Dental practice owners are responsible for ensuring that all electrical installation in their surgery is tested and maintained in a safe condition. The legal requirements relating specifically to the maintenance and use of electrical equipment can be found in the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, which details the regulations that apply to all work activities involving electrical equipment. In order to comply with the legal requirements of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, all commercial businesses, such as dental practices, should conduct regular Electrical Installation Condition Reports, also referred to as EICR, in order to prevent danger and keep the working spaces safe for staff and clients. In our guide, we explain everything you need to know about EICR in order to provide a safe working environment for your dental practice.
Safety And Legal Compliance
Safety and duty of care in any workplace is a serious matter in order to protect staff and visitors from the risk of personal injury or, in some cases, loss of life. An EICR will help you to fulfil your obligations and are designed to prevent electrical installations from causing unwanted accidents. The electrical condition report will identify any dangers in your electrical installations, including overloaded circuits, which may lead to frequent tripping of the fuse box. Overloading can also present risks to your staff and building as it can lead to damaged equipment, which in turn poses a fire or shock hazard.
Electrical Installation Condition Reports provide you with the peace of mind that your business is compliant with all legal requirements as well as being a safe environment for staff and clients. For more information and to schedule your report, check out Trade Facilities Services and get your electrical report organised here.
Business Insurance
Many business insurance companies require that EICR is performed as part of their policy conditions; this means that in the event of a claim, your policy may not payout if you don’t have the relevant and up to date proof of electrical inspections. Appropriate and regular testing ensures that your electrics are safe, and with EICR, you can provide detailed evidence to your insurers. Furthermore, Electrical Installation Condition Reports help show that any incidents were unavoidable and that you as a business had done everything to prevent it from happening.
Save On Costs
When you carry out an EICR via a trained and qualified professional, it will provide you with the necessary information needed to identify issues early as well as any equipment that is overheating or wasting energy. With this information, you will be able to make changes to your dental practice that save you from significant expenses if left. The expert carrying out the EICR will also provide recommendations for improved efficiency with could also lead to substantial savings.
Reduce Carbon Footprint
As a result of improved efficiency due to the EICR recommendations that highlight areas of your dental practice that is wasting energy, your business will reduce the energy consumption of its lighting, heating, and other electrical outlets. You will also be able to review recommendations that are critical to the safety of your practice. By keeping an eye on the performance of your electrical systems, you will be able to foresee problem areas earlier and work to decrease your carbon footprint.
