Electrical safety standard
The safety of our customers, colleagues and contractors is at the heart of all we do. We are fully committed to ensuring employees, customers and the general public, are not knowingly exposed to any risks that would affect their health and safety.
We are fully committed to achieving high levels of safety and quality in the services we deliver, providing homes that are safe to standards that reflect legislative requirements and best practice where appropriate.
This is our standard:
1. We have a dedicated Mechanical & Electrical Management team, responsible for delivering electrical services consistently across the whole business. This team manages all electrical installations delivered both internally and through contractors.
2. We maintain membership with a Competent Person Scheme as an approved contractor able to undertake repair and inspections on electrical installations and self-certify our work. We only appoint contractors to work on our electrical installations who are a member of a recognised Competent Person Scheme.
3. We employ competent electricians and appoint competent contractors to ensure installations are safely installed and maintained. Contracts are procured and managed to, ensure anyone working on electrical systems is qualified and registered to do the work required of them.
4. We employ competent electricians and appoint competent contractors to conduct cyclical safety inspections on all our commercial premises and our rented homes. Domestic installation safety inspections are carried out on a 5-year program or at change of tenancy on domestic installations for flats/maisonettes and bedsits in blocks. By the 31st December 2024, we will move to a 5-year program or change of tenancy on all domestic installations. Guidance set out in BS7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations advises 10 years. Communal installation safety inspections are carried out on a 5-year program or at change of tenancy in accordance with the guidance set out in BS7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations.
5. Clearly defined procedures and time scales are applied when contacting customers to arrange an electrical safety check. All reasonable steps are taken to gain access and these steps are fully recorded. Forced entry will not be used under any circumstances. Appropriate legal action is taken if tenants refuse to provide access for safety checks and electrical maintenance. This is always seen as a last resort and will be taken when all other practical steps have been exhausted.
6. We require confirmation from managing agents (or persons/organisations undertaking similar activity for us) that work has been completed. This will be validated and recorded in accordance with the agreed procedures.
7. All electrical installations are repaired and maintained in accordance with British Standard 7671.
8. We retain a record of all electrical repairs and installations. The retention period is 10 years.
9. Performance is continuously monitored and reported on the number and percentage of installations with a valid (in date) electrical safety condition certificate and the work stage for any properties without a valid certificate.
10. We will be able to demonstrate at all times that ‘all reasonable steps’ have been taken to maintain all installations.
11. We maintain an electrical installation property database that clearly details the properties electrical safety inspection and maintenance history records, the date of the next safety check, access procedure records and timescales.
12. Our electrical safety procedure document explains our detailed approach to electrical management.
13. Smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors are checked following all electrical repairs carried out within our domestic rented properties and as part of periodic inspections.
14. We will make safe any unsafe appliances as a priority repair within 24 hours.
15. In conjunction with our Health and Safety team, we ensure that any electrical incident or near misses are investigated and necessary actions taken.
16. We undertake 5% quality assurance checks on post and work in progress repairs.
17. We undertake regular 10% audits of our data and our operating procedures.
18. We continually review legislation, best practice and other requirements and review this standard annually or upon any such change (whichever is sooner) to ensure it remains current and appropriate.