Hospitality venues using outdoor lighting this summer are being warned of the electrical dangers, as the mother of a boy who died after touching an unsafe light in a pub beer garden speaks out.
phs Compliance, one of the UK’s leading electrical compliance companies, said they are still hearing too many stories about unsafe external lighting as many venues fail to understand that they have the same duty of care for their outdoor electrical equipment as they have for their indoor.
Harvey Tyrell was just seven years old when he was electrocuted in a pub beer garden in London after touching an unsafe garden light in 2018. His mother, Danielle Jones, recently called for tougher legislation and for the hospitality industry to improve safety standards to ensure another tragedy is avoided.
Tracy Burtwell, Managing Director at phs Compliance, agrees. She said: “Festoon string lighting, pathway lights and floodlights can all bring an outdoor hospitality space to life in the summer, adding atmosphere and aesthetics that attracts customers and boosts sales. However, they also bring added risks.
“As outdoor lighting in this country is usually seasonal and often temporary, especially for outdoor events like beer festivals, venues will often not give it the same safety considerations as they would for permeant indoor lighting. It’s a blasé cultural attitude that needs to shift.
“There are ways that venues can ensure their outdoor lighting is safe. They should only use lighting equipment designed for outdoor use and they should regularly check equipment for damage or signs of water ingress. This is particularly important when bringing it out from storage.
“It is also extremely important to have a competent person install all of your outdoor electrical equipment. Leave it to someone who knows what they are doing and call in experienced experts. It is safer for everyone and protects your business too, ensuring you did your duty of care. You should also arrange for them to regularly test your outdoor electrical equipment to ensure it is safe to use and fit for purpose, especially before they are used.
“It’s not worth cutting corners on safety. An expert will know if the existing electrical installation is in good enough condition and compatible with your outdoor needs, and they can ensure sockets are not overloaded and that equipment is used in the correct location to avoid further risks like fire or personal injury.”
An electrical installation includes all fixed electrical equipment that is supplied through an electricity meter, such as cables, accessories (like sockets, switches and light fittings), fuse boxes, circuit breakers and residual current devices (RCDs).
A fixed wire test inspects and assesses an electrical installation’s main electrical wiring system to ensure it is safe to use and complies with British Standard BS 7671.
Electrical Equipment Testing (EET), also known as PAT testing, examines portable electrical equipment and appliances, like string lights, to ensure they are safe to use.
phs Compliance is the UK’s leading provider of electrical testing. They have the largest team of specialist statutory electrical testing operators in the industry. Services include statutory electrical testing, including EET/PAT tests and fixed wire testing, inspection services, maintenance and remedial work.
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