Periodic Inspection Reports
Attention Landlords and owners of company properties!
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act the Electricity at work Regulations 1989 Regulation 4(2) states " As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as reasonably practicable such danger"
We all be it employer, self employed or employee, have a duty under the Health and Safety at work Act 1974 to comply with the regulations in so far as they relate to matters within their control. Inspection and Testing plus regular maintenance of the electrical system is a means of risk assessment requiring that records are kept. It is the duty holders responsibility to ensure that the electrical system is safe in that it presents no signs of increased danger. In commercial and Industrial premises this may be carried out by in house maintenance and inspections, by suitably qualified persons with adequate record keeping, of the systems condition or by specialist contractors (like ACtest Limited) to carry out periodic Inspection reports.
Attention landlords! Your properties are also subject to this legislation as you are the duty holders of the properties and are therefore fully responsible for the electrical systems within those properties. Under the Electricity at Work Act they must maintain each electrical system as the property is the business of the landlord and therefore their workplace.
How often do Inspections need to be carried out?
There is no legislation defining how often Inspections and Tests need to be carried out, it is down to each individual system taking into account;
1) The type of Installation
2) It's use and operation
3) The frequency and quality of maintenance
4) The external influences to which it is subjected to
Although guidelines are issued by the Institute of Electrical Engineers, it is ultimately the decision of the competent person inspecting the electrical installation to decide on the frequency of tests using engineering judgement, experience and the guidelines as a starting point for making that decision.
The fixed wiring should also be checked if there has been a change of tenancy. It is recommended, however, that buildings used by the public or for heavy industry have more frequent inspections.
ACtest Limited will be pleased to advise you of the appropriate testing schedule and supply a quotation based on your requirements. Testing will be carried out in accordance with regulations set by the IEE.
By ensuring that an ‘electrical MOT’ plays an essential role in the operation of your business, it is highly likely that you pre-empting electrical issues thereby saving money and perhaps preventing costly accidents in the long run.
For more information or a quotation, please call us on
08000 433 728
