Top tips on electrical safety in your pub
Sadly there have been a number of cases in the pub trade that have seen people get seriously injured or lose their lives due to either poor maintenance of electrical equipment or the failure to follow health and safety guidelines.
All too often it’s the basics that are over-looked: the faulty fridge, the temperamental glass washer – these should all act as warning signs outside of regular electrical safety inspections.
The main hazards:
- Contact with live parts of equipment or cables causing shock, burns or death. Normal mains voltage at 230 volts AC can kill.
- Electrical faults that cause fire due to overheating or sparks igniting combustible materials.
- Fire or explosion where electricity could be the source of ignition in flammable or explosive environments.
What increases the risk?
- Using electricity and electrical appliances in wet conditions, or damp atmospheres
- Using equipment in flammable or explosive environments
- Using equipment or electrical systems at times of gas leak
- Working on live currents
- Using extension leads, especially if connected in series
- Having work carried out by non-qualified and incompetent persons
- Using inferior cabling and electrical materials i.e. those not kite marked
- Using equipment out of doors
- Using equipment in cramped conditions with a lot of earthed metalwork e.g. inside tanks, silos etc
What should I look out for that could be potentially dangerous?
Generally, any electrical equipment, tools or appliances which have a lead and plug and which could, if necessary, be moved from place to place, can put people at risk if they are not maintained / used properly. Examples include:
- Photocopiers, printers, fax machines, scanners etc
- Computers/pcs, shredders etc
- Kettles, vacuum cleaners, pressure washers, TVs, videos, OHS’s, desk lamps etc
- Portable tools, power tools, etc
- Fans, dehumidifiers, heaters, etc
What steps can I take to improve electrical safety?
Most accidents involving portable appliances occur because the equipment, or more importantly, the lead and plug, is defective. Such defects are usually visible to the user, and provided the user has some training on the safe use of portable appliances, the equipment should not be used.
So, ideally all employees should be trained in simple “user checks” of electrical equipment and should be instructed to carry out a check before use. Look for:
- Cuts, abrasions to cables
- Loose wires
- Broken plugs
- Burning smells
- Scorching of plugs or equipment casing
- Coloured wiring showing from the plug
- Incorrect fuses
- Extension leads plugged into extension leads
Employers need to determine that they have a system of user checks in place – keep training records to show everyone has been trained in what to do.
A record system will help you to monitor what needs to be done and a schedule or diary will ensure formal visual inspections and testing of appliances is carried out regularly.
Should all electrical equipment to be treated the same?
No, you must carry out a risk assessment. If equipment is subject to user abuse or is used in hazardous environments, it will need far more attention than, for example, a photocopier in an office would.
The risk assessment should include the frequency for inspection and testing as well as the type needed e.g.
- User checks – every time equipment is used
- Formal visual checks – every six months
- Combined inspection and testing – every two years by external electrical company
Top Tips
- Make regular visual checks of plugs, leads, cables and sockets
- If any damage is noted, take the piece of equipment out of action. Label it “NOT TO BE USED: DANGEROUS”
- Only use competent, trained people to maintain electrical equipment and systems
- Do not use faulty equipment
- Plan safe systems of work i.e. how to do things for jobs such as changing light bulbs
- Routine maintenance really is money well spent. Most commercial fires are caused by faulty electrical equipment
- Operate a Permit to Work procedure for electrical work
Pat Perry is executive chairman at health and safety consultants Perry Scott Nash
