Electrical Safety Policy

Transcription

1 Electrical Safety Policy By acting with a business head and social heart, together we achieve our mission to enhance life chances by helping people to fulfil their potential and live better, more independent lives. 1 Scope 1.1 This policy applies to general needs and supported/sheltered housing owned or managed by the partners within Circle Housing ( we, us ), including communal areas. It also applies to rented housing managed by Centra Support and Centra Living. 1.2 In this policy and procedure, Circle Housing ( we, us ) refers to all Circle Housing Registered Providers and Centra. 2 Policy Statement 2.1 As owners and managers of homes, we have a duty of care to ensure that residents and visitors can use the relevant buildings and facilities safely. This extends to mitigating the risks associated with electrical appliances in domestic properties. 2.2 Keeping residents safe from harm is paramount. There is legislation and regulation relevant to this area which we will comply with to help keep residents safe. Our organisational commitment to health and safety is set out in Circle Housing s Health and Safety policy. 3 Background 3.1 Electricity can be dangerous. The Health and Safety Executive receive over 1000 reports of accidents involving shock or burns each year. Even non-fatal shocks can cause permanent injury and ultimately, faulty electrical installations can cause loss of life. 3.2 This document details the standards required for electrical safety, installation, repairs and testing within our owned and managed rented properties and specifies how we will comply with them. It covers residents homes, communal areas, garages, outbuildings and remote plant and applies to all external and internal contractors carrying out electrical works. It will also be made available to electricians undertaking fixed electrical testing. Electrical Safety Policy January 2014 Page 1 of 8

2 4 Responsibility for Electrical Safety Duty Holder 4.1 Under legislation, the employer or the legal person who has control of the premises is ultimately responsible for electrical safety. In law, they are known as the Duty Holder. At Circle Housing, the Duty Holder is the individual Registered Provider (RP) who owns that property. 4.2 At Circle Housing, the Director of Property Services in each region is responsible for ensuring compliance with this policy, meeting all statutory requirements and delivering our electrical safety commitments in their region. Performance of the Duty Holder is delegated by each RP to the regional Director of Property Services. These duties include ensuring that our properties hold a current electrical safety certificate and all electrical installations are tested and certified prior to letting. The full range of duties is set out in detail in Section 5 below. Agency-Managed Properties 4.3 Where the RP owns properties that are managed outside of Circle Housing, we retain ultimate responsibility for electrical safety and the RP retains ultimate responsibility. 4.4 Where Centra Living or Centra Support is the managing agent of the RP s properties, the RP likewise retains ultimate responsibility. 4.5 Where Centra Living manages properties on behalf of external owners, responsibility is set out in the terms of the management agreement. Role of Boards 4.6 It is the role of the Board to proactively seek robust assurance that all health and safety legislation is being complied with; that the risks are identified and managed, with the proper controls and assurance reporting in place. The Board is responsible for ensuring their business complies with the Regulator s Home Standard and all consumer protection duties. 5 Our Commitments 5.1 We will: Invest in, as a minimum, a 3-yearly programme of electrical installation testing and upgrading of remote plant. Invest in a 5-yearly programme of electrical installation testing and upgrading of common areas, sheltered housing schemes and supported schemes. Conduct a programme of 10-yearly inspections as a minimum in all other cases. Electrical Safety Policy January 2014 Page 2 of 8

3 Ensure that all properties hold a current electrical safety certificate and all electrical installations are tested and certified prior to letting. Only use contractors employing Competent Persons who are registered with a relevant Scheme Provider. Ensure that appropriate legal action is taken should residents refuse to provide access for testing and maintenance. Ensure that all staff responsible for carrying out this policy receive regular training to the appropriate level. Staff Responsibilities 5.2 All staff should look out for danger signs from electrical appliances. Any concerns must be reported immediately. Resident Responsibilities 5.3 Generally, we are not responsible for the safety of residents cookers, or for fixed or portable appliances or any other installations. This is even where they have been installed with our prior approval. Residents are responsible for the upkeep of their own cookers. 5.4 The actions of residents may affect the electrical safety of a building. If residents carry out their own upgrade which involves the electrical installation, we require a copy of a valid certificate. 5.5 If a resident has undertaken or arranged work that is later found to be defective, the supply may be terminated and we may invoke the Recharge Policy if we have had to pay for repair work. 5.6 We may also direct the tenant to put in place the necessary arrangements to put right the faulty installation. This is irrespective of whether the resident had permission from us for the work to be undertaken. 5.7 Care and support staff should be aware that vulnerable residents may have behaviours such as hoarding which may compromise electrical safety and appropriate action will be taken to reduce the risk of harm. 6 Audit, Compliance and Review 6.1 Because this is such a high-risk area, we carry an external audit every two years as a minimum. This is supported by regular internal audit of electrical safety. 6.2 Our internal Asset Risk team continually monitors and tests compliance with procedures. 6.3 The Contracts Manager (Statutory) has responsibility to ensure that contractors are compliant with all relevant health and safety legislation in their region. Electrical Safety Policy January 2014 Page 3 of 8

