Electrical Safety
Electrical Safety is governed by legislation which requires the
University to protect staff, students and visitors from the
potential hazards of poorly maintained electrical
equipment.
This webpage and associated links provides information on
requirements for maintaining portable and transportable electrical
equipment and fixed electrical equipment. Electricity can not only
cause electric shocks, electrical burns and fires, it can also of
course kill, therefore it is imperative that suitable systems are
introduced to ensure a high safety standard. Failure to
ensure the safety of electrical equipment can be critical and
extremely dangerous.
The safety of the electrical services within our buildings
(which to most of our staff simply means the safety of the supply
to the point of use i.e. the socket in the wall, is managed by the
Facilities Directorate through what is known as Fixed Electrical
Testing. However all staff must immediately report to the
Facilities Helpline facilities.helpline@yorksj.ac.uk
OR Tel Ext 6666 if they have any concerns about any electrical item
at the university.
Our Portable Appliance (or ‘PAT’) Policy is there to
ensure that all ‘portable electrical items’ or any electrical
equipment that is powered between 25 and 240 volts and which is
connected to the electrical mains via a plug and socket (usually a
13 amp outlet) are safe to use.
This definition therefore includes
electrical equipment that will be found in the following use or
location
- Maintenance or Faculty Workshops – Drills,
soldering irons, portable electric saws or sanders etc
- Domestic Services – Vacuum Cleaners
- Teaching areas or Meeting Rooms –
Televisions, videos, radios, OHPs, CD, DVD, tape players etc
- Office areas – Portable heaters, Angle
poise lamps, printers, scanners and computers.
- Office Kitchenettes or Student
Accommodation – Fridges, freezers, microwaves, kettles, toasters,
irons etc.
A number of Staff within the University and Students Union have
been trained to use our Seaward PAT Testing equipment and the
register of the PAT testing is centrally held by the Media Services
Team.
Responsibilities of all Directors and Deans of
Faculty
- Ensuring that any members of staff appointed
to test portable electrical equipment within their
Directorate/Faculty are competent to undertake these duties.
- Ensuring that staff and visitors to their
area of responsibility do not bring in their own items of
electrical equipment.
- Ensuring that all portable electrical appliances that are
used within their area of responsibility are examined and tested in
accordance with this policy and are immediately safely withdrawn
from use if found to be unsafe.
Useful Links