Electrical Safety
Introduction
The risk of exposure to Electricity should not be underestimated. Faulty electrical equipment can cause electric shocks and fires which may cause death, injury or damage to property, posing a risk for anyone who works, studies, or visits the University. It is vital that electrical equipment is regularly maintained and inspected so that it is safe to use. The use of electrical equipment is regulated by the Electricity at Work Regulations.
Arrangement
Please see the university's Electrical Safety Arrangement below:
Portable Appliance Testing (PAT)
Estates and Campus Services (E&CS) manage and arrange the University's portable appliance testing and have produced a code of practice to support compliance with the University's Electrical Safety Policy and to provide practical guidance for staff and students in relation to managing portable electrical appliances.
This code of practice applies to items of work equipment and not personal property of staff, students or visitors. Personal appliances are not in scope of this code of practice:
Most faults in portable appliances can be prevented by looking for any damage to electrical equipment. Staff and Students can carry out simple visual checks on equipment and if any damage or faults are noticed, remove the equipment from use and report it.
Some steps that can be taken to prevent harm from electrical work equipment are as follows:
- Ensure electrical equipment is turned off before it is checked.
- Check that plugs are not damaged.
- Check that the outer covering of the cable or wire is gripped where it enters the plug or the equipment.
- Check that the outer cover of the equipment is not damaged, for example look for loose parts or screws.
- Check leads, wires or cables for damage to the outer covering.
- Check for burn marks or staining that suggests overheating.
- Check for cracks, breaks or missing covers on the casing of the equipment.
- Check that there are no trailing wires. If there are, tuck them out of the way, for example under a desk or table, to prevent trips or tampering.
To prevent danger arising from portable electrical work equipment, a pre-planned preventative maintenance programme is essential. Most faculties and services may already have a PAT programme in place. Where equipment has not been included and you believe that it should be, this is managed and arranged by Estates and Campus Services. If you have an enquiry please contact us using the below details:
Estates Helpdesk
Floor 8, Mercantile House
Hampshire Terrace
Portsmouth, PO1 2EG
T: +44 (0) 23 9284 6677
E: estates.helpdesk@port.ac.uk
Further Information
The following resources provide additional information regarding safe working practices when using electrical equipment: