Electricity
Safety Policy Arrangement 3-2002 (rev. 2012)
Policy Statement
Electrical accidents are often serious and almost always avoidable. The University of Dundee will comply with relevant legislation on electricity, train staff and students in the risks of electricity and safe working procedures, and ensure that contractors comply with both national standards and local safety rules.
Arrangements
Anyone, employee or contractor, who works on a fixed electrical installation must be competent to carry out that work safely and be authorised by Director of Campus Services. Such competence includes special training as necessary, for example for High Voltage work.
Anyone, employee or contractor, who works on portable electrical equipment must be competent to carry out that work safely and be authorised by their Dean/Director.
Staff and students must not interfere with or attempt to repair or adjust any electrical installation or equipment unless they are competent and authorised to do so.
All electrical work will be carried out on dead systems with adequate precautions taken to ensure that the system cannot become live, except when the following conditions have all been fulfilled:
- it is unreasonable for the work to be done dead, and
- the risks of working on or near live conductors have been identified, assessed and the methods for controlling those risks have been identified, and
- it is reasonable to work live, and
- suitable precautions can be taken to prevent injury.
A high voltage electrical permit-to-work must be used for work on fixed electrical systems that have been made dead. Where the degree of danger of live working has been assessed as significant, written safe systems of work will be followed.
All fixed electrical installations and portable electrical equipment will be identified, documented and regularly inspected, tested and maintained to prevent serious and fatal injuries arising from electrical shock and burns, thermal and chemical burns, fires and explosions by Schools/Support Services. Director of Campus Services will ensure fixed electrical installations are maintained and inspected: Deans/Directors will ensure portable electrical equipment connected to a source of electrical energy eg fixed installation, generator or invertor are maintained and inspected in accordance with Guidance given below.
Safety Services can provide training and equipment for staff to carry out visual inspections, and combined inspection and tests (PAT test) on “consumer” electrical products. i.e items which could be purchased by the public.
Staff who wish to use their own electrical equipment at work must arrange for it to be inspected by a competent person before it is used in University of Dundee premises. Contractors bringing their own electrical equipment on site must be able to evidence that is safe.
Further information and advice on electrical safety can be obtained from Safety Services on Ext. 84104.
Guidance on maintenance of portable electrical equipment
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require that any electrical equipment which has the potential to cause injury is maintained in a safe condition. However, the Regulations do not specify what needs to be done, by whom or how frequently (ie they do not make inspection or portable appliance testing of electrical appliances a legal requirement, nor do they make it a legal requirement to undertake this annually).
The most important measure to ensure electrical equipment is maintained and used in a safe manner is for staff and post-graduate students to follow the guidance given on electrical safety in the staff H&S handbook. It is especially important all staff and post-graduate students report faults, damage, breakages, missing parts/covers on electrical equipment and take action to prevent such equipment from being used until it is repaired.
For large items of equipment under a maintenance contract no additional maintenance is required.
Electrical equipment used in a clinical context must be maintained by NHS Tayside, or to an equivalent standard.
Detailed advice on inspection regimes for electrical equipment of varying ages used in different environments is given below. Contact Safety Services for advice if the guidance does not cover the equipment, or environment found in your School/Support Service.
Records should be kept and available for inspection by Insurers and Enforcing Authorities to evidence a maintenance system is in place. A record will include identifying details of the item, date purchased and dates and results of inspection. Usually these records will form part of a School/Support Services asset register.
“New” equipment
Equipment purchased from a reputable supplier, CE marked with a plug to BS1363 should be visually checked for damage before first use. Any other equipment new to the School/Support Service should be inspected by a competent electrical engineer before use.
Office equipment less than 10 years old used exclusively by staff and post-graduate students
- Items of equipment which are rarely moved (desktop computers, table lamps, fax machines, printers) and their leads should be visually checked when they are moved.
