Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

Figure 12.10
UK standard 3-pin plug wiring.
Terminal screw
EARTH WIRE
green/yellow
LIVE WIRE
brown
(formerly red)
NEUTRAL WIRE
blue
(formerly black)
Cable grip shoud anchor
the cable covering (sheath).
not the internal wires
Terminals tight
Correctly wired
Minimum bare wire
Fuse in use
Cable (lead/flex)
Cable cover (sheath)
Cartridge fuse

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Electrical hazards and control
199
12.7.4 Records of inspection and testing
Schedules which give details of the inspection and main-
tenance periods and the respective programmes, must 
be kept together with records of the inspection fi nd-
ings and the work done during maintenance. Records 
must include both individual items of equipment and a 
description of the complete system or section of the sys-
tem. They should always be kept up-to-date and with an 
audit procedure in place to monitor the records and any 
required actions. The records do not have to be paper 
based but could be stored electronically on a computer. 
It is good practice to label the piece of equipment with 
the date of the last combined test and inspection.
The effectiveness of the equipment maintenance 
programme may be monitored and reviewed if a record 
of tests is kept. It can also be used as an inventory of 
portable appliances and help to regulate the use of 
unauthorized appliances. The record will enable any 
adverse trends to be monitored and to check that suitable 
equipment has been selected. It may also give an indica-
tion as to whether the equipment is being used correctly.
12.7.5
Advantages and limitations of portable 
appliance testing
The advantages of portable appliance testing include:
➤
an earlier recognition of potentially serious equip-
ment faults, such as poor earthing, frayed and dam-
aged cables and cracked plugs
➤
discovery of incorrect or inappropriate electrical 
supply and/or equipment
➤
discovery of incorrect fuses being used
➤
a reduction in the number of electrical accidents
➤
the misuse of portable appliances may be monitored
➤
equipment selection procedures can be checked
Note: Operational experience may demonstrate that the above intervals can be reviewed. Derived from HSE