What electrical work can a non qualified person be asked to do in a school?

[caretakerswife]

My husband is a caretaker at a primary school.

He does all jobs they ask him to do (sometimes without the training he is supposed to have first as for instance, he argued the gutter needed unblocking and walking up a ladder is common sense) as he likes to please. They have recently asked him to look at and replace some lights and he came back saying how messed up the wiring was. I was a bit shocked as when he described the job to me I thought he was just going to be replacing the bulbs not actually replacing the whole light fittings. Is he legally allowed to do electrical work for the school (just a school, no dwellings attached) and should they even be asking him as he has zero qualifications or training for electrical work, he is just working on the same knowledge of electrics the average person has.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

I think the point here is that he considers himself competent, therefore expects to be able to replace the lights in a satisfactory manner. He might indeed have the skills to do this and therefore comply with the EAW up to that point, if he is familiar with safe isolation procedure and has a suitable approved voltage indicator. The problem then comes with the testing and certifying. If he is not equipped with the appropriate calibrated electrical testgear and the knowledge to use it and interpret the results, then he would not be considered competent to complete the testing required prior to recommissioning the circuit.

His getout is that the school have not provided suitable resources (AVI, lockout kit, testgear etc) therefore no matter what his skill level, he cannot undertake repairs to the electrical installation.

 

[littlespark]

You could also argue, that in the eyes of H&S , has he been trained on the proper use of stepladders to change a lightbulb, never mind the whole fitting?
Changing a plug could be questionable too, if he’s ever been asked to.
im sure he has, and it is all common sense, but his place of work needs to prove that he was trained in the event if he falls off.
Risk assessments need to be in place also.

we’re not in any way criticising his want to help out. Good on him
But as professionals we see the legalities and insurance problems that can arise.

 

[Midwest]

@caretakerswife I’ve read your posts with some personal interest.

I‘ll share some experiences.

I’m a qualified electrician, and have been working as maintenance assistant for a year or so now, in a large group of premises. It’s owned and run by a large national company.

I have a friend, who is a qualified plumber, who has been working as a maintenance manager for another large company, in the hospitality sector.

We have both been doing jobs, at these places, not just in our own trades, but other areas.

Just before Xmas, my manger was called to a maintenance HQ meeting along with the different contractors we use. The crux of the meeting, was to inform managers, that staff were not to carry out works that should be carried out by contractors, who have the necessary mission statements, risk assessments etc. Indeed any staff who carried out such works, are not insured to do so, and if they ignored instruction, they would take on the risk.

So now, I no longer replace damaged light fittings, or sockets or switches, just gather enough information to pass onto the contractor.

My friend however, has left his employer, as they have the opposite stance, and were expecting him to do work of which he has no knowledge.

A colleague of mine, who has spent his life in maintenance, can’t grasp the new regime. He enjoys helping people, but can’t help himself and still thinks he should be doing changing taps etc. Perhaps he’s a bit like your husband.

Your husband should establish exactly what his job specification is, and what he is insured to do, by his employer.

 

[StephenRowley]

In addition to the electricity at work act, the H&S at work act applies. He should have a written risk assessment and method statement for any more he's carrying.

Also using a ladder he should have proper training for.

The school will be struggling for money if/when he has accident and he sues, the hse fines them and they've got to pay sick pay to a staff member.

 

[lozarus]

I am a Site Manager in an educational establishment. So that's heading up maintenance, risk assesments, compliance and H&S (including Fire, Water & Asbestos)

I can't speak for others, and all institutions will give you a different answer - but personally it's generally a no from me.

I happen to have a number of formal electrical qualifications from my previous career, and one of my team was previously a practicing commercial electrician. All of our qualifications are filed in staff records. I allow him and myself only to undertake "direct replacement" works - IE changing light fittings, sockets, plugs etc. I also insist on at least a Zs being recorded before and after works. I record this and the activity as a whole is risk assessed.

I consider it important to have someone suitably qualified on site, as a damaged socket outlet could pose an immediate danger and I appreciate having someone appropriate to remedy immediately due to the prevalence of "prying fingers" in schools. If I didn't have someone qualified, I would be pushing my management to recruit or pay for training.

Furthermore, I am updating my qualifications with support of my employer. This allows them to evidence that I am "competent" to undertake said works and allows me to sleep easy that this is in place and my works are above board.

Anything further I contract out and expect formal MWC or EIC as appropriate.

My other team members wouldn't consider undertaking electrical works by default. I run my department quite openly. I expect my team to tell me of any works they aren't comfortable doing - be it using power tools, building things from wood, etc. This allows me to work out what jobs they excel at and are comfortable to do which I can avoid contracting out. The money I save from doing this can be used to fund work such as electrical, externally.

 

[Lister1987]

As others have said; he has the legislature to back a refusal to work. I would take them on myself because I like a good H&S scrap, especially when the legislature is clear cut.

Simplified way to get through to your husband is; if you changed something and it went wrong, how would you prove your competency in a court of law - He can be qualified (or not) all he likes but paperwork rules here; there has to be evidence of competency, one of those times where experience means nothing and paperwork means everything.

Simplest way I can put it; Babies are born with legs and vocal cords but it takes months and years before they become competent on the use of them and can walk the walk and talk the talk.

 

[Mike Johnson]

I do note that nobody has mentioned the first stage of a H&S regime, i.e. the "Hazard Analysis" this must be done before any "Risk Assessments" are carried out, if at the end of the RA a continuing process is required, then a "Method Statement" must be prepared, if the HA highlights that the process is beyond the competency of the individual/company the process stops and is handed off to those competent to carry out the works, I know this is a long diatribe, but to the OP have the school carried out a Hazard Analysis for the works they have instructed.

 

[Midwest]

I think we’ve all evidence the fact that Mr Caretaker shouldn’t be considering doing this work, perhaps he is doing this work, because he enjoys the adulation of doing such, bit like my colleague, as I previously said.

However, as Ive also said, some employers haven’t had the thought processes that we and others had. It may be Mr Caretaker is actively encouraged to do so. Mrs Cartakerswife should perhaps get him to read this thread, and find out what from his employer his positio.