This month’s focus of ‘Th!nk Safe Be Safe’ covers:

• Electrical Safety at Work
• Safety in the workplace events
• Fire Warden and First Aid Training Dates

Contact with electricity or defective electrical equipment can severely injure or even kill people, start a fire and cause damage to equipment and property. Every year in the UK many accidents at work involving electric shock or burns are reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The most serious incidents usually occur due to contact with overhead or underground power lines or live electrical systems. However, even non-fatal shocks can cause severe and permanent injury. Although safe systems of work will be in place for higher risk work, it is very important to ensure that electrical equipment in the workplace remains in good repair and condition even in low risk environments. 

Cumbria County Council’s Property Team arrange a corporate scheme to ensure Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) is carried out. This involves electrical equipment being visually inspected and tested by a competent person and a label being affixed to show that the appliance has been tested. Labels are then a useful management tool for monitoring and reviewing during workplace audits.

When a PAT scheme is being carried out in your workplace, it is important that you bring in any electrical equipment provided to you to ensure testing within the programme. If you are unable to attend then please advise your manager so they can arrange for you to attend another session or make arrangements for the equipment to be tested on your behalf. Please ensure that laptops and phones are fully charged before handing in chargers for testing.

Many buildings across the county have been PAT tested last year and earlier this year. The next phase of the testing programme continues with the dates below; 

• West Cumbria House - 12th-16th August 2019
• Cumbria House - 9th-20th September 2019
• Parkhouse Building - 23rd-4th October 2019

The testing programme will continue later in the year at further dates and locations, including care homes and Highways Depots.

It is also important to regularly carry out user checks on electrical equipment that has been tested as appliance testing can only give an indication of the safety of an appliance at the time of the test.

June saw the first of a number of a number of Health and Safety events planned for across the county. These events provide council colleagues with an opportunity to learn how they can support safety in the workplace.

The events are hosted by the Health and Safety and Learning and Skills Teams, who are on-hand to answer any Health and Safety questions you may have. See schedule of future events below:

• West Cumbria House, Workington - 7th August 2019, 9am-12pm
• Blencathra House, Whitehaven - 7th August 2019, 1pm-4pm
• County Hall, Kendal - 12th September 2019, 9am-12pm
• Bridge Mills, Kendal - 12th September 2019, 1pm-4pm
• Cumbria House, Carlisle - 25th September 2019, 9am-12pm
• Parkhouse, Carlisle - 25th September 2019, 1pm-4pm 

Please come along to any of the above events to help us to improve Health and Safety in the workplace.

Health and Safety is everyone's responsibility and our council offices need more of you to volunteer to be Fire Wardens and First Aiders to ensure the ongoing safety of our staff. In conjunction with the Heath and Safety Team, our Learning and Development colleagues are offering a number of spaces on up and coming courses so that you can be trained as a First Aider or Fire Warden for your building. See available dates below: