The HSE's booklet HSG85, Electricity at Work – Safe Working Practices, provides guidance on safe working practices for those working on or near electrical equipment in potentially dangerous situations. It is aimed at managers and supervisors who control or influence the design, specification, selection, installation, commissioning, maintenance or operation of electrical equipment, including:
- hazards of electricity
- equipment, such as switchboards
- assessment procedures for safe working
- the assessment procedure for actions common to both dead and live work, including risk assessment, supervision, competency, protective equipment and training
- the assessment procedure for deciding whether to work dead or live, covering risk assessment and precautions to be taken
- the assessment procedure for working dead, covering disconnection, isolation, caution notices, earthing and permits to work
- the assessment procedure for working live, covering protective equipment, work space, access and lighting, and restricting access.
Legionnaires' disease – guide for employers
The second revision of this leaflet alerts employers to the risks of legionella and explains how these may be controlled. It is aimed at employers who manage premises with hot/cold water services and/or wet cooling systems.
Free copies available from HSE Books. Tel: 01787 881165. IAC27 (rev2)
Environmental management systems
Greenleaf Publishing has produced this book as an aid to those struggling to deal with the issues of implementing the ISO 14001 environmental management system.
Available from The Stationery Office, £19.99, ISBN 0117025038. Tel: 0870 6005522
Professional negligence
This report outlines a recent case where Baxall Securites took legal proceedings against Sheard Walshaw Partnership after an industrial unit was damaged by flooding. Sheard Walshaw was the architect responsible for the design of the premises of which Baxall was the occupier. Baxall argued that even though there had been no contract between the two, the architect was still liable to the occupier of the premises.
The case was held in Baxall's favour because the drainage system was defective and Sheard Walshaw could have foreseen that a future occupier would eventually suffer damage. An architect can be held liable and owes a duty of care in appropriate circumstances.
In the case of the first flood, Baxall had had a reasonable opportunity to discover the absence of overflows in the drainage system before taking the lease. The first flood was caused by the absence of overflows, so Sheard Walshaw could not be held liable.
However, the second flood resulted from not only the absence of overflows but also the poor design of the system. Baxall could not reasonably have been expected to discover the latter fault, so Sheard Walshaw was held liable.
For copies of Baxall Securities Ltd v Sheard Walshaw Partnership, see Current Law Week Vol 8, Issue 46. Tel: 0207 449 1111
Source
The Facilities Business
