There are precautions which can be taken to prevent danger from the use of portable electrical equipment in hotels and tourist accommodation. Many different areas of work are found in hotels - some are low risk, like offices and bedrooms, some are higher risk, like kitchens and laundries.

HSE Inspectors may decide to carry out a health and safety inspection and they have powers to enter at any reasonable time. They may ask you how your business deals with electrical dangers. Following a simple plan of inspecting and testing will help show that you have an effective system for maintaining portable equipment.

Portable equipment is equipment that has a cable and plug, and can be easily moved around such as kettles, heaters, fans, lights and televisions. Equipment in hotel bedrooms with a permanently wired lead like hairdryers or kettles also comes into this category. There may also be kitchen equipment such as mixers and food processors, laundry equipment and maintenance equipment. The legal health and safety requirements are restricted to equipment within the hotel management's control and does not include electrical equipment brought in by guests.

The risks from portable electrical equipment used in hotel bedrooms and offices are low, but the leads and plugs, and sometimes the equipment itself, can become damaged. This may result in an electric shock or may cause a fire.

Most faults or damage can be found by visual inspection. After disconnecting, the signs to look out for on the equipment, cable and plug are:

•
 damage, such as cuts or abrasions to the cable covering;
•
 damage to the plug such as the casing is cracked or the pins are bent;
•
 non-proprietory joints, including taped, in the cable;
•
 the outer covering of the cable not being gripped where it enters the plug or equipment. Look to see if the coloured insulation of the internal wires is showing;
•
 equipment that has been used in conditions where it is not suitable, such as a wet or dusty workplace;
•
 damage to the outer cover of the equipment or obvious loose parts or screws;
•
 overheating (burn marks)

A formal inspection could also include removal of the plug cover to check:

•
 the cord grip is holding the outer part of the cable tightly;
•
 the wires, including the earth wire where fitted, are attached to the correct terminals;
•
 no bare wire is visible other than at the terminals;
•
 the terminal screws are tight;
•
 there is no sign of internal damage, overheating or entry of liquid, dust or dirt.

Most of these checks apply to extension leads and their plugs and sockets.

It is not necessary to have an electrician carry out this visual inspection. Any competent member of staff can do it, with enough knowledge and training. Users should also be encouraged to look critically at the equipment they use, and to look for damage to the outside of the equipment and its lead and plug before they use it, but they should not take the plug apart.

However, some faults cannot be detected by inspections, particularly lack of continuous earths, and for some equipment the earth connection is essential to safety. Therefore, all earthed equipment and most leads and plugs connected to equipment should also have an occasional combined inspection and test to look for faults. Combined inspection and testing should be carried out where there is reason to suspect the equipment may be faulty, damaged or contaminated, but where this cannot be confirmed by visual inspection. Combined testing should also be carried out after any repair or similar work to the equipment. Suggested intervals are shown below.

Equipment/environment
User checks
Formal visual inspection
Combined inspection & testing
Battery operated
No
No
No
Extra low voltage: telephones, low voltage desk lights
No
No
No
IT:
desktop computers, screens
No
2-4 years
No if double insulated - otherwise up to 5 years
Photocopiers, fax machines: rarely moved
No
2-4 years
No if double insulated - otherwise up to 5 years
Double insulated equipment: moved occasionally e.g. fans, lamps
No
2-4 years
No
Double insulated equipment: handheld e.g. some floor cleaners
Yes
6 months - 1 year
No
Earthed equipment: e.g. electric kettles, some floor cleaners
Yes
6 months - 1 year
1-2 years
Cables and plugs connected to the above.

Extension leads (mains voltage)
Yes
6 months - 4 years depending on equipment connected to
1 - 5 years depending on equipment connected to

Keeping records of the results of inspection and testing can be useful, and can prove important should there be an accident.
 
Extension Leads
The use of extension leads should be avoided where possible. If used, they should be tested as portable appliances. It is recommended that 3-core leads (including a protective earthing conductor) be used.

A standard 13 A 3-pin extension socket-outlet with a 2-core cable should never be used even if the appliance to be used is Class II, as it would not provide protection against electric shock if used at any time with an item of Class I equipment. See Glossary for explanations of Class I and Class II equipment.

Only competent contractors should be employed to carry out electrical work in hotels. The NICEIC maintains a Roll of Approved Contractors capable of safe, good quality work.