There is various legislation that governs electrical maintenance as it applies in various situations, business premises for example. Pertinent documents include the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974, Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
There is clearly much regulation that comes to bear on the maintenance of electrical installations. Some of the prominent issues are: employers are responsible for the upkeep of electrical systems, and the safety of employees, and only trained electricians are allowed to deal with electrical faults and to tamper with electrical installations.
An employer is also responsible for ensuring that all equipment is “maintained in an efficient state” i.e. is kept in a good working order. Obviously, this will require regular electrical testing of equipment, which has to be performed by a trained individual. All electrical products and installations can be prone to damage, for instance caused by environmental factors or through general wear and tear.
Fixed wire testing should be performed on fixed installations, and this will involve checking plug sockets, light switches and fittings and any other electrical outlets for visible signs of wear and tear. There will then be a thorough testing of your electrical infrastructure to ensure it’s working without problems.
Electricity is obviously the lifeblood of modern business, and so the importance of maintaining a healthy flow of electricity can’t be underestimated. Regular checking and inspection is a key way to achieve this.
