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Work using electrically powered equipment

You should make sure that electrical equipment used for work is safe. Here are a list of actions that should be taken to ensure this is so:

  1. Perform a risk assessment (PDF) [72] to identify the hazards, the risks arising from those hazards, and the control measures you should use.
  2. Check that the electrical equipment is suitable for the work and way in which it is going to be used.
  3. Check that the electrical equipment is in good condition. The HSE booklet 'Maintaining portable and transportable electrical equipment'[73] will help you do this.
  4. Check that the equipment is suitable for the electrical supply with which it is going to be used, and the electrical supply is safe.
  5. It is often beneficial to use a Residual Current Device (RCD) between the electrical supply and the equipment.
  6. Make sure that the user of the equipment is trained to use it safely and can keep others safe.
  7. Make sure the user knows which personal protective equipment to wear, how to use it, and make sure they do.

Check that the electrical equipment is suitable

  • The equipment should be physically capable of doing the job, and designed and constructed so that mechanical and electrical stresses do not cause the equipment to become unsafe.
  • If the environment is damp you may choose to use battery or air powered equipment, or equipment that operates at a reduced voltage such as that supplied by a transformer with an output that is centre tapped to earth (this halves the voltage between a live wire and earth). These are used in the construction industry and are readily available from hire shops.
  • If the environment is conductive with restricted movement (eg inside a metal tank) additional precautions are necessary. BS7671 'Requirements for Electrical Installations', IEE Wiring Regulations, Seventeenth edition, Section 706, gives guidance on this.
  • If there is the chance that there is an explosive atmosphere[74] (containing flammable aerosols, vapours, gases or dusts) nearby you should ensure the work can be carried out safely and that the right equipment is chosen. (see Resources[75])

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Check that the electrical equipment is in good condition

Many faults with work equipment can be found during a simple visual inspection:

  • Switch off and unplug the equipment before you start any checks.
  • Check that the plug is correctly wired (but only if you are competent to do so).
  • Ensure the fuse is correctly rated by checking the equipment rating plate or instruction book.
  • Check that the plug is not damaged and that the cable is properly secured with no internal wires visible.
  • Check the electrical cable is not damaged and has not been repaired with insulating tape or an unsuitable connector. Damaged cable should be replaced with a new cable by a competent person.
  • Check that the outer cover of the equipment is not damaged in a way that will give rise to electrical or mechanical hazards.
  • Check for burn marks or staining that suggests the equipment is overheating.
  • Position any trailing wires so that they are not a trip hazard and are less likely to get damaged.

If you are concerned about the safety of the equipment you should stop it from being used and ask a competent person to undertake a more thorough check.

Additional information on the visual inspection of electrical equipment is in the free guidance note Homeworking[76].

Additional regular inspections may be required where a risk assessment indicates this is necessary (such as where equipment is used in a harsh environment). These inspections should be performed by a competent person using suitable equipment, and often enough to ensure equipment does not become unsafe between the inspections.

The table below gives a list of suggested initial inspection intervals for different types of equipment. The combined inspection and test could be a Portable Appliance Test (PAT), or a detailed test with a more sophisticated instrument. You should make sure that the person carrying out the tests is trained and competent to do so. See the guidance booklet Maintaining portable and transportable electrical equipment[77] for more information.

You may need to change how often inspections are being carried out if there are indications that equipment may become unsafe before the next inspection.

Type of business User checks Formal visual inspection Combined inspection and test
Equipment hire N/A Before issue/after return Before issue
Construction (see Electrical safety on construction sites for more detail) 110 V - Weekly 230 V mains - Daily/every shift 110 V - Monthly 230 V - weekly 110 V - Before first use on site then 3 monthly 230 V mains - Before first use on site then monthly
Light industrial Yes Before initial use, then 6 monthly 6 months to 1 year
Heavy industrial/high risk of equipment damage Daily Weekly 6 months to 1 year
Office information technology eg desktop computers, photocopiers, fax machines No 1 to 2 years None if double-insulated, otherwise up to 5 years
Double insulated equipment not hand-held, eg fans,table lamps No 2 to 3 years No
Hand-held double insulated (Class II) equipment, eg some floor cleaners, kitchen equipment and irons Yes 6 months to 1 year No
Earthed (Class I) equipment, eg electric kettles, some floor cleaners Yes 6 months to 1 year 1 to 2 years
Equipment used by the public, eg in hotels By member of staff 3 months 1 year
Cables and plugs, extension leads Yes 1 year 2 years

