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Health and
Safety
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We were asked recently if we could set out a checklist of documentation, related to building services, that should be held at buildings by the building/facilities manager. Such a checklist is used in the Health & Safety Risk Assessments that GEGS carry out, and we thought that an expanded version might be useful on the net. It is undoubtedly not exhaustive, and does not include such essentials as Operation & Maintenance Manuals, Record Drawings or general maintenance records.
Domestic water services should be inspected monthly and annually, and a record kept of that inspection, reporting on the state of tanks, float valves, insulation, water temperatures, chlorination and so on.
Treatment of the water in the building is an ongoing affair, and records should be kept of the treatment that is carried out. This relates to treatment both against corrosion and against legionella. It is important to ensure that all the appropriate COSHH Documentation is in place.
The hose reels in a building need to be inspected on a monthly basis, and records of that inspection, with appropriate comments, being made. The hose reels then need to be tested annually and a record kept of that testing.
In the case of dry risers, the inspections are 6 monthly, and the testing again is annually, with appropriate records being kept.
With sprinklers, the combination of their vulnerability and their importance means that the inspections need to be both daily and weekly, with testing on a quarterly basis, and records being kept of all the activities.
All fixed building electrical installations need to have a Periodic Inspection & Test on a 1, 3 or 5 yearly basis. The records are made on special forms from NICEIC.
There is the need to inspect fire alarm systems daily, test the systems at different levels weekly, quarterly and annually, and carry out fire drills six-monthly; all of which need to be recorded.
Similarly the emergency lighting installation needs to be checked daily, with testing being carried out to different levels monthly, six-monthly, three-yearly and annually thereafter. These latter elements relating to battery life. Again, records need to be kept of all the activities.
Both of these elements of "vertical transportation" have to have a Thorough Examination & Testing every six months, and the certificate needs to be displayed.
A Periodic Inspection & Test has to be carried out annually and a record kept of the report and the test results. It is actually recommended that the tests be carried out 10-monthly, so that different seasons are covered, allowing for different ground conditions affecting the earthing.
If the list looks too daunting and you feel you need a little help, do get in touch and we will help to get you sorted out.
GEGS is listed on Chartered Consultant