Electrical safety

Guidance

Introduction to electrical safety^[1]

How to assess electrical hazards and put the right controls in place
Work near electricity^[2]

Advice on danger signs, wiring, cable colours and checking power is off
Excavation and underground services ^[3]

How to avoid accidents due to damaging underground electrical cables
Portable appliance testing (PAT) ^[4]

What ‘PAT testing’ is and what the law says about testing equipment
Overhead power lines^[5]

Managing work near overhead power lines to avoid accidental contact
Work using electrically powered equipment^[6]

How to check that electrical equipment is suitable and safe
Standards and codes of practice^[7]

Commonly used electrical standards and approved codes of practice
Electricity in potentially explosive locations^[8]

The supply and the use of equipment in potentially explosive atmospheres
Grid-scale battery energy storage systems^[9]

Where health and safety law applies and HSE’s role
Resources^[10]

Guides on testing, construction, farms, excavation, overhead power lines and more

Introduction to electrical safetyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/precautions.htm
Work near electricityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/nearelectric.htm
Excavation and underground services https://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/excavations.htm
Portable appliance testing (PAT) https://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/faq-portable-appliance-testing.htm
Overhead power lineshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/overhead.htm
Work using electrically powered equipmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/electricequip.htm
Standards and codes of practicehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/standards.htm
Electricity in potentially explosive locationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/atex/index.htm
Grid-scale battery energy storage systemshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/battery-energy-storage-systems.htm
Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/index.htm