UK Employers Unaware of Electrical Safety Laws

Procuro are working to promote UK employers' awareness of obligations under the Electricity at Work Act and the Health and Safety at Work Act.

"Unfortunately, many companies who operate on high voltage supplies (greater than 1000vac) remain unaware that they have an obligation to maintain that high voltage equipment which they own," says Jon Goody of Procuro.

"Many don't even know that some of the HV installation belongs to them, so what chance do they have?" Under the Electricity at Work Act 1989, it is stated that the frequency and quality of maintenance should be sufficient to prevent danger so far as is reasonably practicable.

There is no set timescale, as the types of equipment and frequency of operation varies so greatly.

Further guidance is offered by a British Standard covering the maintenance of switchgear operating at voltages between 1kV and 36kV.

This document recommends that routine maintenance be organized on the basis of periodic inspections supplemented at extended intervals with operational checks and examination with testing of insulation media as appropriate.

The document goes on to say that routine diagnostic testing can be a useful guide to determining the frequency of maintenance as this provides information of deterioration by comparison with previous tests.

Procuro are able to provide high voltage maintenance contracts which address not only the statutory requirements, including the British Standard above, but also that which gives maximum assurance of reliability and availability of the electrical supply.

"All most companies want from their high voltage supply is for electricity to be available when they need it," continues Goody, "So that's what we offer - maintenance packages which leave us with virtual ownership and, of course, all of the headaches in the unlikely event that something does go wrong.".

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