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Many thanks for the info and links. This is something that's been on my mind recently, ever since I got a nasty shock from a standard lamp of all things - although I am very gratefull that it wasn't anything more than nasty, and that it was me not one of my customers. It was a lamp we move round quite often, and poor design meant that every time it got moved it rubbed a little more insulation off the live cable... (I know that's meandering a bit off topic but bear with me)

I run a small independent venue and regularly have the electrics checked out. However this incident has brought it home to me that something could go wrong 5 seconds after the electrician walks out of the door, and he may not be back for 6 months to check it out again.

This line was an eye opener for me:

Stewart Newlands Quote:

If your socket tester cannot display the Earth Fault Loop Impedance, it should not be used to check whether a socket is adequately earthed and safe to use.

I guess I'll have to upgrade to a more expensive tester - the cost is easily justified as you can't put a price on peoples lives.

Sadly, in my experience, this line isn't right:

Quote Stewart Newlands:

The venue must test socket outlets as a licence requirement in most cases. This is done formaly be electrical contractors or competent in house electrictians.

Unfortunatley I've never seen or heard of this being an actual licence requirement. For example, my own licence has several conditions pertaining to safety such as all fire routes must be kept clear and spills must be mopped up imediately, but naff all about electrics. There is a legal obligation that eveything must be safe, but too many operators look at their licence as being the be all and end all of their obligations. Also, since the changeover to the new licencing laws, I've had 2 "taskforce" visits, which basically means that police, licensing, environmental health and fire officers all turn up together to make sure you're within the letter of the law, but they've never even looked at the electrics! And I know that's the case in various friends venues as well.

Quote Stewart Newlands:

If sockets are not safe don't use them, walk away and if anyone hassels you remind them that electrical systems have to be safe as a requirement of the Electricity at work regulations 1989 under the HASAW act.

To be honest I'd recommend going one further than that and notifying the EHO (Environmental Health Officer) of the situation. There are a small minority of operators who don't give a damn, but if something goes wrong we all get tarred with the same brush.

Remember, YOU may have the chutzpah to walk away and cancel your gig, but there will be a lot of up'n'coming bands who will happily take that risk for a bit of exposure. That said, please speak to the management first, it could be a new problem and most of us are decent folk who really don't want to see a performer get electrocuted on stage!

Rant over!

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One is too many, two is about right, but three can never, ever, be enough

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