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Posted By Kim Sunley
Help needed from anyone who employs workers carrying out work in people's homes!
Has anyone tackled the safety issues of employees who work in people's homes using equipment owned by the homeowner/tenant. I'm thinking of care assistants/home helps using vacuum cleaners and community nurses using equipment bought by clients?
In addition to the hazards associated with using faulty equipment (electrical and non-electrical)there are also issues with the safety of the domestic electricty supply.
Any thoughts to help us comply with PUWER?
Many thanks
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Posted By Ron Hunter
I would question the applicability of PUWER Regs in this instance, but agree there are general duties under HASAWA.
A good level of training and awareness surely goes a long way?, e.g. competent to conduct visual examination of all equipment (inc. electrical apparatus)before use, good general training in lifting/bathing aids, with adequate feedback systems to identify 'new' equipment back to HQ, judging if this is covered by general training or if specific additional training is required?
Suggest a proper sense of perspective is required here (you haven't mentioned COSHH for household chemicals?),and proper consideration as to whether many of these 'risks' are in fact every day risks, or whether the work activity is compounding them? (e.g. many hours cleaning, 5 days a week employed in a domestic setting = COSHH).
What duties and systems of management do you have in place for identifying problems (i.e. conducting risk assessment/ completing hazard checklist) when client is initially assessed for care provision? How do systems of support interlink? (e.g. if a client had an old domestic electrical ring main (5 amp, round pin plugs), would the Local Authority support/subsidise a rewire in a private residence? Does your Local Authority have a "Home Safety Unit" or similar, conducting checks on electric blankets,other appliances consumer units, etc?
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Posted By Chris Huffadine
The issue of electrical safety in people's homes is a difficult area to deal with effectively. A risk assessment should be undertaken before the service is offered, and this should include a look at the electrical installation and portable appliances that will be used by the employee. Visual inspection of portable appliances will identify a large proportion of potential hazards. A glance at socket outlets, switchplates and exposed cabling, e.g. pendant wires, etc. should give the lay person a good indication of the condition of the electrical installation.
The findings of these checks should be included in the risk assessment. If the "assessor" is unsure then it may be appropriate, depending on the scope of service-provision. to call in a competent electrician (NICEIC).
Residual Current Devices (RCDs) are often considered as a means to reduce risk. However, it seems a little unfair to provide these for the safety of the employee but to leave the service-user unprotected when the employee leaves with the RCD.
It goes without saying that it is necessary to do what is "reasonably practicable". I would argue that what is "reasonably practicable" in an individual's own home may be significantly different to what is "reasonably practicable" in a controlled environment.
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