Electrical Health and Safety In The Workplace

In the UK the two principal legislative acts dealing with health safety in the workplace are the 1974 Health and Safety at Work (HSW) Act and an equivalent set of stipulations called the HSW order of 1978, that covers Northern Ireland. In short, these pieces of legislation place responsibility for the health and safety of employees and the public on employers. In terms of electrical testing, the 1989 amendments to the above acts state the following, “work on or near a to an electrical system shall be carried out so as not to give rise to danger”. All electrical works carried out by DPG’s team of electricians and electrical engineers are NICEIC registered.

NICEIC Compliance

The National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting is a voluntary trade association that works with approximately 30,000 electricians and their employers. Working with an NICEIC approved electrician ensures that the IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology) wiring regulations BS 7671 amongst other British standards are reached in both commercial and domestic premises. For the former it also ensures that when the HSE electrical inspector arrives at the premises that the relevant legislation under the HSW Act is met. Such inspectors are required under statute to inspect commercial premises rigorously at least once a year.

However, it is advised that all employers check the HSE website for their particular industry. Overall, By selecting a DPG employed electrician, you can be sure that your obligations as an employer will be met.

The 1989 Electricity at Work Regulations

In the UK thousands of people are injured every year by electric shocks, with the majority of these coming from power lines and other overhead cables. Most electric shocks and severe injuries occur up to 240 volts and in addition to the shock itself the discharge can cause fires and explosions. With all of this in mind, the 1989 regulations seek to mitigate the risks involved in using electricity, electrical works and electrical devices in the modern workplace.

At DPG, we aim to advise through our qualified team of electricians how best practice can be implemented thus reducing the intrinsic risks involved in working with electricity. This is best achieved by adherence to regulation 3 of the 1989 regulations. This places the duty of care onto employers, (including the self-employed), as well as an emphasis on employees to report any potential risk top the relevant health and safety employee. In short, regulation three sets out these responsibilities in a legal frame and a DPG electrician will assist any of our clients in fulfilling such responsibilities.

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