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Office & home office |
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Laboratory | ||
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Church | ||
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Shop | ||
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Fast food outlet | ||
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Rented properties |
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Surgery | ||
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Hotel | ||
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School | ||
Have you been flooded out recently?
We received a request from a couple to pat test their home electrical appliances, I as usual enquired if they were operating a business from home( because normally private homes are not covered by electricity at work regulations). Apparently even though it was their only home, due to a flood their insurance company requested that they get every flood affected electrical appliance pat tested, and they were not allowed to use any of these appliances until we had checked and passed them as safe.
Consequently we attended and did the pat testing work asap in fact on a Saturday afternoon just hours following our clients call to day & night pat testing.
New Health & Safety Offences Act 2009
Important Changes to the Health and Safety Act
The Health and Safety (Offences) Act came into force in January 2009. This Act raises the maximum penalty that can be imposed for breaching health and safety law from £5,000 to £20,000 and broadens the range of offences for which someone can be imprisoned.
Previously, imprisonment was a rarely imposed penalty and only for very few offences, but it is now possible for most health and safety offences. The maximum term of imprisonment is two years, plus an unlimited fine. Employees can now be prosecuted if they haven't taken reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves or other persons affected by their acts or omissions, or where they have not co-operated with their employers in health and safety matters. And individual directors, managers and officers can be prosecuted where a failure can be attributed to their neglect, consent or connivance.
It is worth remembering that health and safety offences reverse the burden of proof, placing the onus on the defendant to prove their innocence. This may well be subject to a challenge under human rights legislation but stands for the time being.
Get your decks checked!
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