Guide
Comply with electrical safety regulations
How to meet your legal duties under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. Covers safe systems, competent persons, inspection requirements, and portable appliance testing for all workplaces.
Electricity kills and injures workers every year. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require all employers to ensure electrical systems and equipment are safe. These regulations apply to all workplaces - from offices to construction sites.
Getting electrical safety right means having systems properly installed and maintained, equipment checked regularly, and only competent people carrying out electrical work.
Key requirements
The regulations set out fundamental duties for electrical safety:
Competent persons
All electrical work must be carried out by competent persons:
In practice:
- Qualified electricians: Should hold relevant qualifications (e.g., NVQ Level 3 in Electrical Installation) and be registered with a competent persons scheme
- Maintenance staff: May be competent for simple tasks (changing a fuse) but not complex work
- Office staff: Can do basic visual checks on portable appliances but nothing technical
If in doubt about competence, use a registered electrician. The cost is minimal compared to the consequences of incompetent work.
Fixed electrical installations
Your building's fixed electrical installation (wiring, distribution boards, sockets) should be periodically inspected and tested:
The Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) should be carried out by a competent electrician. They will test the installation and provide a report with a coding system:
- C1 (Danger present): Immediate danger - requires urgent attention
- C2 (Potentially dangerous): Needs urgent remedial action
- C3 (Improvement recommended): Not dangerous but could be improved
- FI (Further investigation): Requires more investigation
You must address C1 and C2 items promptly. Keep EICR reports and evidence of remedial work.
Portable appliance testing (PAT)
There is a common misconception that annual PAT testing is a legal requirement. It is not:
Practical approach:
- User checks: Staff should visually check equipment before use (damaged cables, cracked plugs, scorch marks)
- Formal visual inspection: Regular visual inspection by a responsible person - frequency depends on equipment type and environment
- Combined inspection and testing: PAT testing including electrical tests - less frequently for low-risk equipment
Document your approach based on risk assessment. A well-maintained office may need less frequent testing than a construction site workshop.
Safe isolation
Before anyone works on electrical equipment, it must be properly isolated:
How to maintain electrical safety in your workplace
-
Assess your electrical risks
Review your fixed installation, portable equipment, and any electrical work activities. Identify who is at risk and what controls are needed.
-
Arrange fixed installation testing
Commission an EICR from a competent electrician at appropriate intervals. Address any issues identified. Keep the report and evidence of remedial work.
-
Implement a portable appliance regime
Decide on your approach to PAT based on risk assessment. Train staff to do user checks. Arrange formal inspections at appropriate intervals for your environment.
-
Control electrical work
Ensure only competent persons carry out electrical work. Use registered electricians for anything beyond basic tasks. Get certificates for completed work.
-
Establish safe isolation procedures
Anyone who might need to isolate equipment for maintenance should understand the correct procedure. Provide lock-off devices where needed.
-
Keep records
Maintain records of EICRs, PAT testing, electrical work, and maintenance. These demonstrate compliance and help track equipment history.
Working on live equipment
Live working should be avoided wherever possible:
Live working should be the exception, not the rule. Before any live work is considered, you must be able to demonstrate why the equipment cannot be made dead and what precautions will protect against the specific risks.
Common questions
Do we need to PAT test new equipment? New equipment should be safe, but a visual check on arrival is good practice. Include it in your PAT regime from then on.
What about employees' own equipment? Personal equipment used at work should be covered by your policy. Either test it or prohibit its use.
Do we need RCDs everywhere? RCDs (residual current devices) are required in certain situations - particularly for outdoor equipment and construction sites. Your electrician can advise on your specific requirements.
What records do landlords need to provide? If you're a commercial tenant, ask your landlord for copies of the EICR. The building owner has duties for the fixed installation.