Veriserv are here to support your business during the Covid-19 pandemic with an electrical testing and more.

Currently whether it be in business or at a personal level, we are all being advised by the government and health officials to keep our distance and be safe during the on-going Covid-19 pandemic.

Some businesses are in the position where they can allow people to work from home and take advantage of the “furlough scheme” to support their staff. However, many of our customers are “hands-on” requiring their staff to be present to carry out necessary work or maintain systems. Clearly at the same time, the medical advisors stress that people working from home or attending the workplace, should continue to seek medical help if they have any new serious conditions or need to attend on going appointments and treatments.

In these difficult times, Veriserv wish to advise existing and potential customers that there is no need to delay protecting you and your business’ electrical testing, or electrical check, electrical and mechanical installation, security and fire safety services. At Veriserv we are perfectly set up to fill in the gaps in service provision due to such unforeseen circumstances.

business covid-19 electrical testing

Companies may not have the capacity with your own reduced workforce and engineers to serve your customers effectively, but you have a commitment to do so. Your reputation depends upon it so tap into our extensive network of nationally located and directly employed engineers, covering multiple disciplines, not just electrical check as an extension of your own service. At Veriserv we are perfectly set up to fill gaps in service provision due to such unforeseen circumstances.

Another positive point may be that during these quieter times, it may be the time for companies to re-evaluate their current electrical testing, electrical and mechanical installation, security and fire safety services set-up and take the opportunity to contact a professional company like ours to evaluate their needs.

Finally on a financial point, companies are under extreme pressure at present to deliver their profit requirements. Veriserv can help you to:

  • Protect your profit margins by not employing extra, costly engineers who aren’t needed all of the time.
  • Access a flexible, multi-disciplined team of engineers who you can simply switch on – or off – as required.
  • Improve your productivity by not having engineers sat idle when they’re not needed

Remember that if your company is forced to reduce or stop their working procedures for a length of time, it is prudent of the company to check electrical and fire installations before start-up through a reputable company. Veriserv serve both these sectors and allowing such surveys to be completed by just one company.

Our engineers are here to help advise and carry out necessary installation and follow-up service programmes.

Our website covers all our contact details and please ensure all assistance will be in the safest way possible during this time.

If you have any questions or want to book a free assessment of your premises fill out our contact form or call 01543 225306 to speak to a member of our team.

Electrical Safety in the Workplace: What are you obligated to do?

The maze of regulations and rules surrounding businesses can be blinding at the best of times, but the last thing you want to do is break a Law that is easy to put in place. Whether you are a new business owner, or manager of an established business with new equipment, electrical safety in the workplace is one requirement that can be easily fulfilled.

While the law does not require electrical testing to be carried out, it does require your electrical equipment to be safe at all times.

electrical safety in the workplace

Electricity will always find the easiest path to earth. Any faults or weaknesses within your electrical installation or portable appliances can go undetected and electrical safety should be of paramount importance. In the event of another fault developing, this could lead to serious risk of fire, electrocution or death.

For example, a socket circuit without earth continuity could render all metal parts of appliances plugged into it “LIVE”  if the item developed a fault to earth.

In 1989 The Electricity at Work Regulations came into force, which clarifies the need to maintain electrical systems for electrical safety. Regulations require that “all electrical tools and equipment used by construction workers must be safe to use” and that “any electric tools hired out to end-users must be safe to use”.

In the workplace the regulations specify that employers take steps to limit the risk of harm from electricity and electrical systems, and this includes both electrical installations and electrical equipment.

These regulations apply to most electrical equipment – consumer, commercial and industrial – operating between 50 volts and 1,000 volts AC or between 75 volts and 1,500 volts DC.

The only way to ensure every effort is made towards a safe workplace, and to ensure you can back up your hard work if things go wrong, is to have regular electrical testing carried out on all the electrical equipment at your workplace. This will accurately identify faults, their locations and usually the recommended solution.

Increasingly, insurers are insisting that inspection and testing be carried out on a regular basis. If you suffer an avoidable accident, then under law if found guilty you will be deemed to have committed a criminal offence. Insurers will not pay fines or compensation for losses suffered resulting from a criminal offence

Compared to the hassle and possible costs of a problem developing, getting your installations and appliances tested is easy and normally quite affordable.

The IET recommend that Electrical Installations are tested every 10 years (for domestic), 5 years (for commercial) or 3 years (for industrial).

Depending on the risk-rating for a particular item, Portable Appliance Testing should be carried out every 3-48 months dependant on a risk assessment.

High risk items include site equipment and workshop equipment, often involved in heavy workloads under arduous conditions, and far more likely to develop a fault in a shorter period of time than office equipment.

Worries over power-interruptions and work disruption can be eased, as electrical testing rarely causes such delays. A short power outage can be expected on each circuit within the system as testing is carried out, but because most of the testing is carried out whilst the system is still live, these outages can be planned around your daily activities.

When choosing an Electrical Testing Surveyor or other contractor to carry out your tests, ensure they charge by circuit numbers and not floor space (which has no bearing on how much circuitry there may or may not be in any given square foot).

Also ensure you are going to receive proper and elaborative reports and paperwork for your reports, to give you ample documentation for your efforts.

It is also a good idea to look for a company that holds a certification traceable through to UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service), ensuring they are accredited with the appropriate qualifications and standards for the job.

Finding such a qualified professional to carry out your electrical testing satisfies all of the legal requirements for your workplace, and covers you and your employees for the future in the eyes of the law – subject, of course, to any remedial work requirements being addressed as identified by testing.

If you have any questions around electrical safety, or any electrical inspection and testing simply fill out our contact form to book your free assessment, or call 01543 225306 to speak to a member of our team.

What is Fixed Wire Testing and an EICR?

Put simply, Fixed Wire Testing is the physical inspection and testing of electrical wiring installations such as main panels, circuits, socket outlets, lighting, air conditioning, etc. Note that given the need in most cases to disconnect electrical circuits, this form of inspection requires advanced planning to minimise disturbance and perhaps scheduling the work outside normal hours.

After Fixed Wire Testing an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is issued highlighting any action required with any highly dangerous observations to be actioned immediately.

Observations are ranked according to their severity with those of most concern and requiring immediate action Code C1 or less severe but of potential danger Code C2 and Code F/I for items requiring further investigation such as unidentified circuits.

Fixed Wire Testing

In some cases, observations may fall outside current regulations but are not dangerous, and these are coded C3. Observations in either Codes C1, C2 of F/I will need to be rectified in order for compliance with electrical safety regulations and the installation to be deemed as satisfactory.

Fixed Wire Testing not only ensures compliance with Health & Safety regulations, but also various policy requirements for commercial insurers.

Wire testing is incredibly important to keep you and your employees safe. If you have any questions or would like us to arrange an assessment of your premises, please call 01543 225306, or fill our contact form.