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Customer care
Live wire
SAFE WORKING
Back to basics Electricians need to remember the dangers they face in their particular line of work, as well as their responsibilities towards co-workers and customers, writes Philip Sanders
Electricians and engineers who work with electricity on a daily basis can sometimes become desensitised to the dangers around them. It is a natural human habit to form routines and practices that we feel comfortable with.
However, just take a moment to recall when you first started working in the electrical industry, and the point when you were first made aware of electrical hazards, including contact with live parts causing shock and burns. Maybe you had a health and safety induction that included a video showing the results of electric shock?
In any case, the point of all such information is to instil in you an understanding and respect for electricity.
It pays to remember that, as well as being responsible for your own safety when working with electricity, you are also responsible for ensuring that your electrical installation work is safe through every stage of construction through to completion.
It is recognised that electrical installations that conform to the standards laid down in BS 7671 are regarded as safe. This is not to be taken lightly; in the UK, every man, woman and child will come into contact with electricity via one or more electrical installations every day of their life, some of which will have been worked on by you. Quite a responsibility for the humble ‘sparky’ don’t you think?
Of course, we are all busy earning a living and don’t have time to reflect on this responsibility very often, but we must never lose sight of the dangers that electricity can create.
Even the most experienced electricians and electrical engineers can be expected to make the occasional mistake when carrying out electrical installation work.
Other trades can also cause accidental damage to electrical installations during the construction phase.
If left undetected, energised and put into use, it is likely that such installations will subsequently become dangerous to users.
This is why we need to thoroughly inspect and test each and every electrical installation that is new or has been subject to an addition or alteration, and make good any defects or omissions found, before the installation is put into service. Of course, simply inspecting and testing is not suff icient – the results must be properly recorded on the appropriate prescribed certificate. A point to consider is that certification is often the only documentary evidence you will have to help demonstrate that your electrical installation work is to the required standard of safety in the event of injury or fire alleged to have been caused by the electrical installation. While the pressure of work can be high, always take the time to review and confirm that the results are accurate and acceptable. This review provides you with the opportunity to challenge any seemingly incorrect information on the certificate for investigation and correction prior to putting into service. A certificate must be provided to the person who ordered the electrical installation work and, where applicable, the occupant of a dwelling as well. Remember, certification is not intended to be issued to confirm the completion of a contract.
You should never withhold a certificate for any contractual reason, including non-payment of invoices, where the electrical installation has been energised and is available for use.
It is also important to remember that some domestic electrical installation work in England and Wales, including rewires, replacement consumer units, new circuits and certain minor work also carries an additional notification requirement. These works must be notified and a building regulations compliance certificate issued to the occupier within 30 days.
