Report compiled by David Scott, SALUS TEST SERVICES LTD

In-service inspection and testing of

electrical equipment

Cardfields

Cardfields Lane

Hatfield Peveral

Chelmsford

Essex

CM3 2NR

2019

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Introduction

Salus Test Services (“SALUS”) were recently asked to attend the location above by Elaine Clarke to re-test

all electrical equipment on site. Elaine had some concerns regarding the efficacy of the process being

carried by a company employed by Islington Council on 9th January 2019.

Prior to commencement of testing, Salus provided the following documentation:

• Method Statement

• Risk Assessment

• Liability Insurance Certificate

• Calibration Certificate for the Seaward Apollo 400+Serial no 20K-0314

This report summarises the findings from the inspection and testing undertaken on Friday January 25th

and Tuesday 29th January 2019. It is based on Visual Inspections and Electrical Tests, as defined in the 4th

Edition of the IET Code of Practice. It is, therefore, an objective report and not intended to criticise or

apportion blame to any Individual or Individuals, employees or companies previously involved.

Photographic evidence to support the report has been requested and as such we have attached 10

Images.

Summary of Findings

Total appliances tested: 220

Total appliances failed: 019

Total appliances failed Earth Continuity Test: 001

Total appliances failed Insulation Resistance Test: 004

Total appliances failed Visual Test: 014

Total damaged sockets: 001

Total repairs: 007

Percentage of failed or repaired appliances 11.82%

SALUS were provided with the test readings from XXX for the last 2 visits dating back to September

2017. It was noted that Earth Continuity Tests were not carried out on all Class I appliances; this is a vital

part of testing as it proves that there is provision back to earth should a fault occur. Details of the

appliances in question are as follows:

• The Irons located in the basement.

• The Panasonic television located in the sitting room.

• The Honeywell free-standing fan located in the storeroom on the 2nd Floor of the main building.

• Free standing lamp located in the staff quarters.

In one instance the CPC from an Iron had been removed from the earth pin of the plug (see image 1).

This should have been identified as part of the formal visual Inspection but was missed. As this appliance

was not subjected to an Earth Continuity Test, this extremely dangerous appliance was deemed as safe

to use. An Iron is a handheld class I appliance filled with water and has exposed conductive metal parts,

the potential for serious injury is high should a fault occur.

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Recommendations.

All extension leads that are used externally should be fitted with IP66 sockets and RCD plugs fitted.

All Festoon lights should be connected to RCD plug or RCD protected extension lead with IP66 socket.

Lawn movers should be fitted to RCD plugs.

Daisy chained extension leads should not be used (found in food store and has been rectified).

Redundant or non-functioning equipment should be removed from site.

All failed appliances should be either repaired or removed from site.

User visuals should be carried out before equipment is energised and recorded each month on the excel

spreadsheet provided by Salus. ( This is not compulsory, but is good practice ).

There is a damaged socket in the office located in the main house, it is located behind the photocopier

and will need to be replaced.

The staff quarters auxiliary room has appliances which due to the cold damp environment should have

RCD plugs fitted, the washing machine has a badly rust patch, it should be noted that all appliances

within that room have passed electrical tests.

No personal electrical or second-hand equipment should be used on site until it has been subjected to

electrical testing to ensure their safety.

It is advised that only genuine replacement electrical equipment is sourced and used from the original

manufacturer. Salus have found and removed dozens of counterfeit leads and fuses from schools and

businesses having purchased them from Amazon and other on-line outlets. No counterfeit products were

found at Cardfield.

There are currently 2 RCD sockets on site at Cardfield, one located in the Tool shed, the other in the

auxiliary, they should both be inspected visually, and the test button checked for correct functionality

and a regular basis.

The RCD have both been tested by Salus for trip times and recorded on the reports provided.

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The reports from XXX for both years do not show polarity checks being carried out on detachable IEC

leads or extension leads. This type of test is used to confirm that live and neutral are not reversed and

that the circuit is complete through the fuse of the plug. A polarity check is standard as laid out in the IET

Code of Practice.

The Insulation faults with four heaters would only be found if the appliances under test are switched to

the ON position. If not, the Insulation test current will only test up to the mains lead this could explain

why the readings obtained by XXX show as a pass with readings >199Mohms.

A toaster located in the self-catering kitchen was found to have an Insulation reading of 2.62Mohms

which, although above the minimum 1Mohm pass rate, shows deterioration in the integrity of the

appliance. It is recommended that this is replaced or repaired in the near future. The readings for the

same toaster provided by XXX was >199Mohms. The toaster would have to have the leavers engaged for

the test current to be applied through the appliance; I can only surmise that this was not done.

There is evidence to suggest that formal visual testing was not carried out on all appliances as a total of

14 of the failed appliances were due to physical damage. This test should be carried out correctly by any

engineer and is a critical part of the Inspection and testing procedure. It can pick up myriad potential

faults that even the most sophisticated electrical tester cannot detect.

Although all electrical appliances have now been correctly tested and dangerous and faulty appliances

identified and removed from service, it is important that management and staff do not see Portable

Appliance Testing as a panacea but continue to carry out their own in-house visual checks and risk

assessments.

A PAT label is not a guarantee of safety and it must be made clear that, over time, physical damage can

occur to the lead, plug or chassis of the appliance.

SALUS have implemented a method of systematically testing and recording faults and it is recommended

that this is continued.

SALUS have created alphanumeric bar code labels which have been attached to each appliance. These

labels should remain throughout the life of the appliance to make auditing and tracking equipment much

more efficient.

