An industry group that brings
senior executives together to promote electrical safety has urged the main
political parties to include provisions in their 2015 election manifestos to
improve safety in the home by introducing and tightening up requirements for
specific home safety checks.
The call, from the Electrical
Safety Roundtable (ESR), came during Labour and Conservative party conference
fringe events, hosted by the prominent electrical industry group. It focused on
taking a fresh look at safety in the home by introducing the concept of the
home safety MOT.
Commenting on the ESR’s
participation in this yearʼs fringe events, Chairman Chris Bielby MBE said: The ‘Safer Homes; Safer Britain’ fringe events provided an excellent forum to
discuss and debate the concept of a Home MOT with industry stakeholders,
politicians and interested parties. It was widely agreed that clear, concise,
consistent regulation to improve gas and electrical safety in the home
and reduce fatalities is required, and we hope that Political Parties will
consider this when issuing their Policy Manifestos ahead of the 2015 General
Election.
The ‘Safer Homes; Safer Britain’
events were held to explore public attitudes towards safety in the home and
consider solutions to ensure renters and homeowners across Britain avoid
unnecessary risks. They focused on the practicalities of introducing regular,
mandatory home electrical safety checks and requirements for carbon monoxide and
fire detection alarms in domestic premises.
Participants in the debates
included MPs Barry Sheerman and Peter Aldous as well as representatives from
the Chief Fire Officers Association, NAPIT, Shelter and Electrical Safety
First.
Discussions at the event resulted
in unanimous agreement on the need to tighten laws around retaliatory eviction
and amend current regulations to require electrical safety checks in the
private rented sector every 5 years. They also explored other areas of home
safety where requirements could be improved, including: thermostatic
mixing valves, sprinkler systems, Residual Current Devices (RCDʼs) and the
safety of electrical appliances.
For more information on the
Electrical Safety Roundtable and its activities, visit: www.electricalsafetyroundtable.co.uk
or email info@electricalsafetyroundtable.co.uk