FAQs-PAT Testing
FAQs-Energy Performance Certificate (EPC’S)
FAQs-Asbestos
FAQs-RAMS/Construction Risk Assessments
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PAT testing legislation requires all landlords, employers, and even self-employed individuals to ensure that their portable electrical appliances are safe, suitable, and used for the intended purposes. These appliances should always be properly maintained and kept in working order.
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the requirement for how often you should PAT test equipment is dependent upon various factors for example the environment the equipment is used in, how often it is used and the type of equipment. Industrial sites including commercial kitchens should have their portable and handheld equipment tested as often as every 6 months. For other stationary, movable or IT equipment, it is recommended to test every 12 months.
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Yes, All items that have been Pat tested must display a test sticker which will show when the test was completed and that the item passed. The responsible person within your company should also hold a PAT testing certificate and log to show when items were tested and if they passed or failed.
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Not complying with the above mentioned regulations can result in fines up to £5,000 and/or six months imprisonment. Fines have been seen to go as high as £20,000 and offences heard in the Crown Court have carried sentences of more than 2 years imprisonment in additional to unlimited financial penalties.
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Energy performance certificates (EPCs) tell you how energy efficient a building is. EPCs rate a building from A (very efficient) to G (inefficient). They’ll tell you how costly it will be to heat and light your property, and what its CO2 emissions are likely to be.
An EPC includes:
cost effective ways to improve your EPC rating
information on what the energy efficiency rating could be if you made the recommended improvements
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EPCs are valid for 10 years from the date of issue.
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An EPC assessment must be undertaken and carried out by a qualified, experienced, and accredited Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA).
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You can be fined between £500 and £5,000 based on the rateable value of the building if you do not make an EPC available to any prospective buyer or tenant.
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Asbestos is a general name given to several naturally occurring fibrous minerals that have crystallised to form fibres. Asbestos fibres do not dissolve in water or evaporate, they are resistant to heat, fire, chemical and biological degradation and are mechanically strong.
Asbestos is generally divided into two sub-groups; serpentine and amphiboles. Serpentine asbestos (chrysotile or white asbestos) was the most commonly used type of asbestos.
Chrysotile asbestos fibres are soft, flexible and curved and far less hazardous than the amphibole type. Amphibole fibres (crocidolite-blue asbestos, amosite-brown asbestos, tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite) are brittle fibres and are often rod- or needle-like in appearance. It is this form that is more hazardous to health. Crocidolite was the most commonly used amphibole asbestos in the past.
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The properties of asbestos made it an ideal material for use in a number of products, including insulation material for buildings, boilers and pipes; car brakes and floor tiles, insulating board to protect buildings and ships against fire; asbestos cement for roofing sheets and pipes.
Due to the risks to health following inhalation exposure to asbestos the importation of blue and brown asbestos has been banned in the UK since 1985. This ban was extended to include white asbestos in 1999.
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If you're the landlord, tenant or managing agent of a commercial property you may be responsible for managing asbestos, unless your contract or lease says otherwise.
What you must do
If you have a lease or contract, check who is responsible for asbestos.
Find out where the asbestos is (you'll probably need an external accredited surveyor to carry out an asbestos survey).
Have the material analysed and keep a record of what you find.
Carry out a health and safety risk assessment.
Share the information with anyone likely to come into contact with the area, such as builders.
Keep anything containing asbestos in good repair or have it sealed or removed.
The duty to manage asbestos is part of the Control of Asbestos Regulations. It requires the person who has the duty (the 'dutyholder') to: assess if there are asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) present, the amount, where they are and their condition.
Asbestos removal work;
Where it's found during any construction or demolition work, employers have a duty of care to stop work immediately and have the asbestos removed by specialists. -
No, If the Asbestos is undisturbed and the fibers are contained then it is safer to ensure it maintains sealed and monitor the condition of the asbestos ensuring it is logged on the asbestos register and a risk assessment is completed. However asbestos is discovered and either it is in disrepair or building works are due to take place that will disturb the fibers then you have a legal responsibility to have it removed by a specialist.
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A duty holder that does not have an asbestos management plan in place could be fined up to £20,000 or imprisoned up to six months.
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Risk Assessments and Method Statements. These are documents that companies create after they have completed a risk assessment is a detailed document that outlines the step-by-step procedures to be followed when carrying out a specific task or project. It serves as a road map, guiding workers through the various stages of a job, while also addressing potential hazards and control measures.
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Although RAMS are not legally mandated by the UK government conducting risk assessments are a legal requirement in all UK businesses.
However RAMS are a good practice for businesses in the construction industry to follow, as they can help to improve workplace health and safety.
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Writing RAMS requires a combination of expertise in project management, risk assessment, and industry-specific knowledge therefore they need to be completed by an identified competent person.