Hospitality venues are being warned of the electrical dangers of Christmas lighting as the industry gears up for the lucrative festive season.
phs Compliance, one of the UK’s leading electrical compliance companies, said many venues fail to understand that they have the same duty of care for their Christmas electrical equipment, such as Christmas tree lights and moving displays, as they have for their everyday electrical items.
Tracy Burtwell, Managing Director at phs Compliance, said: “Christmas is big business in hospitality and it’s a fantastic opportunity to draw in customers with impressive festive displays. However, they also bring added risks to a business that cannot be overlooked.
“Venues will often not give the same safety considerations to fairy lights as they would for their fuse boxes, for example, but they are still expected to maintain the same safety standards for both by law.
“In fact, Christmas decorations can pose greater safety risks than most other electrical equipment if not considered properly. Christmas lights are usually stored away for most of the year, so they could be exposed to water, dust or wire fraying during that time which could affect their safe use and present a fire risk. There is also the risk of overloading sockets with additional equipment and extension leads to accommodate the extra electrical equipment needed for the festive season.
“There are ways that venues can ensure their Christmas is safe. They should only use lighting equipment designed for the right use, such as indoor and outdoor, and they should regularly check equipment for damage and signs of water ingress, as well as and any trip hazards.
“With electrical equipment, it is always better to be safe than sorry. It’s not worth cutting corners on safety – have a competent and experienced professional come to test and install your Christmas electrical items. This ensures that your equipment is fit for purpose and that have done your duty of care and remain compliment.
“An expert will know if the existing electrical installation is in good enough condition and compatible with your festive needs, and they can ensure sockets are not overloaded and that equipment is used in the correct location to avoid further risks like fire or personal injury.”
An electrical installation includes all fixed electrical equipment that is supplied through an electricity meter, such as cables, accessories (like sockets, switches and light fittings), fuse boxes, circuit breakers and residual current devices (RCDs).
A fixed wire test inspects and assesses an electrical installation’s main electrical wiring system to ensure it is safe to use and complies with British Standard BS 7671.
Electrical Equipment Testing (EET), also known as PAT testing, examines portable electrical equipment and appliances, like string lights, to ensure they are safe to use.
phs Compliance is the UK’s leading provider of electrical testing. They have the largest team of specialist statutory electrical testing operators in the industry. Services include statutory electrical testing, including EET/PAT tests and fixed wire testing, inspection services, maintenance and remedial work.