations (1989), any electrical equipment that has the potential to cause injury must be maintained in a safe condition.

The regulations are clear in their intent but they do not specify what needs to be done, by whom or how frequently. However, there are tough sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences and the objective is to reduce the number of electricity related accidents in the workplace. 

A significant number of all reportable electrical accidents involve portable appliances and it is clear that a large number of incidents and injuries could be prevented with proper electrical checks, inspections, and safety tests.

What is classed as portable?

For the purposes of PAT regulations, portable appliances are defined as those that use a flexible cable or plug and socket. This means that if there is an appliance that has a plug that is connected to a wall socket or other electrical source it should be PAT tested. This definition includes equipment that is either hand-held or hand-operated while connected to the supply, intended to be moved while connected to the supply, or likely to be moved while connected to the supply.

Portable equipment also includes appliances which may have been fixed for security purposes, such as those in public areas of hotels or changing rooms including kettles, hairdryers and hand dryers, for instance.

PAT visual inspection, or user check?

Although many electrical safety defects can be identified by visual inspection, some types of defect can only be found by carrying out testing. It is important to note, however, that even where testing is a necessary element of the diagnostic process, a visual examination may prove critical in detecting safety issues that cannot be identified solely by testing.

A simple training programme and checklist can help to guide an initial user check, but a more formal visual inspection and testing regime carried out by a competent person may be required, depending on the type of equipment and its operating environment.

Who can carry out PAT testing?

The Code of Practice describes the need for risk assessment and the requirements for testing  to be carried out by a competent person. A competent person should be someone with adequate knowledge of electricity, electrical work, the equipment to be tested, and an overall awareness of electrical hazards to enable risk prevention. Furthermore, the person will need the right equipment to carry out the tests, the ability to use the test equipment properly, and the knowledge to be able to properly understand the test results.

The importance of training

Training is vital for understanding PAT procedures, establishing the frequency of testing, and ensuring that the testing is carried out by a competent individual. Not only are PAT training courses important for employees, but they are also critical for the companies that employ them. Training provides the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge for testing and inspecting different electrical appliances, thereby assuring the safety of the people handling them and those surrounding them.

Organisations that neglect the inspection and testing of appliances or fail to nominate a competent or appropriately trained individual, potentially risk invalidating their insurance policies and endangering lives. Should a fault arise in an appliance that is left unchecked or not properly checked by an under-qualified individual, the consequences could be significant.

PAT - How often is often enough?

When it comes to determining how often an item of electrical equipment should be tested, there are no hard and fast rules. HSE Guidelines suggest “regular testing”, and this is then interpreted as a requirement for annual testing. As circumstances and conditions of use will often vary, however, the frequency of inspection and testing will depend upon the type of equipment being used and the operating environment.

For example, a power tool used on a construction site should be examined more frequently than a lamp in a hotel bedroom or a computer in an office. The subject of Portable Appliance Testing can be really tricky for employers to navigate. Although the requirement surrounding PAT are not stipulated in law; in order to guarantee wider legal compliance, it is mandatory for employers to prove that their workforce operates within a safe environment, so regular testing of portable appliances is extremely important.

Complex regulations can be difficult to interpret, particularly when a lack of compliance can result in devastating consequences, both in terms of legal repercussions and even injury or loss of life. That is why Martindale and other test equipment manufacturers have invested in developing and manufacturing products and support services to help ensure that it is as straightforward as possible to stay safe and compliant.

In short, workplace safety for all has never been more under the spotlight. It is absolutely vital to protect both tradespeople carrying out checks and repairs, and members of the public who might be on the premises while work is undertaken or more generally in contact with, or using, electrical appliances. 

Steve Dunning is managing director at Martindale Electric. For more information, visit https://martindale-electric.co.uk