PAT Testing News Round-Up - Issue 21

• Energy saving devices pose safety threat
• Electrical fault causes electrocution of plumber
• Apollo lift off at Safety and Health Expo 2013
• Electrical industry gala event
• New C&G PAT Courses provide best practice advice
• HAE guidance on electrical safety sent to members

Energy saving devices pose safety threat

Recent testing commissioned by the Electrical Safety Council (ESC) on a selection of plug-in energy saving devices has shown that not only were manufacturers’ energy saving claims unjustified, but also the products contained dangerous electrical safety failures.

The ESC’s safety and performance tests were carried out in an independent laboratory against general safety standards.

The manufacturers claim that these devices offer an energy saving or reduction in electricity costs of up to 35%. To test performance, the power consumption of a typical domestic television was measured with and without the energy saving device connected. None of the products showed an energy saving.

Additionally, none of the products passed the safety assessment with problems found, including accessible live parts, absence of an internal fuse protection, supplied with a substandard UK fitted plug, and insufficient resistance to heat and fire.

Although not necessarily an indication of a safety hazard, none of the samples had adequate safety marking, with three of them missing the CE-marking, which suggests that EU and corresponding UK safety laws are either blatantly not being applied or are being misunderstood.

Martyn Allen, Head of Technical Development at the ESC said: “While it is cause for concern that these products do not deliver the energy savings claimed by manufacturers, the electrical safety failures are extremely worrying. At best they are a waste of money. At worst they could cause serious injury.”.

The Trading Standards Institute´s consumer and product safety lead officer Christine Heemskerk said: "We are urging consumers not to use these products as tests have shown that not only do they not deliver tangible energy savings, they also can pose a fire and electrocution risk.

More details at www.esc.org.uk

Electrical fault causes electrocution of plumber

A Bristol property development firm has been prosecuted after a plumber was electrocuted while installing a washing machine.

The HSE reported that the worker was killed while working on the appliance in the kitchen of a house in Clifton, Bristol in March 2008.

During the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecution of employers Birakos Enterprises Limited, Bristol Magistrates´ Court heard the socket that powered the washing machine was wired incorrectly.

Despite the kitchen´s electrics being signed off as safe by the electrical division of Birakos Enterprises Limited, it was discovered the live and earth wires had been put into the socket incorrectly, meaning the washing machine became electrically live when plugged in.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Steven Frain said: "The fault should have been found during testing but this fault was left unresolved and ultimately led to the death of a young father."

Birakos Enterprises Limited of Clifton Wood House, Clifton Wood Road, Bristol was found guilty of breaching Regulation 4 (1) and 16 of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined a total of £125,000 and ordered to pay costs of £50,000.

More at www.hse.org

Apollo lift off at Safety and Health Expo 2013

Put a date in your diary to visit Hall 1 Stand H4 at the Safety and Health Expo 2013 in May to see Seaward’s latest electrical tester that establishes a brand new approach to portable appliance testing and maintaining workplace safety.

Designed in line with the 4th Edition of the IET Code of Practice, the multipurpose Apollo 600 portable appliance tester includes a host of special features to assist the user and ensure a proportionate response to the inspection and testing of electrical equipment in line with the latest guidance.

Uniquely, the innovative Apollo 600 is equipped with onboard risk assessment tools and an integral digital camera to ensure risk assessments are carried out correctly and that results are stored against sites, locations and assets along with visual evidence if required.

The new tester includes all of the electrical safety tests required by the IET Code of Practice including, earth continuity, insulation resistance at 250V or 500V, protective conductor current, touch current, IEC lead polarity and portable RCD trip time, without the risk of tripping the installation RCD.

In addition to testing plug in appliances, the Apollo 600 is also fully equipped to test fixed electrical equipment as required by the new Code of Practice.

For broader workplace safety tasks, the new instrument also provides a simple and effective means of compiling complete reports for many other workplace inspections and testing requirements including fire alarm and detection systems

For full details please visit www.apollo600.com and www.safety-health-expo.co.uk.