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Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations (ESQCR) FAQs

Incidents

Legislation

Overhead lines

The minimum height varies, depending on the voltage carried by the line. Schedule 2 of The Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002[78] gives the ground clearances for different types of line. However, you should discuss the application of this information in respect of any use of the land with the local electricity company.

You should firstly discuss your concerns with the company. If you are not satisfied with their response, then raise a formal complaint[79] with HSE. Do not arrange to carry out any tree cutting yourself where trees come near or into contact with overhead lines.

You should firstly discuss your concerns with the electricity company. If you are not satisfied with their response, then raise a formal complaint[80] with HSE.

For HSE guidance, see: Overhead power lines[81]. See also the Public safety: Overhead power lines[82] information, provided by the Energy Networks Association.

Electricity supply companies

Underground cables

No, they are only a guide. The position of the cables should be confirmed by proper use of location equipment and the application of safe digging techniques. More information about safe digging techniques is available in HSE's Avoiding danger from underground services[88].

The plans are only a guide. The position of the cables should be confirmed by proper use of location equipment and the application of safe digging techniques. More information about underground cables and electrical safety is available in HSE's Avoiding danger from underground services[89].

Substations and their security

Regulation 11 of the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002[92] provides the minimum legal requirements. If you have particular concerns, then you should contact the local electricity network operator[93]. If you believe they haven't responded adequately, then raise a complaint[94] with HSE.

You should contact the local electricity network operator[95]. If you believe they haven't responded adequately, then raise a complaint[96] with HSE.

Electricity pylons

You can complain to the owner of the pylon, which will either be your local electricity network operator[98] or National Grid.

The owner of the pylon, which will be either your local electricity network operator[99] or National Grid, should:

  • ensure others are not able to interfere with their assets
  • carry out regular inspections to ensure the adequacy of their equipment and protective measures

If you have concerns this is not happening, then raise a complaint[100] with HSE.

This would incur considerable expense and should be first discussed with the line owner[101], as this is a matter between you and them. HSE cannot adjudicate on costs.

Electricity meters

You should take this matter up with your supplier (ie the company you pay your bills to).

This is not a matter for HSE, you should discuss this with your local electricity company[102]. However, you must not interfere with the electricity company's equipment.

Meter cabinets (manufactured to a suitable industry standard) are deemed part of the fabric of the building. They are therefore owned and maintained by the customer (ie the building owner). Where damage to the meter box or meter box door puts the network equipment at risk or the public at danger, the damage may be repaired by the network operator. The network operator may be able to provide steel vandal-resistant replacement covers / doors, where required, but may make a charge for repairs or replacements.

