Health & Safety

Ignoring the obligations imposed by The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 under the Health and Safety at Work act 1974 could invalidate a company's insurance policies. A typical insurance policy condition requires the policy holder to "take all reasonable precautions to prevent or diminish loss, destruction or damage occurance or cease any activity which may give rise to liability." This act in effect also requires the implementation of a systematic and regular program of maintenance, inspection and testing in the following circumstances:

• Where appliances are used by employees including the self employed.
• Where the public may use appliances

In Short, you have a legal obligation to ensure that anybody working or entering your business is kept safe. View our Health & Safety policy here

Although there is no mandatory requirement to produce and keep records on the condition of electrical equipment, the HSE Memorandom of guidance on the Eletricity of work regulations (HS(R)25) advises that records of maintenance, including test results will enable the condition of equipment and the effectiveness of maintenance policies to be monitored.

The legislation of specific relevance to electrical maintenance is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.