Portable equipment.

81.     (1)  An employer shall ensure that—

(a)    a circuit supplying portable equipment or a socket outlet intended to supply portable equipment, including any circuit supplied by an electrical generator, and in which is used alternating current at a voltage—

(i)  exceeding 125 volts, and

(ii)  not exceeding 1,000 volts,

is protected by one or more residual current devices having a tripping current not exceeding 30 milliamperes operating within such period of time so as to provide the necessary protection to prevent danger to any person coming into direct or indirect contact with any live part of the circuit,

(b)    portable equipment is maintained in a manner fit for safe use, and

(c)    portable equipment which is—

(i)  exposed to conditions causing deterioration liable to result in danger, and

(ii)  supplied at a voltage exceeding 125 volts alternating current,

is—

(I)  visually checked by the user before use, and

(II) periodically inspected by a competent person, appropriate to the nature location and use of the equipment.

(2)  An employer shall ensure, where appropriate, that a competent person—

(a)    tests any portable equipment described in paragraph (1)(c)(i) and (ii), and

(b)    certifies whether or not the portable equipment (including any cables and plugs was, on the day of test, as far as could reasonably be ascertained, safe and without risk to persons coming into direct or indirect contact with any live part of the equipment.

(3)  If the certificate of the competent person referred to in paragraph (2) indicates that the portable equipment tested was not, on the day of the test, safe and without risk, as described in that paragraph, the employer shall ensure that the equipment is not used until it is made safe and certified as such in compliance with paragraph (2).

(4)  An employer shall ensure that—

(a)    portable equipment, other than portable transformers and portable generators supplied at a voltage exceeding 125 volts alternating current is not used in—

(i)  construction work,

(ii)  external quarrying activities, or

(iii) damp or confined locations,

unless its rating exceeds 2 kilovolt amperes,

(b)    portable hand lamps supplied at a voltage exceeding 25 volts alternating current or 50 volts direct current is not used in—

(i)  construction work,

(ii)  external quarrying activities, or

(iii) damp or confined locations, and

(c)    where a transformer or generator is used to supply electricity to portable equipment at a voltage greater than 25 volts, but not exceeding 125 volts, alternating current,

(i)  the centre point, electrically, or

(ii)  neutral (star) point in the case of three phase of the output voltage or secondary winding,

is connected to earth and the transformer or generator is of the double wound type.