SALUS have provided an Excel spreadsheet which lists a complete asset register of all electrical

equipment with 12 separate tabs, one for each month of the year with tick check boxes against each

appliance. We have done this as a tool that management can use to ensure Cardfield continues to

remain compliant with relevant legislations. The spreadsheet is editable so that any new or redundant

equipment can be added or removed as required.

The PAT retest period should be decided by the user and the management. Factors that should be taken

into consideration when deciding retest periods are as follows:

1. Environment.

2. Construction.

3. Age of appliance.

4. Previous test results.

5. Frequency of use.

6. Visual Inspection.

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User visual checks would comprise of the following checks to ensure no damage:

1. Mains Socket.

2. Plug top.

3. Mains lead.

4. Power on/off Controls.

5. Appliance casing.

6. Environment where appliance is being used.

These checks should be carried out on a daily basis, but need not be recorded

All employees should be made aware of the relevant requirements of the following legislations, which

are documented within this report:

• The Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA).

• The Management of the Health & Safety at Work Act Regulations 1999.

• The Provision & Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

• The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (EWR).

• The Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA)

The latter Act places a duty upon employers to secure 'the health, safety and welfare of persons at work' and also any other persons connected with 'the activities of persons at work'.

An employer has a duty for 'the provision and maintenance of plant and systems of work that are, as far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to health'.

The Act places a duty upon an employer or self-employed person to secure the health and safety of persons 'not in his employment'. Collectively, the provisions laid down, place a duty upon all employers, self-employed persons and organisations which have premises that are open to the public, to ensure that persons working within or using their premises or facilities are safe.

The Management of the Health & Safety at Work Act Regulations 1999

In order that the HSWA can be effectively implemented in the workplace, every employer has to carry out a risk assessment to ensure that employees (and those not in their employ), are not subject to danger.

The Provision & Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998

Work equipment must be constructed in such a way that it is suitable for intended purpose. Once again, the employer is responsible for these arrangements. It is the duty of every employer to 'ensure that work equipment is so constructed or adapted as to be suitable for the purpose for which it is used or provided'.

The Regulations also cover the duty of employers to carry out risk assessments with regards to 'the health and safety of persons which exist in the premises'. Clearly, employers have a duty, not only to employees, but also to any visitors to their premises.

Covers maintenance under S.5. (1) 'Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair'. S.5(2) provides that maintenance logs be kept up to date.

Covers inspection under S.6(1) every employer shall ensure that work equipment is inspected: (a) 'after installation and before being put into service' (b) 'after assembly at a new site or location'. It can be seen

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that even new equipment should be inspected before use. Equipment moved to a new location should be inspected to ensure that it has been properly assembled and has not been damaged during transit. S.6(2) places a duty on every employer to ensure that work equipment subject to deterioration is inspected at: S.6(2)(a) 'suitable intervals' S.6(2)(b) 'each time that exceptional circumstances which are liable to jeopardise the safety of work equipment have occurred'.

They also provide that electrical systems and equipment be regularly inspected and tested to ensure that they are safe for use and that additional inspection and testing is necessary after possible damage due to fire, flood etc.

The inspection and testing should be carried out by a 'competent person', this being a person with the necessary skills, experience and qualifications.

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (EWR)

These regulations, in particular, are very relevant to the inspection and testing of in-service electrical equipment.

It states that, 'As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, such danger' and provides that electrical equipment shall be 'maintained in a condition suitable for that use'.

It can be seen that these regulations place a duty upon employers and owners to ensure that all electrical systems and equipment are regularly inspected and (if need be) repaired to ensure that they are safe to use.

There are two important definitions in the EWR: the electrical system and the duty holder.

Electrical system

This is anything that generates stores, transmits or uses electrical energy, from a power station to a wrist-watch battery. The latter would not give a person an electric shock, but could explode if heated, giving rise to possible injury from burns.

Duty holder

This is anyone (employer, employee, self-employed person etc.) who has 'control' of an electrical system. Control in this sense means designing, installing, working with or maintaining such systems. Duty holders have a legal responsibility to ensure their own safety and the safety of others whilst in control of an electrical system.

The EWR do not specifically mention portable appliance testing and inspection; they simply require electrical systems to be 'maintained' in a condition so as not to cause danger. However, the only way we know if a system needs to be maintained is if it is inspected and tested, and so the need for such inspection and testing of a system is implicit in the requirement for it to be maintained.

Anyone who inspects and tests and electrical system are, in law, a duty holder and must be competent to undertake such work.

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Appendix

Image 1

The CPC is not connected to the earth pin of the plug. The Iron had not been subjected to an Earth

Continuity test by XXX or visually checked.

Page 7

Image 2

This is the Iron which had the CPC removed from the earth pin.

.

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Image 3

As you can see from this image, the neutral core wires are barely connected to the pin; only a couple of

copper strands are connected. This could have caused the appliance to overheat.

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Image 4

The mains lead for the Sebo vacuum cleaner had tape wrapped around damage to the lead.

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Image 5

This is the Vacuum Cleaner with the damaged mains lead.

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Image 6

The heating control is missing from this heater.

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Image 7

This Image shows damage to the mains lead as it goes underneath and up to the metal casing of the

Buffalo Conveyor Toaster. It shows that visuals were not carried out thoroughly.

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Image 8

This is the PASS label from Facit for the Buffalo Conveyor Toaster.

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Image 9

The mains lead for the wood shredder has perished. This would have happened over time and should

have been spotted by Facit.

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Image 10

This is an Image of the wood shredder.

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Image 11

Where possible Salus has made repairs to damaged mains lead by cutting back the lead and fitted a new

plug.

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