2.4 Building, Electricity, Gas Supplies and Appliances

1. Buildings

If staff become aware that any equipment, facilities or parts of the building are unsafe they should take reasonable steps to make the area safe and then report it immediately to the Manager if there is a significant risk. The Team Leader or Manager will take responsibility for ensuring that proper steps are taken to make the area safe and make necessary arrangements for repair.

There should be a single line drawing of the building showing floor plans with the isolation points for the electric, gas and water clearly highlighted. This plan should be displayed within the main office or in an easily accessible area for staff.

All repairs should be risk assessed to determine the risks associated with the defect, and suitable control measures should be put in place to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the young people, staff and general public.

Non-emergency repairs must be recorded in a Repairs Log which will be undertaken/co-coordinated by the Maintenance Manager.

Emergency repairs must be reported immediately by the Group Manager to the Maintenance Manager. (and recorded in the Maintenance Log) who will make suitable arrangements. If the Maintenance Manager is not available it may be appropriate and/or necessary to utilise outside contractors see Section 12 of the Maintenance/Repairs Procedure. - by agreement with the Group Manager of the resource.

2. Electricity Supply

Beyond the setting of a trip switch, staff must not carry out work on, or tamper with any electricity supply cables, power points or electrical appliances.

All new staff should be made aware of the location and function of trip switches.

If the trip fails more than once, it should not be reset; it should be taped over to prevent another staff member attempting to reset the circuit/device and the Maintenance Manager contacted.

If a faulty or dangerous supply cable, power point, switch or appliance is discovered, staff should ensure the item is switched off, placarded and marked with a non-removable notice or removed as appropriate with due regard for safety.

Then the Duty manager must be informed immediately. This applies particularly to items belonging to young people who are likely to ignore safety warnings.

Before a property is used by the company, the Maintenance Manager will ensure that an electrical inspection is made by an NICEC approved electrician and that further inspections are done according to his recommendations.

Staff should not carry out repairs or even fit plugs, unless they are authorized to do so.

Clifford House should ensure that temporary wiring is safe as a permanent installation and be replaced by a permanent installation as soon as practicable if it is likely to be needed for a period longer than three months.

3. Electrical Equipment

New electrical equipment provided by the company must be marked before use with an appropriate sticker showing when it is to be first used. The company will avoid using second hand equipment where possible, but if it is used, then it must be P.A.T. tested and the item marked before use.

Thereafter all electrical equipment will be tested according to the following schedule below:

Testing Schedule
Information technology e.g. desktop computers, VDU screens	Yes - 2 years	No if double insulated - otherwise up to 4 yrs
Photocopiers, fax machines: NOT handheld. Rarely moved.	Yes - 2 years	No if double insulated - otherwise up to 4 yrs
Double insulated equipment: NOT hand held. Moved occasionally e.g. fans, table lamps, slide projectors	Yes - 2 years	Not required
Double Insulated equipment: HAND-HELD e.g. some floor cleaners	Yes - 6 months	No
Earthed equipment (Class 1) e.g. electric kettles, some floor cleaners	Yes - 6 months	Yes - 1 year
Cables (Leads) & plugs connected to the above. Extension leads (Mains voltage)	Yes - 6 months - 4 yrs depending on the type of equipment it is connected to.	Yes - 1-5 years depending on the type of equipment it is connected to.

If any person suspects that an electrical item is defective in any way, then it must not be used. It must be labelled as faulty and, if possible, removed to a secure place pending repair. Items beyond repair should have the plugs either removed or completely smashed to prevent any possible use. Care must be taken not to cut leads so that a plug can be put into a socket and leave exposed wires that could be live.

Small electrical equipment bought by young people for their own use will be inspected by staff as part of the welcome and admission process. If any item appears to be defective in any way, then the item will be removed from the young person so that a formal check or repair can be carried out by a qualified person. If necessary, defective equipment will be replaced at the company's expense.

Small electrical equipment, bought onto the company's property by staff for their own use must be inspected by a competent member of staff before use and PAT tested. If they have any doubts as to its safety, they should refer to the Maintenance Manager so that a proper inspection can be made. Larger items i.e. electric fires, fridges and washing machines must be checked by the Maintenance Manager before use. If any item is brought on to the company's property for other than personal use, then it must be inspected by the Maintenance Manager or suitably qualified person before use and marked accordingly.

4. Gas Safety

When a member of staff starts work at a Home for the first time they should ensure that they know the location of all gas tanks or mains gas pipes and also the taps that cut off and isolate gas supplies to the premises.

4.1 Gas Leaks

If a member of staff discovers or is informed of a gas leak, then they need to take immediate action as follows.

Any naked flame in the area, including lighted cigarettes, must be extinguished.
Raise the alarm with other members of staff, and evacuate the area.
Investigate the source of the leak.
- If the source is not immediately obvious e.g. a tap on a cooker left on, the gas supply to the building must be turned off outside the building.
- If the supply is mains gas, the tap will be in the meter box.
- If the supply is LPG from a tank, there will be a tap on top of the tank and another where the supply enters the building. iv. Then the doors and windows should be opened to allow remaining gas to escape. Although not poisonous, people can be overcome by gas through lack of oxygen; therefore staff should exercise great care when entering a gas filled room to investigate a leak. Even the smallest leak can produce a lingering smell that can make it difficult to detect the source. Unless staff can detect the source with confidence and stop it easily i.e. by turning a tap off or disconnecting an appliance, they should inform the Maintenance Manager at once for further advice. They must never attempt repairs themselves. v. If a Carbon Monoxide alarm sounds, doors & windows should be opened and the building evacuated at once. If anybody may have been affected by Carbon Monoxide gas, then medical attention should be sought at once, as Carbon Monoxide is extremely poisonous, even in small amounts.

5. Gas Equipment

Gas boilers on all properties will be inspected annually by a CORGI approved

gas installer. The Maintenance Manager will ensure this happens and records of inspection kept at Head Office. Other gas equipment will be inspected by the Maintenance Manager and maintenance arranged as appropriate.

Compressed Gas Cylinders

Compressed gas cylinders (transportable gas containers) are widely used throughout the working environment, providing an essential part of many industrial, medical and commercial processes. These can be used safely by following these basic principles.

Handle all compressed gas cylinders carefully, keeping them upright and secured in transit and protected from excessive heat.
Provide adequate information to employees involved in the handling or use of compressed gas cylinders to enable them to identify and understand the risks associated with each product being handled.
Implement procedures for all employees working with compressed gas cylinders to enable them to carry out their work in a safe and effective manner.

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