Posted By Lilian McCartney Being in the same type of organisation I agree with you. I can see why you wish to save money as the allowances etc are very minimal. However, I would suggest caution, having attended a HSE/CCPS seminar last week where the HSE electrical inspector was discussing electrical appliances - it would make your hair curl (even before you'd stuck your finger in the socket!). Have you considered approaching a charity who supplies second hand equipment? These tend to be 'homeless' charities but in your circumstances may allow your service users to purchase at a reasonable cost as well.

Posted By jackw. Cheers Ron very helpful!! Some clients buy new, some buy second hand. The person was consulted. In this particular incidence the worker felt the goods were of good quality fairly new and a would save the client some money. I tend not to take a moral view as my interest is in safety and compliance with the regulations. try not to hurt your self getting down from that big horse.

Posted By Stuart Nagle Jack. With respect to all, I'm not sure I agree with the opinions posted above: 1) whilst the persons concerned are in need of assistance, they are purchasing the white goods themselves, albeit via another person, and 2) the place of use is domestic (in the sense of the use of the equipment) and not a workplace, so it could be argued that the requirements relevant to a workplace do not apply!.... However, 3) As the equipment is being purchased on behalf of a possibly mentaly/physically impaired domestic user, I agree the moral issue may be of high opinion, but the real question is one of accepting responsibility in a civil law sense in respect of malfunction or injury resulting from use, in so much as any action would be a civil action for damages rather than an action taken in respect of a workplace.... 4) If persons undertaking the role of purchasing the equipment on behalf of 'clients' are employees of a company or orgainsation 'sheltering' (for want of a better word) their 'clients', is this role (purchasing the equipment) within their competencies as employees of the company and does the company or organisation's ELI etc cover such actions in the event of the employee or company/organisation being sued for damages arising out of or in connection with an accident or incident arising out the malfunction or use or misuse of the equipment supplied? This would to all intents and purposes, regardless of being a laudable undertaking, appear to be a legal minefield into which one should tread very wearilly!!! Stuart