22 February 2024
The Health & Safety at Work (Jersey) Law places duties on employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of their employees and that of persons not in their employment (such as customers, the general public and children) who may be affected by their business.
The HSI and the Jersey Hospitality Association is seeking to raise awareness within the hospitality industry of the need to ensure that gas appliances, electrical installations and equipment used in outdoor spaces is safe. This follows the electrocution of a seven-year-old boy who died after he touched unsafe lighting in a pub beer garden in Great Britain, issues with unsafe gas appliances revealed by the gas supply outage, and the recent adverse weather experienced in Jersey.
Electrical equipment
Those responsible for outdoor spaces need to make sure electrical equipment and installations are maintained in good condition, safe to use and regularly checked to prevent danger. Venues should arrange for a competent person to carry out electrical installation work, only use lights and heaters specifically designed for outdoor use, and regularly check equipment for damage or water ingress.
Gas appliances
Similarly, the law requires employers to ensure that gas appliances are maintained in a safe condition. All hospitality and catering employers using contractors for gas work should take reasonable steps to check that contractors have a current relevant certificate of competence. Currently this means you should only use contractors that are Gas Safe Registered.
Further information
Maintaining portable electrical equipment (gov.je)
Guidance on Electricity at Work Regulations (gov.je)
Gas safety for consumers (gov.je)
Gas Safe Register website
gov.je