Like any other business establishment, retailers need to carry out sufficient electrical safety checks to ensure their premises aren’t hazardous. They have a duty of care to keep the public and their employees away from harm. Otherwise, their establishment might have to be shut down. But how exactly do retailers make sure their business premises are complying with electrical safety laws? We’re going to be discussing the answer to this question in our article today. Read on to find out what certificates you need, what checks must be carried out, and what you should avoid doing. This isn’t something you can be negligent about.
Overloading Electrical Points
One common mistake that some retailers make is overloading their electrical points and plug sockets. This can significantly increase the risk of an electrical fire or shock because these sockets won’t be able to cope with the amount of heat and power being generated by them. As such, you should avoid doing this in your workplace. Be mindful of this particularly when setting up the tills, where you might feel tempted to plug everything for the sake of convenience.
Faulty Electrical Equipment
Another hazard that retailers should be aware of is faulty electrical equipment. As your appliances get older, they become less efficient, so they will be more likely to generate heat energy as opposed to electricity. This increases the chances of an electrical fire happening. Faulty equipment could also give your customers or clients an electric shock. Therefore, it’s very important to keep an eye on this. Don’t be complacent. Replace the appliance the moment it starts acting up.
Perform Checks
There are some electrical checks that you can perform yourself as the retailer. However, you must be careful when doing so. Firstly, you can test the appliance’s power by switching it on and off. You could also check the fuse box and flip the switches back on if your RCD momentarily cut off the electricity. Finally, you can inspect the appliances regularly to see if damage has occurred. Just don’t tamper with anything.
Call an Electrician
If you suspect your electrical appliances are dangerous, or you have experienced some problems, then you need to call a certified electrician. They can inspect and repair the equipment for you, alongside giving you advise. At the very least, retailers need to have a registered electrician inspect their establishment once every five years.
Acquire Certification
To prove your retail establishment upholds the standards for electrical safety, you will need to acquire an official electrical certificate. Companies like Trade Facilities Services will provide this documentation after visiting your business premises and conducting a formal, thorough audit on all your appliances and electrical points. They do everything from PAT testing to emergency light testing.
Follow our advice to make sure that your retail establishment meets electrical safety requirements. By hiring an electrical certification company and receiving their approval, you can feel rest assured that your business premises are perfectly safe for the public and your employees.
