"Maintenance of Theatre"
Do you run, own or manage a performance venue with a theatre lighting or engineering system?
When was the last time it was inspected and tested?
The “Electricity at Work Regulations 1989” state that all electrical systems must be sufficiently maintained in order to be safe. The only way to ensure electrical systems meet this requirement is to periodically perform inspection and testing.
“Under UK law (the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSW Act) in Great Britain or the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 in Northern Ireland) employers are responsible for ensuring the safety and health of their employees and also the public, if they are at risk from those work activities. This includes electrical safety”
(Taken directly from http://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/hse.htm)
Our dedicated Maintenance and Servicing Department is able to offer a fullTest andInspection of your performance spaces theatre lighting, engineering systems, performanceand production equipment. This service includes the following, and is available as an entire package or we can design a package to suit your needs.
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- Periodic Electrical Inspectionof stage lighting and associated electrical systems to BS7671:2008 and NICEIC requirements. It is recommended by BS7671:2008 “Requirements for Electrical Installations” and the DSA & ABTT “Technical Standards for Places of Entertainment” that entertainment and theatre performance and production electrical installations and systems, be periodically inspected at an interval ofaround 12 months for electrical safety.
- PAT (Portable Appliance Testing) of stage lanterns and equipment. It is required by law that portable equipment which includes theatre lanterns and performance equipment is inspected and tested for electrical safety. The suggested frequency for this testing is every 12 months.
- Visual inspection of mechanical stage engineering systems. Includingflame retardency testing ofdrapes. (Weight testing of systems is also available on request).
- Functional testing of installed audio and video equipment such as, amplifiers, speakers, mixing desks, audio source equipment, video source equipment and video projectors.
- Functional testing of lighting desks and dimmers.
- Annual Service Contracts, please ask for full details.
If yourperformance space has a Public Entertainment's License or you wish to apply for one then this report can be used in conjunction with your application as part of your Risk Assessment independently assessing the safety of your performance space.
Once the space has been inspected you will be issued with an information pack, comprising of all findings and relevant certificates along with a certificate of compliance or non-compliance, with current safety standards.
Health and Safety Legislation.
You should be aware that as an employer or an employee of any type of business in the UK, you are required bylawto adhere to strictelectricaland engineering systems health and safetyprocedures. The following informationaims to clarify exactly which laws are applicable to you and your employers / employees.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974(H&SWA)
H&SWAis a broad yet strict document covering a range of regulations of health and safety at work. H&SWA applies to:
- All Employers
- All Employees
“Under UK law (the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSW Act) in Great Britain or the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 in Northern Ireland) employers are responsible for ensuring the safety and health of their employees and also the public, if they are at risk from those work activities. This includes electrical safety.”
Taken directly from the HSE website.
H&SWA applies a duty of care on everyone at a workplace aiming to reduce the number of accidents through electrical faults and other hazards.
The Management of the Health and Safety at Work Act Regulations 1999
This legislation applies toall employersand states that a risk assessment of the premises must be carried out to ensure proper implementation of H&SWA in the workplace.
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
This legislation states that all work equipment must be suitable for its purpose and constructed correctly. This isevery employer’sresponsibility. As part of the test and inspection Lancelyn will check the equipment to comply with this legislation.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (EAWR)
The EAW Regulations deal with the maintenance of all electrical systems in service at a workplace. Electrical systems can be anything that involves electricity in any amount. EAWR states that the following people are legally responsible for their safety and of others safety while operating or being in control of any electrical system in the workplace:
- Employers
- Employees
- Self Employed
- Other users not employed by the establishment
The EAW Regulations state that all electrical systems must be sufficiently maintained in order to be safe. The only way to ensure electricalequipment meets this requirement is to periodically perform inspection and testing.
Useful links:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/hse.htm
http://www.esc.org.uk/index.html
http://www.niceic.org.uk/
http://www.bsi-global.com/
http://www.labc.uk.com/
