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Need urgent advice please help.

Anonymous111

I work for a small firm that delivers and installs hottubs and swim spas. When we turn up to the site to install the tubs, the electrics are already run from the house to an isolation switch, with a tail left all tested by an electrician. Myself and my team then wire in the 32amp cable to the tub whilst it's filling, put the panels back on and turn it on once full for the customer to use.

During this process there is no electrician present whilst we wire the tub or afterwards. 

Myself and my team are unqualified, we dont do any sort of test to the tub once it's wired in the customer just jumps in once we're done.

I've quizzed my boss multiple times and he said it's completely legal as he considers me competent to wire in three wires. My question is firstly, is this actually legal to wire in, and secondly should any tests be done and certified from the tub to the isolation switch.

Thank you 

Parents
  • 0

    I'm not so sure ... particularly for considering your own safety.

    First, there ought to be some checking that the connection has been made properly ... particularly the continuity of earth conductors.

    Second, who is deciding whether the existing connecting point is safe to connect to?

    Third, what about checking the above for your own safety whilst working?

    It's particularly important for peripatetic workers to protect themselves in different environments of the different properties they visit.

    HSE provide guidance for people installing and maintaining domestic appliances, EIS35 Safety in electrical testing – service and repair of domestic appliances, which can be downloaded from this page: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/eis35.htm

    In my opinion, it's probably best to follow that type of guidance for the work you're doing.

    On the downside, it might require some training, test equipment, and other safety equipment - so there is a cost involved.

Reply
  • 0

    I'm not so sure ... particularly for considering your own safety.

    First, there ought to be some checking that the connection has been made properly ... particularly the continuity of earth conductors.

    Second, who is deciding whether the existing connecting point is safe to connect to?

    Third, what about checking the above for your own safety whilst working?

    It's particularly important for peripatetic workers to protect themselves in different environments of the different properties they visit.

    HSE provide guidance for people installing and maintaining domestic appliances, EIS35 Safety in electrical testing – service and repair of domestic appliances, which can be downloaded from this page: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/eis35.htm

    In my opinion, it's probably best to follow that type of guidance for the work you're doing.

    On the downside, it might require some training, test equipment, and other safety equipment - so there is a cost involved.

Children
  • 0 in reply to gkenyon

    Hi, thank you for the reply.

    To answer your first question, there is no tests done once the 32amp final connection is made. We are sent to the job with no qualified supervision, and no electrician to test the final connection.

    When I quizzed my boss about this, he said it's fine because the electrician has already written up the certification for the wiring he's done. Just to be clear, the electrician only works up to the isolation switch, and leaves us a tail. We take care of the rest.

    No one is testing or verifying that the new connection added to the hottub is safe, it is simply wired in, turned on and handed to the customer. 

    This job is my first time I've dealt with electrics, the same goes for the rest of my installation team and I've taken my bosses word for it being safe and legal, but this just doesn't sound right to me.

    I've asked my boss about the correct training and testing equipment and he has categorically told me I do not need to worry, and that he deems me competent, but I do not believe you can announce someone competent just because that's your opinion. I am not physically supervised by said boss on jobs, he works in an office and "doesn't remember" what qualifications he got from his 2 day course. 

    Again thank you for the reply, since the meeting I had with him I've refused to wire anything in, but I just need clarity that I am doing the right thing and not making a fool of myself by refusing.

  • 0 in reply to Anonymous111
    Anonymous111 said:
    When I quizzed my boss about this, he said it's fine because the electrician has already written up the certification for the wiring he's done. Just to be clear, the electrician only works up to the isolation switch, and leaves us a tail. We take care of the rest.

    Agreed ... it might have been safe when the electrician left it, but there are two possibilities:

    1. Something goes wrong after the electrician left it.

    2. The hot tub has a manufacturing defect, or became damaged in transit.

    Basic checks ought to be carried out to protect those installing the hot tub, and those using it afterwards.

    Anonymous111 said:
    No one is testing or verifying that the new connection added to the hottub is safe, it is simply wired in, turned on and handed to the customer. 

    Yes, that should be checked in the same way that a washing machine repairer would be best advised to check the earthing and insulation on a washing machine after repairing it.

    The HSE guidance is really pointing us that way.

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