Personal Light Electric vehicles (PLEVs) are commonly used within the London community. Use has significantly increased within the wider community and with it, there has been a corresponding increase in fire related incidents resulting in fatalities, serious injury and property damage or loss. This policy has been introduced to assist with managing PLEVs use within St George’s University of London, the PLEVs pose a significant risk to the health and safety of all who access St George's sites and those who work and live within St George's premises.
Purpose of this policy
The purpose of this policy is to clarify St George's position on the use and storage of PLEVs at all its premises or sites in line with the St George's Health and Safety Policy and UK law. St George's has a general duty of care to all students, staff, contractors, and visitors to act reasonably whilst delivering services to protect their health, safety, and welfare.
Definitions
PLEVs refers to micro mobility equipment powered electrically mostly by lithium batteries. These include e-scooters, e-bikes, segways, electric unicycles and hoverboards and others.Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, PLEVs are defined as motor vehicles.Motor vehicles are “any mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on roads”.
Responsibilities
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- Ensure that this policy is implemented in their areas of responsibility.
- Ensure that all staff and students are made aware of this policy.
- Manage any issues arising from this policy.
- Assist and provide guidance on implementation of the health and safety aspects of this policy.
- Review this policy as required.
- Must not bring PLEVs on campus premises including university, student residential halls.
- Report concerns or instances of violation of this policy.
- Familiarise themselves with this document and comply with the requirements.
- Co-operate and assist managers or responsible persons to ensure the workplace is safe.
Scope
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Personal mobility equipment/aids such as e-scooters, electric bikes, segways hoverboards, electric unicycles and other such equipment powered by Lithium batteries.
Staff, students, contractors and visitors.
Exception
- Personal mobility powered vehicles used by disabled persons including powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
- If these use Lithium batteries and require charging, staff must liaise with their line managers and students with their personal tutors.
Policy statement
It is prohibited within St George's managed buildings including students’ residential halls to:
- use, store, and charge PLEVs such as e-scooters, e-hoverboards e-skateboards, e-unicycles, e-bikes, segways and similar Lithium battery powered micro mobility devices with attached batteries
- store and charge detached batteries for the above devices.
Case for action
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- According to the Road Traffic Act 1988, e-scooters, e-bikes, segways, electric unicycles, and hoverboards and similar mobility aids are legally defined as motor vehicles.
- They must comply to all laws and regulations that govern the use of motor vehicles in regard to their construction and use on public roads and spaces.
- It is illegal to ride privately owned PLEVs on public roads, pavements, and pedestrian only spaces in the UK.
- PLEVs are powered by Lithium batteries that require charging.
- It has been established that in many cases these devices while charging, are positioned in areas which create an obstruction to emergency escape routes.
- If the batteries become damaged or begin to fail, they can explode and start incredibly ferocious fires. Lithium battery fires can spread quickly out of control and turn into large fires within minutes and are difficult to put out.
References