This cant be right?

[TheBat]

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum. Can anyone just clarify something for me please?

I've been an approved electrician for 24 years, mostly contracting, usually heavy industrial.

So, anyway, just recently I've taken a job as a maintenance electrician. Its quite a large company but i am gobsmacked that after adding additional circuits to dis. boards I am being told there is no need to bother with any type of certificates whether minor works or anything. This company has no records of any testing and inspection AT ALL! All i am getting told is "dont concern myself with it". Nobody what-so-ever ever tests or certificates any installation. I am getting " all that doesnt apply to industry", so, please someone, just put my mind to rest and tell me its a load of balls and even if I am a maintenance electrician working for them it still needs testing, inspecting and certificating, even if it is all done by an outside contractor.

Sorry for such a long first post!

cheers

 

[KINKY]

I myself work in industry/pharmaceutical sector.

We always test & inspect any mods, always.

Nothing is made 'live' till tested & inspected.

 

[sparkylad]

Its only Periodic Inspection & testing that need not be carried out and that is only if a Full Scheduled Maintenance procedure is in place

 

[TheBat]

Thanks for the replies but there are no maintenance procedures or ppm in place and definatley no test certificates for any boards etc.
Are there any links to some more details

thanks in advance

 

[Sintra]

You don't really need links just read the start of chapter 61 in the brb page 156.

 

[TheBat]

you are right of course sintra, just being a bit lazy

 

[Sintra]

Before an installation or an addition / alteration to an installation is energised, inspection and testing must be carried out to ensure the requirements of BS 7671 have been met and an appropriate certificate must then be issued. 134.2.1, 610.6, 631.1

 

[jpmiff]

Hi,

ask to see the companies safety policy, it should be available for every employee to read, it will contain a section which deals with electrical instalations, who is responsible and what standards(eg,IEE wiring regs) are to be used.
If the IEE wiring regs are not mentioned then the electrical installation does not come under the 17th edition, they may have there own system and standards which they work to.
some one higher up the managment ladder will be responsible!

 

[pevvers]

I work in the maintenance industry myself, and my job position was put in place for exactly that reason. Maintenance engineers are notorious for not doing paperwork, as the are normally multiskilled engineers with a million and one things to do in their working day, so inspection, testing and certification never takes precedence. There is also the severe lack of testing skills out there, which my part of the company is trying to improve by carrying out in house minor works courses, and I was amazed when I started how minimal or even non existent their knowledge is. Even to the point of not being able to identify an MCB type or fuse, therefore not being able to even find the max Zs.... But even then, they don't know what the numbers actually mean!

If they will not provide you with blank certification, then copy some out of the regs and use them, because mark my words if something you do goes wrong and you haven't got the paperwork to prove that it was correct at time of installation, then the finger will be pointed firmly at you, and the HSE don't look too kindly on non-certificated works. The chances are that nothing like that would ever happen, but the one time that it does you be glad you have the required documentation!!