4 6.4 We will manage compliance and keep accurate records, which are stored and updated using the Circle Housing-wide database. 6.5 Annual reviews of contractor health and safety procedures are carried out, as well as regular review of contractor compliance and performance. 6.6 This policy is reviewed annually, validated externally and updated whenever legislation changes. 7 Key Compliance Standards 7.1 We comply with the following obligations and monitor internal and external contractors to ensure these are followed at all times: Standards for Installation 7.2 Our electrical installations will comply with BS7671 (IET Wiring Regulations) including all amendments current at the date of the electrical works, and Part P Building Regulations. 7.3 Part P came into effect 1 January It requires that all electrical works in homes and common areas are correctly designated, tested and certified by a Competent Person, in accordance with BS7671 IET Wiring Regulations. Competent Persons Scheme 7.4 We only use contractors employing Competent Persons, registered with a relevant Competent Scheme Provider. 7.5 A Competent Person must be approved by the Department for Communities and Local Government, which assesses whether they are sufficiently qualified to self-certify that work complies with Part P of the Building Regulations. Scheme Providers 7.6 A Scheme Provider is an official body in which a Competent Person must be registered in order to carry out work. There are currently many Scheme Providers under which a Competent Person can be registered, an up to date list of providers can by found on the Communities website. Scheme Providers RP s have used previously include: BSI British Standards Institution ELECSA EC Certification Ltd NAPIT Napit Registration Ltd NICEIC NICEIC Group Ltd Notification of any electrical works to the local Building Control department is completed through the Scheme Provider. The contractor gives the details of the work undertaken to Electrical Safety Policy January 2014 Page 4 of 8

5 the Scheme Provider, who then notifies Building Control. The local Building Control department will then issue a Building Compliance certificate to the commissioning RP. 7.8 For all Notifiable Work stipulated under Part P the contractor will inform the Scheme Provider of the address where work was completed as well as the date that the works were completed; the type of certificate issued and any other work carried out that is covered under any of the other Building Regulations. 7.9 The Scheme Provider will issue us with a hard copy Building Regulations Compliance certificate. This must be within 30 days of completion of the work. We retain copies of these certificates. IET (Institution of Engineering & Technology) 7.10 We will comply with the 17 th Edition of the IET (Institution of Engineering & Technology) Wiring Regulations (BS 7671: 2008 Incorporating Amendment No. 1: 2011). The amendments to the 17 th Edition came into force 1 st January All domestic wiring installations must now be designed, constructed, inspected, tested and certified to meet the requirements of the above standard Any defined amendments or alterations to installations designed before 1 July 2008 must comply with the 17 th Edition. However, where there are minor changes to an older installation, compliance with the 17 th Edition may not be mandatory While existing installations need to be assessed against the requirements of the 17th Edition, this does not necessarily mean that they require upgrading, unless a departure from the latest requirements constitutes an immediate or potential danger. Health and Safety 7.13 The appointed contractor undertaking electrical work will work in compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and all other current relevant legislation and approved codes of practice. 8 Electrical Testing and Certification 8.1 Through our investment programmes, we will ensure that all tenanted homes have a valid certificate issued by a Scheme Provider and meet all current statutory requirements. These certificates will be available in a readily accessible format and will be passed to the contractor before any works are undertaken. 8.2 New installations, rewires and partial modifications to existing wiring must be issued with an electrical test certificate. The type of certificate is determined by the nature of the work and could be one of the following: Electrical Installation Certificate Domestic Installation Certificate Electrical Safety Policy January 2014 Page 5 of 8

