Rank: Guest 
|
Posted By masondavis
Hi All,
I am looking for some advice. A PTA are organising a summer fete at their school on a Saturday (Church Aided) and are currently undertaking a risk assessment of the event. They have asked all suppliers for a copy of their insurances and also for risk assessments / method statements for some activities (minature steam railwayetc..). When a parent was asked to confirm that the equipment that he was lending to the event was PAT's tested (if it was not they were happy to pay for someone to do this) he replied that the school was not a place of work therefore did not need this. My opinion on this, and correct me if I am wrong, is that it is a place of work. The PTA are volunteers made up from parents and teachers who work on behalf of the school to raise funds for the school. I believe they are employees? I would appreciate all advice on this. Kindest regards
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Stuff4blokes
The School and PTA owe a duty of care to all who may attend the event. This includes ensuring that nobody will be electrocuted.
A recent electrical test on borrowed appliances is but one part of discharging that duty.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Stuff4blokes
PS the work issue is a red herring!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Philip McAleenan
Mason, if some of the parents are freely lending equipment to this event, and you have concerns, why not offer to have other parents who are electricians to carry out the PAT for the for first person, if they are willing for this to be done. You are looking for volunteers for this event and this is another way for parents and school to help each other out.
Philip
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By masondavis
Thanks for advice guys. The PTA have offered to pay for the equipment to be tested however one parent has said it is not a workplace therefore does not need to be tested. This parent is also a H&S professional and been very forceful as to what the PTA do and do not have to do. They obviously disagree. Cheers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Graham Bullough
Don't get bogged down about the status of the event and what parts of the 1974 Act apply or don't apply to whom. The safety aim regarding electrical items at the event is to avoid electrocution. Have you considered using plug in type residual current devices (RCDs) for the power supplies?
It would also be worth checking whether or not the school's power circuits already incorporate RCDs. In the past I've found that some school buildings do have RCDs but nobody bothered to tell the school managements of this after the RCDs were fitted. Such inclusion was probably as part of a general upgrading or extension of the electrical system.
Also, take care not to confuse RCDs with MCBs (miniature circuit breakers)which protect against electrical overload but not electrocution.
I wonder how many people reading this thread have their personal or domestic electrical items PAT tested. I guess the answer will be very few if any. I do visual checks from time to time of my own items, and use RCDs when appropriate, but do not have access to a PAT device.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Donna
Most hospitals require any personal items such as Laptops and phone chargers to be PAT tested before you can use them so I dont see why it is any different on the schools property.
Maybe just remind the parent that it is the "Health and Safety at work ETC act".
Does PAT testing at school fete come under the ETC part?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Kenneth Patrick
See HSE guidance for RA in Village hall. Portable equipment checked for visual signs of damage before use.
This sensible approach cuts across the issues
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Sally
It is not necessarily whether it is at work that is important or not. It may be the conditions for a let of a school building to outside bodies states that all electrical equipment must be PAT tested. If this is the case then I suggest you just tell the parent that 'them is the rules'. It's not worth fighting and from the point of view of the letting body it is much easier to say that all electrical equipment must be PAT tested than worry about different interpretations of a visual inspection.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Rod D
Hi Guys
Portable electrical appliances should be as Best Practice be subject to a periodic inspection and/or test by a competent person as required by the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (EWR 89).
Best practice dictates that each portable appliance be given a unique number or alphanumeric identity and affixed with a label showing this unique identity mark and the date of the next test.
Generally this task is undertaken by a competent external contractor however, it can be undertaken in-house where personnel with the necessary skills and test equipment are available.
Further useful information and explanation of legislative interpretation can be found in the free HSE leaflet: INDG160L – Maintaining portable electrical equipment in offices and other low-risk environments.
OR
Undertake the following checks and record them
Electrical Equipment Checklist
A. Is the user aware of any fault in the equipment and whether it works properly?
B. Disconnect equipment as appropriate.
C. Inspect the equipment in particular looking at:
- The flex – is it in good condition?
Is it free from cuts, fraying and damage?
Is it in a location where it could be damaged, is it too long, too short or in any other way unsatisfactory?
Does it have inadequate joints?
- The plug (where fitted) – is the flexible cable secure in its casing?
Is it free from any sign of overheating?
Is it free from cracks or damage?
- The socket – outlet or flex outlet – is there any sign of overheating? (i.e. scorch marks)
Is it free from cracks and other damage?
- The appliance – does it work?
Does it switch on and off properly?
Is it free from cracks, contamination damage to the case, or damage, which could result in access to live parts?
Can it be used safely?
- Users – are they satisfied that the equipment works properly?
- The environment – is the equipment suitable for its environment?
- Suitability for the job – is the equipment suitable for its environment?
- Suitability for the job – is the equipment suitable for the work it is required to carry out?
D. Take action on faults / damage. Faulty equipment must be:
(1) Switched off and unplugged from the supply.
Yours Aye,
Rod D
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Andy Petrie
Rod,
I like your approach, for a one off activity this should be more than adequate.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.