The Electricity at Work Regulations

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 came into force on 1 April 1990. The purpose of the Regulation is to require precautions to be taken against the risk of death or personal injury from electricity in work activities. 

The Health and Safety at Work Act and the Electricity at Work Regulations make numerous references to employer and employees having a duty of care for the health and safety of others in the work environment. In this context the Electricity at Work Regulations refer to a person as a duty holder . This phrase recognizes the level of responsibility which electricians are expected to take on as a part of their job in order to control electrical safety in the work environment. 

If a regulation is not qualified with so far as is reasonably practicable , then it must be assumed that the regulation is absolute. In the context of the Electricity at Work Regulations, where the risk is very often death by electrocution, the level of duty to prevent danger more often approaches that of an absolute duty of care. 

When the Electricity at Work Regulations (EWR) tell us to ensure that all systems are constructed so as to prevent danger they do not tell us how to actually do this in a specific situation. However, the lET Regulations tell us precisely how to carry out our electrical work safely in order to meet the statutory requirements of the EWR. In Part 1 of the lET Regulations, at 114, it states the Regulations are non-statutory. They may, however, be used in a court of law in evidence to claim compliance with a statutory requirement. If your electrical installation work meets the requirements of the lET Regulations, you will also meet the requirements of EWR. 

The safe isolation procedure described in Fig. 1.28 is a method statement. Following this method meets the requirements of the Electricity at Work Regulations, the lET Regulations, and reduces the risk of electric shock to the operative and other people who might be affected by his actions. 

While live testing may be required by workers in the electrical industries in order to find the fault, live repair work must not be carried out. The individual circuit or piece of equipment must first be isolated before work commences in order to comply with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. 

A quarter of all serious electrical accidents involve portable electrical appliances that is, equipment which has a cable lead and plug and which is normally moved around or can easily be moved from place to place. This includes, for example, floor cleaners, kettles, heaters, portable power tools, fans, televisions, desk lamps, photocopiers, fax machines and desktop computers. There is a requirement under the Health and Safety at Work Act for employers to take adequate steps to protect users of portable appliances from the hazards of electric shock and fire. The responsibility for safety applies equally to small as well as large companies. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 also place a duty of care upon employers to ensure that the risks associated with the use of electrical equipment are controlled. 

Records of the inspecting and testing of portable appliances are not required by law but within the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 it is generally accepted... 

The Electricity at Work Regulations tell us that we must ensure the disconnection and separation of electrical equipment from every source of supply and the separation must be secure . A procedure to comply with this regulation is called... 

The Electricity at Work Regulations absolutely forbid the following work... 

The Health and Safety Regulations make reference to workers having a duty of care for the health and safety of themselves and others in the workplace. The Electricity at Work Regulations identify one responsible person on-site as the duty holder . This recognizes the responsibility of an electrician to take on the control of electrical safety for the whole construction site. 

The Electricity at Work Regulations tell us that we must ensure the... 

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 supported by HSE s publication no. HSR 25 Memorandum of Guidance on the Electricity at Work Regulation 1989 . 

Guidance on these regulations is given in the Memorandum of guidance on the electricity at work regulations (1989). ... 

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