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As part of our commitment to continually improve our service and to help our clients meet their legal obligations, we continue to update the Legal Registers on our website and provide free quarterly legal compliance updates to anyone who subscribes. The purpose of these updates is to ensure you stay up to date with any changes in your legal compliance obligations, our updates can also be kept and can be used as evidence that your business is staying up to date with any changes in the legislation, this can be very helpful at audit time.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 are a set of regulations that aim to ensure the safety of people working with or near electricity. These regulations apply to all work activities involving electricity, from installation and maintenance to repair and use. The purpose of these regulations is to prevent injury and death from electrical shock, burns, and other hazards.
Under these regulations, employers and employees have a duty to ensure that electrical equipment is maintained and used safely. This includes ensuring that equipment is properly installed, inspected, and tested by a competent person. Additionally, employers must provide appropriate training and information to employees to ensure they can work safely with electricity.
The regulations apply to all workplaces in Great Britain, regardless of the size of the business or the nature of the work being carried out. This includes offices, factories, construction sites, and other workplaces where electricity is used. The regulations also apply to self-employed individuals and those in control of non-domestic premises.
Under The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, employers and employees are required to provide evidence of their compliance with the regulations. The evidence must demonstrate that electrical equipment and systems are installed, maintained, and used in a safe manner, and that appropriate measures have been taken to prevent electrical injuries and accidents.
The evidence required may include documentation such as risk assessments, electrical safety policies and procedures, inspection and testing records, and training records. Employers must also ensure that electrical equipment is marked with appropriate warning signs, and that employees are trained and competent to use it safely.
In addition, competent persons must carry out regular inspections and testing of electrical systems and equipment to ensure they are safe to use. The results of these inspections and tests must be documented, and any faults or defects must be promptly rectified.
It is important for employers and employees to maintain up-to-date and accurate records of their compliance with the regulations and to be able to provide evidence upon request. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in fines, imprisonment, or other legal consequences.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (legislation.gov.uk)
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. Guidance on Regulations (hse.gov.uk)
Electricity and the law - Electrical safety (hse.gov.uk)
PAT (Portable appliance testing) - HSE's answers to popular questions
Maintaining portable electrical equipment in low-risk environments (INDG236(rev2)) (hse.gov.uk)
Electricity at work: Safe working practices HSG85 (hse.gov.uk)
There are very few exemptions to The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. The regulations apply to all work activities involving electricity, including installation, maintenance, repair, and use of electrical equipment and systems.
However, there are some limited exemptions to the regulations, which include:
1. Mines: The regulations do not apply to mines or activities related to mining.
2. Certain agricultural and horticultural activities: The regulations do not apply to certain low-risk agricultural and horticultural activities, such as the use of electrical equipment for milking or crop irrigation.
3. Domestic premises: The regulations do not apply to the use of electrical equipment in private homes, unless the equipment is being used for business purposes.
4. Some offshore installations: The regulations do not apply to offshore installations used for oil and gas exploration or production, which are covered by other regulations.
It is important to note that even if a particular activity or premises is exempt from the regulations, the employer or person in control of the equipment still has a duty to ensure that electrical equipment is used safely and does not pose a risk to health and safety.
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Including our quarterly legal compliance updates that are a great resource for evidence for your ISO audits.
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