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The Electricity at Work regulations states that: "No person shall be engaged in any work activity where technical knowledge or experience is necessary to prevent danger, or where appropriate, injury, unless he possesses such knowledge or experience, or is under such degree of supervision as may be appropriate having regard to the nature of the work" The IEE Code of Practice states, those carrying out the inspection and testing must be competent to undertake the inspection and, where appropriate, testing of electrical equipment and appliances having due regard of their own safety and that of others. What should be considered is that the 'danger' to be prevented, includes not just the dangers which may arise during the testing procedure to the tester and others, but also the dangers which may arise at a later date as a result of using equipment which has not been effectively tested. The tester must have an understanding of the modes of electrical, mechanical or thermal damage to electrical equipment and appliances and their flexes which may be encountered in any environment. Training must include the identification of equipment and appliance types to determine the test procedures and frequency of inspection and testing. Persons testing must be familiar with the test instruments used and in particular their limitations and restrictions so as to achieve repeatable results without damaging the equipment or the appliance. Anyone who lets residential accommodation (such as houses, flats and bedsits, holiday homes, caravans and boats) as a business activity is required by law to ensure the equipment they supply as part of the tenancy is safe. The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 requires that all mains electrical equipment (cookers, washing machines, kettles, etc), new or second-hand, supplied with the accommodation must be safe. Landlords therefore need to regularly maintain the electrical equipment they supply to ensure it is safe. The supply of goods occurs at the time of the tenancy contract. It is, therefore, essential that property is checked prior to the tenancy to ensure that all goods supplied are in a safe condition. A record should be made of the goods supplied as part of the tenancy agreement and of checks made on those goods. The record should indicate who carried out the checks and when they did it. It is strongly advisable to have the equipment checked before the start of each let. It would be good practice to have the equipment checked at regular intervals thereafter. You should obtain and retain test reports detailing the equipment, the tests carried out and the results. Employer Liability - 30 fatal accidents each year 25% of all reportable electrical accidents involve portable appliances, and electricity can kill. Each year about 1000 accidents at work involving electric shock or burns are reported to the Health and Safety Executive. Around 30 of these are fatal. Even non-fatal shocks can cause severe and permanent injury. Shocks from faulty equipment may lead to falls from ladders, scaffolds or other work platforms. Those using electricity may not be the only ones at risk: poor electrical installations and faulty electrical appliances can lead to fires which may also cause death or injury to others. Most of these accidents can be avoided. Owners or directors of companies can be liable under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. Large awards have been made against companies that had not taken reasonable precautions. Most Insurance companies will assume that the owners of the business are compliant with all relavent regulations. These insurers are fully entitled to reduce, or even refuse to pay out on a claim for damage caused by a portable appliance that has not been tested, leaving the owner or director of the company fully liable for all costs and repairs.

Who should carry out the Inspection and Testing? Landlord Legal Requirements WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON’T TEST BUILDINGS & CONTENTS INSURANCE Let Safetest (Scotland) provide you with total peace of mind in knowing that we take care of legislative and compliance issues, leaving you to focus on your business

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