Rank: Super forum user 
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Should non-maintenance, non-electrical employees (e.g office workers) be allowed to change like for like faulty overhead light bulbs (bulbs that have gone out) if they have had some form of ladder training?
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Rank: Forum user 
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i would say yes they can. its only a light bulb and if they need ladders and have the training then go ahead. as long as they are competent
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Rank: Super forum user
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thank you, however
Competent to use the ladders or competent to change the bulb?
How would you ensure an office worker is competent to change the bulb?
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Rank: Super forum user
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I have no real problem in ensuring competency, but may I suggest you also consider the following?
1. How high is the ceiling? Will a normal stepladder suffice?
2. How much time will be lost in their collecting the stepladder from where it is stored and returning it after use?
3. How much time will be taken in getting a new light bulb from stores. (I assume that they do not keep a stock in the office.)
4. How will they dispose of the old light bulb. (They cannot just throw it in the waste bin as we used to do with the old incandescent filament bulbs.)
5. Will this be productive use of their time? If there is a maintenance man would it not be more sensible to get him to change the bulb?
Of course, I don't know your exact circumstances, but I think these points are worthy of thought.
Chris
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Rank: Super forum user
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Thanks,
One reason for my question is that we had an electrician who had an eletric shock while recently replacing a bulb. He hadnt turned the light fitting off, and as he tried to remove the starter from a flourescent light fitting it crumbled in his hand and he got a shock from a live part.
One the other hand we have general employees monaing that they cant do it themselves...as sometimes the maintence guys take a while to get round to it....
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Rank: Super forum user 
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stonecold wrote:
One reason for my question is that we had an electrician who had an eletric shock while recently replacing a bulb. He hadnt turned the light fitting off, and as he tried to remove the starter from a flourescent light fitting it crumbled in his hand and he got a shock from a live part.
Which rather demonstrates the issue that even if you get someone who is supposed to know what they are doing, they might do something silly. We let employees change bulbs.
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Rank: Forum user 
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Would you bring in an Electrician to change a bulb at home?
The trick is to have a safe system of work in place to ensure:
A. Ladder/stepladders are in good condition
B. No power to the bulb.
C. Person attempting to change the bulb is actually capable.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Of course they can change a light bulb but you the employer must be confident that they are competent to do so, if they are injured or they cause someone else to be injured you will be held liable.
So it’s down to a balancing act( like most of H&S is) on one hand it might be quicker and more straightforward to allow office staff to change their own light bulbs but you might decide that it’s better that your FM people are the only one’s allowed to do it, as you can expect a hiker level of competency from them.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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But this isn't a home setting.
Few of us will have multi-gang four or six foot tubes to replace - fragile and very messy when dropped, and quite a fiddly job to insert.
Switching off the light usually means switching off a bank of lights - i.e. there's a right time to do it.
If I'm "competent" to change a tube am I also competent to change a starter?
Do I know how to properly secure the diffuser?
Are the fittings attached to an asbestos ceiling?
What about maintained supply units (i.e. emergency lighting that remains live via dedicated supply even when switched off).
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Rank: Super forum user 
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We let people change bulbs, but only bayonet or screw mounted single fixing bulbs, not fluorescent strips, for reasons very much like the ones already stated by several in this thread,
John
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Rank: Super forum user
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How many health & safety experts does it take to change a light bulb??
The answer - 9 (so far!) ;)
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Rank: Super forum user
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You have to smile don't you. Paul, you got an answer, I have, but just cannot get the words out ;-)
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Rank: Super forum user
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Mssy
10 - you forgot the one who is counting!!!:-)
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Rank: Super forum user
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I don't know how many times I have changed a light or tube at work. I have even cleared off a desk and stood on that to do it, pointing out what I have done, explained work of short duration, and just got on with it. Oh, yes, I do hold 16th/17th edition and am an electrically biased marine engineer by trade. Unprofessional? Maybe. Unsafe? No.
Jim
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Is there special training for electricians then to allow them to change fluorescent tubes ?
:0)
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