Work on electrical equipment, machinery or installations
Work on electrical equipment, machinery or installations should be:
- thoroughly planned
- done by people who can demonstrate competence
- done by applying suitable equipment and work standards
Planning
It is essential that equipment, machinery or installations are prepared for the work to be carried out. This includes the isolation and release of all sources of energy (electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic etc).
It may also involve additional work such as decontamination or the construction of a safe working platform. Isolation of energy sources should be secure, meaning that energy cannot be inadvertently re-introduced into the equipment, machinery or installation.
All work should be thoroughly planned so it can be done safely and so the completed installation or equipment is safe. HSE guidance Electricity at work, safe working practices[72] provides information on how to plan electrical work in a wide range of industries.
There is also information how to plan electrical installations to ensure electrical safety on construction sites[73].
Take particular care when repairing equipment that is safety related such as equipment in a potentially explosive atmosphere[74], or which guards against contact with moving machinery. You should make sure the repair will not prevent the correct operation of the equipment or adversely affect its safety in any way.
Competence
People working on electrical equipment, machinery or installations must be competent to do so. The level of competence required to do a task depends on the complexity of that task and the amount of knowledge required. Assessing the suitability of an individual to do a task requires evidence of:
- training to an appropriate level in the area of work
- experience of achieving a suitable standard in similar work
- regular reassessment
People who cannot demonstrate competence should not be allowed to work unless they are supervised by someone who is.
The Memorandum of guidance on the Electricity at Work Regulations[75] provides information on competence.
Equipment and work standards
Equipment that is installed should be suitable for the task it will perform and the environment within which it will be expected to work. A wide range of electrical equipment and work is covered by recognised standards that offer guidance on good engineering practice.
For example, BS 7671:2001 Requirements for electrical installations, IEE Wiring Regulations, 17 edition provides guidance on the requirements for the construction and testing of electrical installations.
The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations (on legislation.gov.uk)[76] place duties on designers, manufacturers and suppliers of electrical equipment, operating between 50 and 1,000 volts AC, and 75 and 1,500 volts DC, being placed on the UK market.
These Regulations implement the 2014/35/EU Low Voltage Directive[77] and require electrical equipment to be safe and conform to certain essential safety requirements.
The Department for Business and Trade has responsibility for the policy on these Regulations. You can find more information in guidance on the Electrical Equipment Regulations (Safety) Regulations (on GOV.UK)[78] produced by the Office for Product Safety and Standards.
Enforcement of these Regulations is carried out by HSE for equipment intended for use in the workplace, and Local Authority Trading Standards departments for equipment intended for use elsewhere.