Electrical Safety - Portable Appliances Policy

INTRODUCTION

We recognise that the use of portable electrical appliances is potentially hazardous. We will identify risks to people, managing those risks in accordance with current safety legislation and guidance.

It is our policy to:

• Maintain a register of all portable electrical appliances used by us and ensure that a competent person inspects and, where required, tests all such equipment at intervals identified in our risk assessment.
• Prohibit personal portable electrical appliances from being brought into our premises unless prior approval has been given and the equipment has been inspected by a competent person before use.
• Provide instruction to users of portable electrical appliances so that they are aware of the hazards and are able to spot visible defects prior to use.
• Inform staff that they must not carry out any electrical fault finding or repairs unless trained and authorised to do so.
• Ensure that all staff are aware of the need to stop using portable electrical appliances if problems are encountered and report any defects immediately.
• Isolate or take out of service any faulty electrical equipment.
• Test electrical appliances following repair and prior to reinstating their use.
• Provide emergency and first aid procedures to cover the actions to be taken in the event of electric shock or burns.
• Take all reasonable precautions to ensure that any hired electrical equipment is safe to use.