Worker received shock whilst using a pressure water washing machine

A worker received a 240 Volt electric shock whilst using a pressure water washing machine. An investigation found the company had failed to: a) maintain the washer, b) provide a safe system of work and c) notify the existence of the factory to HSE. There was a high potential for serious injury from contact with 240 Volt electricity supply when using water washing equipment.

Action

The company was prosecuted under The Factories Act 1961 (except section 135), Section 137, Sub Section 1, The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (No 4) paragraph 2, and The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (No 4) paragraph 1, and fined.

Comment

All work equipment should be regularly checked to ensure it is safe to use. A visual check each day, or each time the equipment is used is likely to identify many of the potential electrical faults. Work equipment should also be thoroughly tested regularly. This should be done frequently enough that there is little chance a fault will develop that will lead to danger.

In general, equipment used in harsh environments such as building sites or outdoors will need more regular testing than equipment used in an office environment. It is a good idea to note down your decision on the frequency of testing for each item of equipment and then ensure the tests are carried out. It is also a good idea to note down the results of each test so that deterioration can be spotted as early as possible.

You should regularly review your frequency of testing and change it according to the number and type of defects found.

The downloadable leaflet Homeworking[72] offers guidance on how to perform visual checks on work equipment. The downloadable HSE booklet Maintaining portable and transportable electrical equipment[73] provides guidance on equipment maintenance. The downloadable leaflet Do you use a steam/water pressure cleaner? (PDF) [74] and the downloadable HSE booklet Electrical risks from steam/water pressure cleaners[75] provide guidance on the safe use of pressure washers.

It is possible to do simple checks on your installation using an electrical socket tester. This is a device that can be plugged into a socket outlet, and can identify if there is a wiring fault. However, be aware that many types of socket tester cannot detect certain types of fault, and could indicate the socket is safe when it is not. Read the information provided by HSE on Electrical Socket Testers.

Link URLs in this page

  1. Electrical safetyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/index.htm
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  4. Who we are https://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/who.htm
  5. Contactshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/contacts.htm
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  7. Overview - Simple precautionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/precautions.htm
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  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
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  26. Overview - Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/index.htm
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  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
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  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. Homeworkinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/home-working/index.htm
  73. Maintaining portable and transportable electrical equipmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg107.htm
  74. Do you use a steam/water pressure cleaner?https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg68.pdf
  75. Electrical risks from steam/water pressure cleanershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/pm29.htm
  76. Electrical safety and you: A brief guidehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg231.htm
  77. Maintaining portable and transportable electrical equipmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg107.htm
  78. Electrical risks from steam/water pressure cleanershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/pm29.htm
  79. Do you use a steam/water pressure cleaner? You could be in for a shock!https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg68.pdf
  80. HSE Bookshttps://books.hse.gov.uk/
  81. ESQCRhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/esqcr/index.htm
  82. incidentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/esqcr/index.htm
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  88. RIDDORhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/index.htm
  89. Statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/index.htm

Glossary of abbreviations/acronyms on this page

ESQCR[81]
Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations

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Updated 2023-04-12