Electromagnetic fields

Link URLs in this page

  1. Electrical safetyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/index.htm
  2. Overview - HSE electrical safetyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/hse.htm
  3. How we work https://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/how.htm
  4. Who we are https://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/who.htm
  5. Contactshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/contacts.htm
  6. Electrical injurieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/injuries.htm
  7. Overview - Simple precautionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/precautions.htm
  8. Work near electricityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/nearelectric.htm
  9. Excavation and underground serviceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/excavations.htm
  10. Overhead power lineshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/overhead.htm
  11. Work using electrically powered equipmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/electricequip.htm
  12. Work on electrical equipment, machinery or installationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/withequip.htm
  13. Maintaining electrical equipmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/safety.htm
  14. Electricity in potentially explosive atmosphereshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/explosive.htm
  15. Standards and codes of practicehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/standards.htm
  16. Electrical safety FAQshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/faq.htm
  17. Overview - Electricity in potentially explosive atmospheres FAQshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/atex/index.htm
  18. General, guidance and enforcement issueshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/atex/general.htm
  19. Definitionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/atex/definitions.htm
  20. Interpretationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/atex/interpretation.htm
  21. Technical standardshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/atex/standards.htm
  22. Existing equipment issueshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/atex/existing.htm
  23. Imported productshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/atex/imported.htm
  24. General issues and informationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/atex/issues.htm
  25. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) issueshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/atex/lpg.htm
  26. Overview - Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/index.htm
  27. General health and safetyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/general.htm
  28. Inspection & testinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/testing.htm
  29. Maintenancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/maintenance.htm
  30. Constructionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/construction.htm
  31. Farming/forestryhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/agriculture.htm
  32. Public placeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/public.htm
  33. Potentially explosive atmosphereshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/explosive.htm
  34. The lawhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/law.htm
  35. Other workplaceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/other.htm
  36. Linkshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/links.htm
  37. Overview - Accident case studieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/experience.htm
  38. Overview - Overhead power lineshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/overhead/index.htm
  39. Lorry driver suffers burnshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/overhead/lorry.htm
  40. Failing to warn driver of overhead lineshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/overhead/farmer.htm
  41. Failure to isolate power supplyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/overhead/isolate.htm
  42. Erecting a lighting towerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/overhead/under.htm
  43. Scaffolding contacting overhead linehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/overhead/scaffold.htm
  44. Moving tower scaffoldhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/overhead/painters.htm
  45. Overview - Electrical maintenancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/index.htm
  46. Changing an electrodehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/electrode.htm
  47. Touching live equipmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/touch.htm
  48. Incorrectly wired appliancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/appliance.htm
  49. Insulating live wireshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/insulate.htm
  50. Faulty air conditioning unithttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/aircondition.htm
  51. Live electrical panelhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/panel.htm
  52. Supply not been properly isolatedhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/isolate.htm
  53. Injuries result in amputationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/amputation.htm
  54. Switchgear not isolatedhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/switchgear.htm
  55. Induction heat treatment machinehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/heart.htm
  56. Poorly constructed equipmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/testing.htm
  57. Pressure water washing machinehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/washingmachine.htm
  58. Metal fencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/fence.htm
  59. Incorrectly wiring a machinehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/wiring.htm
  60. Mail wrapping machinehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/maintenance/mail.htm
  61. Overview - Excavationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/excavations/index.htm
  62. Cable locatorhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/excavations/locator.htm
  63. Road breakerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/excavations/roadbreaker.htm
  64. Pneumatic impact molehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/excavations/mole.htm
  65. Pneumatic breakerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/excavations/breaker.htm
  66. Jackhammerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/excavations/jackhammer.htm
  67. Breaking concretehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/excavations/concrete.htm
  68. Gas pipes and electrical cableshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/excavations/digger.htm
  69. Overview - Ignition of potentially explosive atmosphereshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/explosive/index.htm
  70. Removing paint in a yachthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/explosive/paint.htm
  71. Cleaning electric stirrerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/explosive/clean.htm
  72. who should reporthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/esqcr/who-should-report.htm
  73. what to reporthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/esqcr/what-must-be-reported.htm
  74. when to reporthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/esqcr/when-should-I-report.htm
  75. how to reporthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/esqcr/how-to-report-esqcr.htm
  76. ESQCR incidents websitehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/esqcr/index.htm
  77. Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulationshttp://www.legislation.gov.uk/all?title=electricity%20safety%20quality
  78. The Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/2665/contents/made
  79. formal complainthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/complain-about-hse.htm
  80. formal complainthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/index.htm
  81. Overhead power lineshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/overhead.htm
  82. Public safety: Overhead power lineshttp://www.energynetworks.org/electricity/she/safety/safety-advice/public-safety-leaflets.html
  83. The National Gridhttps://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/domestic-consumers-and-homeowners
  84. Excavation and underground serviceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/excavations.htm
  85. (NJUG)http://www.njug.org.uk/publication/114/
  86. (ENA)http://www.energynetworks.org/
  87. Dial before you dighttp://www.energynetworks.org/news/public-information/dial-before-you-dig.html
  88. Avoiding danger from underground serviceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg47.htm
  89. Avoiding danger from underground serviceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg47.htm
  90. local electricity network operatorhttp://www.energynetworks.org/info/faqs/who-is-my-network-operator.html
  91. complainthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/complain-about-hse.htm
  92. Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/2665/contents/made
  93. local electricity network operatorhttp://www.energynetworks.org/info/faqs/who-is-my-network-operator.html
  94. complainthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/complain-about-hse.htm
  95. local electricity network operatorhttp://www.energynetworks.org/info/faqs/who-is-my-network-operator.html
  96. complainthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/complain-about-hse.htm
  97. local electricity companyhttp://www.energynetworks.org/info/faqs/who-is-my-network-operator.html
  98. local electricity network operatorhttp://www.energynetworks.org/info/faqs/who-is-my-network-operator.html
  99. local electricity network operatorhttp://www.energynetworks.org/info/faqs/who-is-my-network-operator.html
  100. complainthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/complain-about-hse.htm
  101. line ownerhttp://www.energynetworks.org/info/faqs/who-is-my-network-operator.html
  102. local electricity companyhttp://energynetworks.org/info/faqs/electricity-distribution-map.html
  103. Department of Healthhttp://www.dh.gov.uk/
  104. Health Protection Agencyhttp://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/Radiation/
  105. Memorandum of guidance on the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsr25.htm
  106. Electricity at work: Safe working practiceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg85.htm
  107. Safety in electrical testing at work https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg354.htm
  108. Avoiding danger from underground services https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg47.htm
  109. HSE Bookshttps://books.hse.gov.uk/
  110. ESQCRhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/esqcr/index.htm
  111. incidentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/esqcr/index.htm
  112. Construction industryhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/index.htm
  113. Agriculturehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/index.htm
  114. Offshore divisionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/index.htm
  115. Chemical industrieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/chemicals/index.htm
  116. Quarrieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/quarries/index.htm
  117. RIDDORhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/index.htm
  118. Statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/index.htm

Glossary of abbreviations/acronyms on this page

ESQCR[110]
Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations

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Updated 2024-07-09