Use of electricity in adverse or hazardous environments

The safe use of electricity can pose particular problems in adverse or hazardous work environments. Such environments may degrade equipment to the extent that it becomes unsafe or even develops a fault thus increasing the electric shock risk. Flammable and explosive atmospheres present special risks. 

The importance of ensming that the specification and selection of electrical equipment is appropriate to the environment and conditions of use is recognised in the W Regulations. Regulation 6 specifically mentions various kinds of adverse or hazardous environments, namely the effects of the weather, natural hazards, temperature, pressure, wet, dusty and corrosive conditions as well as exposure to flammable or explosive dusts, vapoms or gases. The requirement is that electrical equipment which may reasonably foreseeably be exposed to such conditions shall be of such construction, or as necessary protected, as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, danger arising from such exposure. 

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