New emphasis on risk assessment

Jim Wallace of Seaward looks at the emphasis on risk assessment in the new IET Code of Practice for maintaining the safety of electrical equipment in the workplace

The fourth edition of the IET Code of Practice for In Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment provides a timely reminder to all those with a responsibility for workplace safety under the Electricity At Work Regulations 1989.

By providing comprehensive guidance on periodic in-service inspection and testing of electrical appliances, it is designed to ensure that organisations, administrators and those carrying out the testing fully understand the requirements of the EAWR 1989 and can demonstrate compliance with it.

There is considerable evidence that faulty electrical appliances continue to pose a serious threat to people and property through accidents, injuries and fire hazards.

There is also indisputable evidence that the periodic in-service testing of electrical equipment prevents injuries, saves lives and avoids workplace fires that would otherwise be devastating for those involved.

This has not changed - but the clear message from the IET is that electrical equipment inspection and testing regimes should be based on a more focused and robust approach to assessing the safety risks posed by appliances.

The fourth edition of the IET Code of Practice therefore focuses on the importance of taking a proportionate response to the need to ensure that all workplace electrical systems should be maintained to prevent danger, so far as is reasonably practicable.

Alongside this renewed emphasis on risk assessment, the new guidance also provides further clarification on the responsibilities of duty holders and the extent to which the involvement of external contractors or advisors might be used.

Risk based approach The clear implication of the new IET Code is that only when the risk of using electrical equipment has been assessed and understood can it be managed through a programme of inspection and testing.

In doing so, the latest document also reiterates that risk based assessments are the responsibility of the duty holder (which might be the facilities manager, building manager, landlord or other such responsible person), but that a duty holder may enlist the services of a competent person to assist in this process.

Importantly, the new emphasis on risk assessment of the Code of Practice also is completely consistent with the existing legal requirements of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

Regulation 3 of the regulation requires all employers and self employed persons to assess the risks to workers and others who may be affected by their undertaking.

In support of this, the Code states that there are many different methods of risk assessment and provided they are carried out within their individual scope of use, any can be used. It is also highlighted that risk assessments should be reviewed regularly to ensure that any control measures are effective. If there are any significant changes, the risk assessment should be updated to reflect this.

Risk encompasses many factors that can eventually influence a final decision and, for example, should include a full consideration of the environment in which the equipment is being used, the level of user awareness, the equipment construction and type, frequency of use, previous records and type of installation for fixed appliances.

All of the factors used in the risk assessment should culminate in enabling an informed decision to be made on the frequency of any inspections and tests required.

Importantly, in a significant change to existing practices and as further emphasis of the link between the duty holder, risk assessment and inspection and testing intervals, the new Code also recommends that the date for re-testing should not be marked on the pass label. Instead it is advised that the 'the duty holder should determine the date for the next inspection and/or tests on a risk assessment basis...and record this on their 'Equipment formal visual and combined inspection test record.' Set against the principles of new riskbased maintenance programmes, test record keeping systems are therefore likely to take on even greater importance as a valuable management tool for reviewing the frequency of inspection and testing - and without records duty holders cannot be certain that the inspection and testing have actually been carried out.

Overall, the new IET Code of Practice should therefore help all those involved in maintaining electrical safety in the workplace to better understand their obligations and to make more informed decisions on the scope of the electrical inspection and testing required.