- Small portable items of equipment and their leads (eg laptops and projectors) which are moved frequently should be visually checked before use.
- Small portable heaters should be visually checked before use and have a combined inspection and test every two years.
- Extension leads should be purchased from a reputable supplier and have a moulded plug and non-rewirable block. They should be visually checked before use and have a combined inspection and test every two years.
Office equipment less than 10 years old used by undergraduate students
- Items of equipment in constant use throughout term time should be visually inspected by staff weekly.
- Items of equipment which are used periodically should be visually inspected before and after use.
- Extension leads should be purchased from a reputable supplier and have a moulded plug and non-rewirable block. They should be visually checked weekly and have a combined inspection and test every two years.
Office equipment more than 10 years old
In addition to visual checks equipment should have a combined inspection and test when they are ten years old, and there-after be tested annually.
Kitchen equipment in staff rooms
- Fridges and freezers should be visually checked when they are moved until they are replaced: usually within 15 years.
- Microwave ovens should be visually checked when they are moved until they are replaced: usually within 10 years.
- Small kitchen appliances (eg kettle, toasters, sandwich makers, blenders) should be visually inspection before use and replaced within 2 years (heavy use) or 4 years (light use), or have a combined inspection and test annually thereafter.
Laboratory equipment used by staff and post-graduate students
- Large items of equipment which are rarely moved and are unlikely to suffer either physical or chemical (from spills) damage eg fridges and freezers should be visually checked for damage when they are moved until they are replaced: usually within 15 years.
- Items of equipment which are rarely moved and unlikely to be damaged in routine use should be visually checked before use, and should have a combined inspection and test every five years until they are ten years old when they should have a combined inspection and test by a competent person every two years.
- Items of equipment which are moved frequently or are likely to be damaged in routine use ( eg spills, used in cold or hot rooms, or a damp, humid or corrosive environment, or likely to be mis-used) should be visually checked before use, and should have a combined inspection and test by a competent person every two years.
- Hand held equipment should be visually checked for damage before and after use. They should have a combined inspection and test by a competent person annually.
Laboratory equipment provided for use by under- graduate students in practical classes
- Items of equipment in constant use throughout term time should be visually inspected by staff weekly.
- Items of equipment which are used periodically should be visually inspected before and after use.
- These items of equipment should have a combined inspection and test by a competent person every two years.
- Hand held equipment should be visually checked for damage before and after use. They should have a combined inspection and test by a competent person annually
Workshop equipment used by staff and post-graduate students
- Items of equipment which are rarely moved and unlikely to be damaged in routine use should be visually checked before use, and should have a combined inspection and test every five years until they are ten years old when they should have a combined inspection and test by a competent person every two years.
- Items of equipment which are moved frequently or are likely to be damaged in routine use ( eg spills, used in damp, corrosive or humid environment, likely to be mis-used) should be visually checked before use, and should have a combined inspection and test by a competent person every two years.
- Hand held equipment should be visually checked for damage before and after use. They should have a combined inspection and test by a competent person annually.
Workshop equipment provided for use by under- graduate students in practical classes
- Items of equipment in constant use throughout term time should be visually inspected by staff weekly.
- Items of equipment which are used periodically should be visually inspected before and after use.
- These items of equipment should have a combined inspection and test by a competent person every two years.
- Hand held equipment should be visually checked for damage before and after use. They should have a combined inspection and test by a competent person annually
Hand held equipment used by cleaning and maintenance staff
- Staff should visually check for damage before and after use.
- They should have a combined inspection and test by a competent person annually.
Equipment owned and used by under-graduate students
In rooms where students plug in laptops or other electrical devices teaching and support staff should check that leads are routed safely and the equipment has a BS 1363 plug, or a Euro-converter plug. They should ask students to unplug any equipment they consider to be unsafe and advise the student concerned to have it repaired or replaced.
Other equipment, environment or activity not detailed above.
Contact Safety Services for advice.
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