ELECTRICAL SAFETY
APPLYING SAFETY TO APPLIANCES
In the electrical industry, where the very focus of the work is potentially deadly, safety is paramount; Seaward is celebrating 35 years of keeping people safe.
For over three decades, Seaward has been developing innovative portable appliance testers (PATs), software and accessories for the industry. The company has recently been running a series of free PAT workshops at locations in the UK and Ireland to underline the importance of this fundamental practice. The industry evidence shows that a large number of the risks, injuries and deaths caused by misused or faulty electrical equipment can be prevented when proper electrical checking, inspection and safety testing procedures are in place. Furthermore, Government statistics for 2015-16 show more than 6,200 domestic fires were caused by an appliance or supply fault.
Given the tragic example of the Grenfell Tower fire, Seaward has now called for new laws requiring landlords and local authorities to carry out inspection and testing of electrical equipment.
Andrew Upton, the company’s Managing Director said: “The Grenfell tragedy is believed to have started via a faulty fridge-freezer and the statistics for domestic fires in the UK also speak for themselves.
“Attention has quite rightly been turned to the cladding on Grenfell Tower, but the potential root cause has not been considered as widely. The risk of terrible events such as this happening again can be minimised by addressing cladding, but we also need to make sure landlords and local authorities carry out very basic electrical tests.
“PAT testing is a fast, safe and affordable process and improving its regulation means tenants can be reassured that their electrical devices are safe to use.”
Seaward is at the forefront of new PAT technology; this has increasingly powerful data-handling capabilities that are making the jobs of electricians and duty holders much quicker and straightforward.
The new technology means much easier generation of reports, certificates and the scheduling of future tests and inspections, all of which cuts down on paperwork.
“WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
LANDLORDS AUTHORITIES CARRY OUT BASIC ELECTRICAL TESTS.”
Multi-functional devices are also making testing more efficient; Seaward’s most advanced testing device, the Apollo 600, is augmented with a camera. It also allows the user to program their own inspecting and testing sequences, including PPE, ladder checks, emergency lighting, vehicle inspections, Legionella and many more. The Apollo 500 integrates a risk assessment calculator alongside the ability to test to IET 4th Edition Code of Practice. The calculator lets inspectors quickly determine optimal retest periods.
Another innovation in current devices is the ability to store test records. Everything in the Apollo Series can be used to assign each appliance with a unique barcode and asset number.
When an appliance is retested, the device automatically ‘remembers’ it, runs the right sequence and records the results ready to be downloaded at a later date in Seaward’s PATGuard 3 record keeping and reporting software.
The key for test technology designers is ensuring there’s a range of devices that meet the whole sector’s needs. That’s why designers and engineers at Seaward have developed products with varying capabilities, from the simple no- nonsense PrimeTest 50 to the comprehensive Apollo 600. The range is always moving forward - always developing, improving and innovating.
Andrew added: “We’ve heard a lot from businesses and politicians in the past about supposed ‘red tape’ and the detrimental effect it can have on growth. The fact of the matter is that, used in the right way, it can help to save lives.”
Seaward remains pre-eminent in placing safety at the heart of the electrical industry; its emphasis on PAT workshops is also supported by online webinars and excellent online support including constantly-updated FAQs and technical documents.
www.seaward.co.uk 26
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