Dangerous Situation

[Slumberland]

Hi Guys

I have just stayed in a £130.00 a night hotel and to my shock and horror there is a fused switch outlet plate in the newly refurbished bathroom in my room. I had a look at another room and it is possible to switch towel rail whilst laying in the bath.
What can I and should I do. I have the name of the maintenance man but feel I should do more than just drop him a line.

Regards Jason

Balmer Lawn Brockenhurst.

 

[breezer]

not your problem dont worry about it.

although you are right to be concerned what do you suppose they will do?
answer nothing

 

[Slumberland]

No It is my problem what can I do?

 

[breezer]

why is it your problem?

 

[Big_Spark]

Slumberland, technically Breezer is correct, it isn't your problem, but if you feel strongly about it, write a letter in plain English, quoting BS7671 and the Building Regs, not forgetting the Electricity at Work Regs (as they are also appropriate here), to both the Hotel Manager and copy it to the local Building Control Office.

Other than that there is nothing you can do about it, and to be honest it is not worth getting stressed over as they will likely do nothing about it anyway.

Incidently, wasn't it rather stupid to lay in the bath and see if you can switch it anyway..Afterall, it's only dangerous if your DUMB enough to do it...like shooting yourself..

 

[JohnD]

Let me check this:

"I am a gas engineer and I stayed in a chalet in a Greek hotel recently on Corfu. I noticed that due to poor installation the fumes from the gas boiler were blowing into the bedroom. However it wasn't my problem so I said nothing"

How does that sound?

 

[securespark]

Good point.

 

[Big_Spark]

Let me check this:

"I am a gas engineer and I stayed in a chalet in a Greek hotel recently on Corfu. I noticed that due to poor installation the fumes from the gas boiler were blowing into the bedroom. However it wasn't my problem so I said nothing"

How does that sound?

I take your point, but this is a different situation. In the example you give, there is IMMINENT risk to life which would/could prove fatal if not corrected.

The situation as outlined in the original post, whilst not compliant, is only dangerous under special circumstances, simply sleeping in the hotel room or using the bathroom does not put one at imminent risk of serious injury or a fatality, so whilst your example of moral responsibility is a very good one, and one I would certainly not argue with, it is different.

 

[securespark]

I think I beg to differ, J.

If I were to find that situation with one of our customers, I would be slapping an "AT RISK" sticker over the switch, and leaving an "AT RISK" notice, explaining the dangers of such an installation. As I did recently where there was a "normal" 1G shaver point in a bathroom.

It is potentially dangerous, just the same as no MEB's - there is potential for a shock risk: you'd have to be unlucky, but the potential is there nonetheless.

 

[breezer]

its getting a bit mixed up now.

although all points are valid, and no one says the op does not have a point.
BUT its not gas, where as i understand it if a corgi reg person must by law do something there and then

its electricity, where by there is no such ruling as corgi have. Yes your conscious means you should point it out, but, its not his responsability to fix it, touch it and you could be taken to court for say malicious damage.

hotels want to make money, a letter comes in from a "nobody" pointing out somthing is wrong,

"well what does he know, and besides its the electrcian who installed it, so its his fault" will be the attitude of management

hence my first reply "not your problem dont worry about it"

unless you have clout, (which the op doesnt) there is nothing you can do that will make the hotel co change it.
being as its a hotel it must get PIR's done and it must have passed, since the hotel is open.

 

[Big_Spark]

Somin, I understand that, but the risk will not kill you unless you happen to touch it, with CO from a defective boiler install you have no choice, you can only avoid it by not using the room, but if you don't know there is a problem then you get dead people regardless. It is nothing to do with luck.

Further, compliance with Gas regulations is a LEGAL requirement in every european country and most industrialised nations as people recognise the extreme risk they pose when botched or faulty. Very few countries have LEGAL contraints of this type on the electrical installation. Therefore whilst with Gas there are legal avenues of attack to get a dangerous situation put right, with electricity it is rather more difficult when your simply a member of the public, you have to rely, for the large part, on the establishment and the LBC taking your complaint seriously enough to act, and in my experience this is a rare event unless there is imminent risk of electric shock or someone has already been injured/killed.

 

[breezer]

That is what i was trying to say, but it didn't sound as good

 

[baldelectrician]

had a similar sitution last yer

went to look at a conversion, downstairs shop conversion to a dwelling. Existing flat upstairs owned by people converting both floors into one dwelling.

Looked at cables upstairs (visable from below as no ceiling downstairs), noticed cables notched at top of joists- not drilled through. Not good as bashing joists etc below to put ceiling on may cause faults on existing electrics.

Asked who did upstairs electrics- my dad (he's a builder).

Asked to look at upstairs existing consumer unit, where the new stuff would be tied in- was asked why I needed to see that as nobody else who came to quote looked

Mentioned there may be problems with existing electrics upstairs as cables were not installed correctly, noticed no blanks in existing consumer unit, with 2 spaces. Told apprentice to get 2 blanks to put in (at no cost for customer).

Customer asked me to leave, I told her of dangerous sitution and I would fix it free (as she had kids - saw toys etc).
She said just leave, so I did.

Wrote a letter to her, recorded delivery and her husband phoned irate style next day reading the riot act.

So my reply was 'you are giving off to me for informing you of a potentially fatal situation, and not asking why the other 5 contractors who looked at the job never noticed or said anything?'

You could have had 2 bits of plastic (blanks) installed free at the time, but your wife refused, so as there was dangerous situation I has to act.

The wife didn't like your attitude, was the comment.

Told the guy to reassess his existing electrics, and i wouldn't be doing any work for him if he begged as my standards were obviously too high for him.

 

[Big_Spark]

That is what i was trying to say, but it didn't sound as good

I read your after I posted mine, and thought.."Blimey..Great minds think alike"

 

[Slumberland]

My Girlfriend switched the towel rail on after a shower.
The shower screen is not up to stopping the water from the shower and there is a tiled floor.
My 2 year old nephew also stayed in the hotel and he likes playing with switches.
The hotel has been and is in the process of renovation.
Can you tell me anybody how many electric shocks occur through this situation?
They will have to move the switches.