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Check that the electrical equipment is suitable for the electrical supply

Make sure that the electrical equipment you are intending to use is suitable for the electrical supply to which you are connecting it. Check the voltage is correct and that the supply can deliver the current required by the equipment (the power requirements of the equipment will be shown on its rating plate).

Check the electrical supply is safe to use

You should be sure that the electrical supply is safe to use. Regular tests performed by a competent person, using suitable equipment are a good way of reducing risks. Where there is evidence that the supply may not be safe, such as damaged equipment or wiring, the supply should not be used until work has been done to correct this. Some simple user checks can be carried out on electrical socket outlets using an electrical socket tester, but it is essential that the correct type of tester is used. If any doubt remains regarding the safety of the electrical supply, a competent person should be consulted.

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Use a Residual Current Device (RCD)

A Residual Current Device (RCD) can reduce the likelihood of an electrical injury but a shock can still cause very serious or fatal injuries, so an RCD should only be used as a secondary means of reducing the risk of people being injured by electricity. RCD's are not designed to prevent the ignition of an explosive atmosphere[78] and should not be used for this purpose.

The best place for an RCD is built into the main switchboard, as this means that the electrical supply is permanently protected. If this is not possible, an electrical socket outlet incorporating an RCD, or a plug in RCD adaptor, can also provide additional safety.

If an electrical socket outlet incorporating an RCD, or a plug in RCD adaptor is used it should be tested, by the user, prior to use by operating the Test button. Faulty RCDs should not be used and either removed for use or labelled as faulty.

An RCD detects some, but not all, faults in the electrical system and rapidly switches off the supply, reducing the potential for injury caused by a common type of electric shock. To reduce the likelihood of injury to people the RCD should have a tripping current of not more than 30 milliamps (mA). RCDs with a higher tripping current are used to protect against fire.

Remember:

An RCD is a valuable safety device, never bypass it; if the RCD trips, it is a sign there is a fault. Check the system before using it again; if the RCD trips frequently and no fault can be found in the system, consult the manufacturer of the RCD; the RCD has a test button to check that its mechanism is free and functioning. Use this regularly.

If lighting circuits are protected by the same RCD that also protects other equipment, a fault that causes the RCD to trip will also result in the loss of lighting that could give rise to a number of risks (such as trips and falls or the dangers from moving machinery). You should perform a risk assessment to identify the effect of fitting an RCD to electrical circuits.

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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. Perform a risk assessmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg163.pdf
  73. 'Maintaining portable and transportable electrical equipment'https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg107.htm
  74. explosive atmospherehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/explosive.htm
  75. Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/index.htm
  76. Homeworkinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/home-working/index.htm
  77. Maintaining portable and transportable electrical equipmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg107.htm
  78. explosive atmospherehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/explosive.htm
  79. Electricity at work: Safe working practiceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg85.htm
  80. Maintaining portable and transportable electrical equipmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg107.htm
  81. Maintaining portable electric equipment in low-risk environmentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg236.htm
  82. Dangerous substances and explosive atmosphereshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l138.htm
  83. HSE Bookshttps://books.hse.gov.uk/
  84. ESQCRhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/esqcr/index.htm
  85. incidentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/esqcr/index.htm
  86. Construction industryhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/index.htm
  87. Agriculturehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/index.htm
  88. Offshore divisionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/index.htm
  89. Chemical industrieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/chemicals/index.htm
  90. Quarrieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/quarries/index.htm
  91. RIDDORhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/index.htm
  92. Statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/index.htm

Glossary of abbreviations/acronyms on this page

ESQCR[84]
Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations

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Updated 2023-04-12