Council carrying out electricity safety checks in catering premises

North Lincolnshire Council has launched a new health and safety project to check all electrical equipment and systems in catering premises across the county are safe and being properly maintained.
North Lincolnshire Council LogoNorth Lincolnshire Council Logo
North Lincolnshire Council Logo

After a number of recent incidents across the country that led to employees being seriously injured due to defective electrical systems and equipment, the council decided to launch this project.

The aim of the project is to prevent incidents like this happening and ensure that premises are following the correct health and safety procedures.

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The council’s Food and Safety team will be running the project and visiting catering premises throughout North Lincolnshire from September 1, 2015.

By law all premises should have a suitable maintenance programme for all electrical systems and equipment. And to ensure that employees are trained to use the equipment safely. As part of the maintenance programme, work must only be undertaken by a competent person.

The project will involve an inspection of catering premises identified as being high risk to confirm their current level of compliance with legal requirements to make sure that their electrical equipment is managed and maintained.

During the inspection, the premises will be asked to provide an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) (if available) and their electrical appliances will be assessed to ensure that they have been maintained in a safe condition.

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The Food and Safety team has identified 150 premises out of around 600 premises across North Lincolnshire to take part in the testing. These premises have been chosen following food safety inspections for having room for improvement.

Councillor Neil Poole, cabinet member for Neighbourhoods, said: “We have sent a letter out to catering premises in North Lincolnshire to make them aware of the health and safety project.

“An officer from the Food and Safety team will visit each of these premises to carry out the checks. Alongside the letter, we’ve provided these businesses with information and guidance to ensure they are prepared for the checks. This gives them the opportunity to make sure they have all the correct procedures in place before the visits start in September.

“Where businesses fail to meet the necessary standards we will take action according to the risk presented. They have been given plenty of notice to ensure they are ready and reminded of the standards required. It is vital that all premises follow health and safety procedures for electrical equipment and systems to prevent incidents occurring.”

This project abides by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.

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