The dangers associated with the use of faulty electrical and electronic equipment can be costly in both human and corporate terms. As a result, over the years, the introduction of legislation, the pressures of insurance companies and the threat of financial penalties and litigation have all prompted a broad understanding of the importance of ensuring that electrical and electronic equipment in the workplace remains safe and does not pose any dangers to users.

The Health & Safety At Work Act 1974 puts a duty of care upon both employer and employee to ensure the safety of all persons using the work premises, but the particular legal requirements relating to the use and maintenance of electrical equipment are contained in the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (EAWR).

Regulation 4(2) of the EAWR requires that all electrical systems are maintained so as to prevent danger. This requirement covers all items of electrical equipment, including fixed, portable and transportable equipment. Crucially, Regulation 29 adds that a suitable defence is proof that all reasonable steps and due diligence were exercised in avoiding unsafe regulations.

As an indication of the scale of the problem, HSE statistics show that each year there are around 1,000 accidents at work involving electric shock or burns. In addition, 2,000 fires a year are caused by faulty leads to appliances and, on average, there are 15 fatal accidents per year linked to electrical equipment.

In such circumstances, not only do these sort of incidents pose a serious threat to corporate reputation, but financial viability is also at risk, given the likely impact of litigation and the impact of new corporate manslaughter charges.

Service and rental centres recognise the importance of safety testing after workshop repair or maintenance, but the same safety considerations need to be applied to office equipment, IT systems and other appliances used in the workplace. For example, how can gradual deterioration in the electrical integrity of a vending machine be identified or a potentially dangerous fault in a piece of IT equipment be diagnosed?

Against this background, maintenance manager, facilities managers and others with responsibility for ensuring safety in the workplace have come to recognise the value of testing, measurement and reporting solutions to ensure that in-service equipment and electrical appliances do not pose a safety hazard.

Consequently, this understanding has also extended to the service function, where service engineers responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of installed equipment or systems have added safety testing to their normal test routines.

The importance of effective preventative maintenance programmes has been recognised by the HSE. Earlier this year, as part of the findings linked to an incident in which a worker sustained serious injuries caused by a faulty piece of electrical equipment, the HSE commented that, 'had an inspect and test been carried out... the deterioration could have been identified and the injury prevented' and that '... it is also very important that employers assess the suitability of their electrical test equipment'.

Of particular importance is the need to be able to identify any faults or gradual deterioration in the electrical integrity of any item of electrical equipment. It is also vital to confirm that safety measures incorporated in any electronic item during manufacture remain intact after any repairs or maintenance have been carried out.

Test instrument manufacturers have responded to this demand with a new generation of safety testing instrumentation. The most advanced of these testers is the new multi-function PrimeTest 200 from Seaward, which not only checks the safety of the electrical equipment, but is also capable of ensuring that the power supply itself also remains safe.

The special tester has been designed for the fast and effective in-service testing of electrical equipment by field service engineers and domestic appliance installers.

The new unit is the first of its type to combine electrical safety testing functions for equipment and appliances with installation checks to verify building wiring conditions. In addition, the PrimeTest 200 also incorporates conventional digital multimeter functions.

Smarter test technology not only ensures the continued safety of the working environment, but also plays a vital role in helping companies provide added value testing, measurement and reporting solutions.