ELECTRICITY AT WORK REGULATIONS 1989
SYSTEMS, WORK ACTIVITIES AND PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
You must:
- build, install and maintain all electrical systems in a way that prevents danger
- make sure employees do nothing that might cause danger when operating, using, maintaining or working near an electrical system
- make sure the equipment you provide to protect people from the hazards of electrical systems is suitable, fully maintained and used in the proper way
STRENGTH AND CAPABILITY OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
You must not:
- use any electrical equipment whose strength and capability is so excessive that it might cause danger
ADVERSE OR HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTS
You must:
- build any electrical equipment which may reasonably be exposed to:
- mechanical damage
- extreme weather, temperature or pressure
- water, dirt, dust or corrosion
- any flammable or explosive substance
in a way that prevents it causing danger as a result of being exposed to those conditions.
INSULATION, PROTECTION AND PLACING OF CONDUCTORS
You must:
- protect any potentially dangerous conductors and cover them with insulating material
- take precautions to make sure they cannot cause people danger
EARTHING OR OTHER SUITABLE PRECAUTIONS
You must:
- take precautions to prevent conductors from becoming charged, either by earthing them or employing some similar method
INTEGRITY OF REFERENCED CONDUCTORS
You must not:
- place anything in an earthed circuit conductor that might break the circuit’s electrical continuity or introduce high impedance, without taking suitable precautions to prevent any potential dangers
CONNECTIONS
You must:
- make sure every joint and connection in a system is mechanically and electrically suitable for use
MEANS FOR PROTECTING FROM EXCESS OF CURRENT
You must:
- provide an efficient, suitably located method of protecting an excess of current from all parts of an electrical system
MEANS FOR CUTTING OFF THE SUPPLY AND FOR ISOLATION
You must:
- provide suitable means for:
- cutting off the supply of electricity to any electrical equipment
- isolating any electrical equipment
PRECAUTIONS FOR WORK ON EQUIPMENT MADE DEAD
You must:
- take precautions to prevent electrical equipment which has been made dead while work is being done on or near it from becoming electrically charged for as long as the work is being carried out
WORK ON OR NEAR LIVE CONDUCTORS
You must:
- make sure no-one works on or near any live conductor (other than one suitably covered with insulating material) unless:
- it is unreasonable for the conductor to be made dead
- it is reasonable for the person to be carrying out the work while the conductor is live
- you have taken suitable precautions (such as providing suitable protective equipment) to prevent injury
WORKING SPACE, ACCESS AND LIGHTING
You must:
- provide adequate working space, means of access and lighting on or around any electrical equipment whenever the equipment is being used or worked on, as a way of preventing injury
PERSONS TO BE COMPETENT TO PREVENT DANGER AND INJURY
You must:
- make sure any person working with electrical systems or equipment has the technical knowledge or experience they need to avoid injury or cause danger
ELECTRICAL SAFETY CERTIFICATES
Providing an electrical safety certificate—known as an electrical inspection certificate (EIC)—is likely to be a condition of your business insurance.
This details the installation work, inspections and testing you’ve carried out on the fixed electrical wiring in your building.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE—LANDLORDS AND TENANTS
Landlords of business premises are responsible for the building’s electrical safety certificate and arranging any necessary repairs to the wiring systems.
Tenants have a duty to inspect, test and maintain all the electrical appliances.
HOW TO GET AN EIC
Arrange to have a “periodic inspection” carried out. This is similar to portable appliance testing (PAT), but a qualified electrician comes in to inspect and test your fixed wiring rather than your portable appliances.
It’s recommended that you have a periodic inspection every five years.
After the periodic inspection, you’ll be issued with an electrical installation condition report (EICR). This will list any faults, damage or problems that mean you’re failing to comply with the relevant laws, regulations and standards.
For more info on this you can read more here.