Electrical safety of equipment
All electrical equipment must be adequately maintained in order to prevent injury.
The most important aspect of keeping equipment in good condition is for the user to develop the habit of carrying out a quick user check before each use it to ensure it is free from defect, especially where equipment is moved regularly and heavily used.
If a defect is found, the item must be taken out of use until repaired and all faults should be reported in accordance with local arrangements.
In addition to the University guidance on the maintenance of electrical equipment the HSE provides further detailed information on Electrical safety at work including:
- Work using electrically powered equipment - which includes a helpful list of action required and what to look out for when inspecting equipment
- Maintaining electrical equipment - the type and frequency of user checks, inspections and testing needed will depend on the equipment, the environment in which it is used and the results of previous checks
- Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) - key information is provided in a series of frequently asked questions