Computer & Household Repair UK-wide

Repair services: compliance checklist

Use this checklist to confirm your repair services business (SIC division 95) meets its obligations. Work through the universal workplace and employment items every business shares, then only the f-gas and WEEE items if they apply to the kind of equipment you repair. If you answer no to any item that applies to you, follow the linked guide before you proceed.

Guide summary

If you run a repair business, you must write risk assessments, do a fire risk assessment, and have employers’ liability insurance of at least £5 million. If you repair fridges or air conditioners, you and your engineers need f-gas certification. If you throw away old electrical parts, you must send them to an approved treatment site and keep records.

  • Write risk assessments and set safe systems of work
  • Carry out a fire risk assessment for your workshop
  • Hold employers’ liability insurance of at least £5 million
  • Comply with equality law and data protection (GDPR)
  • Register with the ICO for data protection unless exempt
  • Get f-gas certification if you repair fridges or air conditioners
  • Recover refrigerant gas instead of venting it
  • Send waste electrical equipment to an approved treatment facility
  • Register as a waste carrier if you transport WEEE yourself
  • Keep evidence notes for all waste electrical disposal
On this page

Related guides in Compliance & Legal

Use this checklist to confirm your business meets its obligations. Work through each item and answer yes or no. Section 1 applies to everyone. In Section 2, only answer the items for the kind of equipment you repair. If you answer no to an item that applies to you, follow the linked guide before you proceed.

Workplace health and safety is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive in Great Britain and by HSENI in Northern Ireland. Fire safety is devolved. F-gas is enforced by the Environment Agency (and devolved equivalents). WEEE is enforced by the Environment Agency (and devolved equivalents). Each section names the body that applies.

Section 1 — Every repair services business

These workplace and employment duties apply to every business, whatever you repair. Confirm each one.

  1. 1

    Have you written your risk assessments and put safe systems of work in place?

    Your general duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of your people and others affected by your work. Risk-assess workshop risks — electrical safety, soldering fume, battery handling, manual handling of equipment — and put safe systems of work, training and supervision in place. If not, follow "Set up and run a safe repair services business".

  2. 2

    Have you carried out your fire risk assessment?

    The responsible person must assess the fire load from lithium batteries, solvents and electrical equipment. They must maintain fire precautions under the fire-safety regime for your nation.

  3. 3

    Do you hold employers' liability insurance?

    Hold at least £5 million of cover once you employ anyone. Display or make available the certificate.

  4. 4

    Do you meet your equality and data protection duties?

    Do not discriminate under the Equality Act 2010 (or separate NI equality law enforced by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland). Comply with the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018, registering with the ICO unless exempt. Have clear data-handling procedures for customer devices.

Section 2 — F-gas and WEEE duties

Answer only the items for the kind of equipment you repair. If you do not handle refrigerants and do not generate waste electrical equipment, you do not need this section.

  1. 1

    F-gas: do your company and engineers hold f-gas certification?

    If you repair, service or maintain refrigeration, air-conditioning or heat-pump equipment containing fluorinated greenhouse gases, both the company and the engineers must hold f-gas certification. You must carry out leak checks above the charge thresholds, recover gas rather than vent it, and keep records. If not, follow "Meet your f-gas and WEEE repair duties".

  2. 2

    WEEE: are you routing waste electrical equipment to approved treatment facilities?

    If your repairs generate waste electrical and electronic equipment, store it separately and dispose of it only through an Approved Authorised Treatment Facility or by export to one. Keep evidence notes and register as a waste carrier if you transport WEEE yourself.

If you answered no to anything

Work through the guide linked in that item. The two task guides — the safe-business spine and f-gas and WEEE duties — set out what to do. Start from the router if you are not sure which apply to you.

Official sources

Authoritative health and safety and environmental compliance guidance.