6 Minor Works Certificate Hard-wired Appliances 8.3 We are responsible for any hard-wired appliances that we own within our rented properties. We keep registers of appliances. 8.4 There is no obligation for leaseholders or homeowners to provide themselves with a valid certificate. 9 Electrical Upgrade and Testing Programme Electrical Upgrade 9.1 Each home included within the electrical upgrade programme will be upgraded as far as is practical, in a cost-effective manner, so as to comply with the current version of BS7671 (IET Wiring Regulations) and Part P of the Building Regulations, resulting in the issue of: a Satisfactory Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) an appropriate electrical test certificate a Building Regulations compliance certificate. Testing Programme 9.2 All general needs properties will be targeted for testing at least once every ten years, with the timings of later test periods determined in conjunction with the attending test engineer. 9.3 For Houses in Multiple Occupation (as defined by the Housing Act 2004), tests will be carried out every five years, as required by the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation Regulations We will provide a copy of the latest certificate to the Local Authority on demand. 9.4 All supported/sheltered housing will have their electrical installations inspected at least every five years, or more often if directed by the relevant Local Authority registration officer. Satisfactory Scheme Provider certificates will be provided on completion of inspections or works. 9.5 All remote plant, which includes district heating boilers and sewage treatment plants, will have their electrical installations inspected at least every three years. Satisfactory Scheme Provider certificates will be provided on completion of inspections or works. Electrical Safety Policy January 2014 Page 6 of 8

7 10 Responsive Repairs 10.1 Electrical repairs will be reported to the landlord and an allocated electrical contractor will be appointed to carry out the scheduled repairs or test in accordance within the given response time A copy of the most current electrical certificate will be made available to the test engineer. A valid Scheme Provider certificate will be issued following the completion of any works or alterations that have an effect on the electrical installation in a property. 11 New Units 11.1 Electrical certificates for handovers will be passed to the regional property team along with a schedule and certificates stored against that property record. 12 Other Tenures 12.1 This policy applies to all rented housing stock managed by Centra Living, including those with Intermediate Rent or Market Rent tenure We are not responsible for the testing, maintenance and/or replacement of the electrical installations for Shared Ownership and Leasehold properties. The responsibility is that of the homeowner Where Centra Living manage leased temporary housing units, the owner is responsible for the electrical safety. Centra Living will receive copies of all certificates relating to electrical safety for each property as the lease is renewed. 13 Voids and Mutual Exchanges 13.1 All voids and mutual exchanges will have an electrical test carried out before re-letting. 14 Portable Appliances 14.1 We are not responsible for portable appliances within tenants homes. These are the responsibility of tenants. A definition of Portable Appliances is covered in the glossary The only exception to this is in sheltered accommodation, where portable appliances may have been supplied to residents, or equipment provided by us to Premises Managers where they are directly employed by us Where Sheltered Schemes have supplied portable appliances, these are checked with an annual Portable Appliance (PAT) Test carried out by a suitably qualified Competent Person. Residents will be contacted to arrange a convenient appointment for the test. Electrical Safety Policy January 2014 Page 7 of 8

8 14.4 Residents are responsible for portable appliances in their properties that they own. We advise them in our tenant handbook to check plugs and cable flexes regularly for wear and tear Electrical equipment supplied by us and used at resident events will require PAT testing. 15 Monitoring 15.1 The regional property team will monitor: contractor documentation, compliance and performance appropriate number of post-inspections of works undertaken contractor Health and Safety budgets record keeping We are responsible for the completeness of received certificates. In order to do so we may arrange for external validation or sampling. Scanned copies of all certificates will be recorded on Orchard or equivalent system. 16 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion 16.1 At Circle Housing, we have adopted equality, diversity and inclusion as core values and place all our policies in the context of the following objectives: ensuring that all our customers and staff are treated with dignity and respect ensuring that the opportunities we provide for learning, personal development and employment are made available on a non-discriminatory basis providing a safe, supportive and welcoming environment for staff, customers and visitors 16.2 We seek to be a genuinely inclusive organisation and our aim is to integrate equality and diversity in all aspects of our day-to-day activity We are committed to supporting customers and staff access information in a way that suits individual needs. Please get in touch with your local office to discuss this We welcome text relay calls. Customers should dial first and then the number that they require. Electrical Safety Policy January 2014 Page 8 of 8