Posted By David Waterton
hi can anyone confirm my assumption on the following. i work for a local authority social work department. I and everyone else regularly get requests via email from staff looking for electrical appliances: cookers etc. to supply to clients who can not afford or access monies to purchase these. Am i correct in the view that if a member of staff accesses theses and pases them on to clients we are responsible for ensuring that they are in good working order and have been tested by a competent person, that if we do not and an injury or fire etc. occurs as a result of a fault in any second hand equipment passed on by our employees we could be held as responsible. Additionally I have been asked if a disclamer signed by the client would get round this. My view on this is no as we can not sign away regulatory duties... advice/ comments would be most welcome.

Posted By Stuart Nagle
David.

As the appliance are not for use 'at work' I think that ensuring they are safe via testing would be adequate, and a certificate of test supplied with each appliance detailing the test and the competent testing company/contractor etc.

If however the appliance were for use 'at work', they would need to be supplied 'as new' with all instructions and accompanying details (as if bought new).

I understand this to be the case, unless anyone know different...

regards...

Stuart Nagle