Ensuring the safety of electrical items in guest rooms

Many hoteliers are unaware that this maintenance does not have to be carried out by a qualified electrician. A ‘competent person’ with knowledge of the equipment can complete these rudimentary checks (such as checking the wiring).

Should you fail to check and maintain this type of equipment it could and indeed has led to injuries to guests. In the instance of any injury to your guests the authorities will undoubtedly carry out an investigation into your bed and breakfast, hostel or hotel.

If the danger to your guests could have been avoided by simple checks and maintenance to this equipment it may prompt the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or Local Authority to take formal action.

Unsafe portable electrical equipment in a guest’s room will lead the HSE officers to think that an offence is being committed or will be committed under the Health and Safety at Work Act and its subsidiary safety regulation. An immediate way in which the HSE can take formal action is through the use of statutory notices which they can serve to stop particular activities, prevent further work being undertaken or to require that certain steps be taken.

The HSE can issue an ‘Improvement Notice’ which will compel you and your business to make any unsafe electrical equipment safe within a specified period of time.

The HSE can instead issue a ‘Prohibition Notice’ that would effectively prevent you from providing guests with accommodation in rooms where unsafe electrical equipment has been identified.

Due to the very nature of Health and Safety legislation and guidance it is also likely that other matters would be identified in any inspection or investigation of your B&B, Hostel or Hotel. These matters could also be the subject of the notices issued by the HSE.

Click here to read more about the process and consequences of further formal action in the form of investigations and prosecutions.