Plant Rooms – Staying Compliant

DDS InternationalHealth and Safety

Tests

These tests are carried out as part of the “Machinery, Electricity & Gas” and “Slips, Trips & Falls” sections of the health and audit.

1. Safety signage is provided in plant rooms as appropriate, e.g. hearing defenders, no smoking signs, electric shock posters etc.

2. Carry out a general check of plant rooms. Check that there is no dangerous exposed wiring, burn marks on plugs, unsuitable repairs or sockets overloaded. Check also emergency stop buttons are easily accessed and signed.

3. Access to plant rooms/lift motor rooms/high voltage electrical installations is secured against unauthorised access. No unauthorised storage in plant rooms.

Test 1

Safety signage is provided in plant rooms as appropriate, e.g. hearing defenders, no smoking signs, electric shock posters etc.

Reason for This Test

Safety signage is required in plant rooms and electrical rooms.

Possible Answers

Red: No signage at all
Amber: Some signage in place but more required
Green: All recommended safety signage in place

Common Issues

  • No evidence of cleaning schedules provided.
  • No documented system in place at the time.

Fail Rate

22% of businesses failed this question based on our sample data.

Test 2

Carry out a general check of plant rooms. Check that there is no dangerous exposed wiring, burn marks on plugs, unsuitable repairs or sockets overloaded. Check also emergency stop buttons are easily accessed and signed.

Reason for This Test

Necessary to prevent potential fire or safety situations.

Possible Answers

Red: Some obvious damage and burn marks or emergency stop buttons obstructed.
Amber: Some minor issues identified
Green: Good housekeeping and no obvious defects.

Common Issues

  • No evidence of cleaning schedules provided.
  • No documented system in place at the time.

Fail Rate

9% of businesses failed this question based on our sample data.

Test 3

Access to plant rooms/lift motor rooms/high voltage electrical installations is secured against unauthorised access. No unauthorised storage in plant rooms.

Reason for This Test

To prevent slip, trips and falls and safety situations.

Possible Answers

Red: Plant rooms not secured
Green: Plant rooms secured and keys controlled

Common Issues

  • No evidence of cleaning schedules provided.
  • No documented system in place at the time.

Fail Rate

17% of businesses failed this question based on our sample data.

Information

What Are Plant Rooms?

A plant room is a space or room in a building dedicated to the mechanical equipment and associated electrical equipment. The following equipment is generally housed in a plant room:

  • Back-up electrical generators
  • Boilers & Chillers
  • HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) equipment
  • Main distribution piping and valves
  • Sprinkler distribution piping and pumps
  • Water heaters and tanks
  • Water pumps

This post is part of the “Focus on Health and Safety Audit Questions” series. A series which focuses on questions asked by our health and safety consultants when conducting a health and safety audit.