Activity

The risk assessment covers the use of mains voltage bench-mounted and portable equipment and
work on the fixed installation, including testing and maintenance. It may not be adequate for
high-voltage equipment (eg equipment operating from >1000V ac), equipment intended for use
in flammable atmospheres and that intended for medical applications.

Hazard and Risk

The hazards arising from the use of electrical equipment are:

 shock by direct or indirect contact with a live or charged conductor

 burns from contact with or proximity to a live or charged conductor, by exposure to a
high-energy discharge or arc
 fires and explosions caused by the ignition of flammable substances and materials by
electricity
 explosions caused by the rupture of equipment subjected to excess or large fault currents
 interruption to essential safety equipment by loss of electrical power.

If control measures (other than those necessary solely for the operation of the equipment) for
safety are not in place and maintained then the likely risks are as follows.

 Electric shock: intolerable risk (likely, extremely harmful).

 Electric burn: moderate risk (unlikely, harmful).
 Fires and explosions: intolerable risk (likely, extremely harmful).
 Iterruption to essential services: moderate (unlikely, harmful).

People at Risk
Any person using or working near to electrical equipment may be at risk if the protective control
measures are inadequate or are not maintained. Those in the vicinity of the equipment or the
laboratory are at risk in the event of fire or explosions. Persons may be at special risk with high-
voltage equipment, with equipment in hazardous flammable areas and in wet or other conducting
environments, unless additional protective measures are applied.
Control Measures
Installation

A permanent installation designed, installed and tested to BS 7671 (IEE Wiring Regulations) will
incorporate the following control measures.

 Insulation preventing contact with live conductors — protecting against shock and burns.
 Barriers or enclosures including shrouded terminal connections — preventing direct
contact with live or charged conductors and protecting against shock and burns.
 Earthing, combined with current-interruption devices, such as fuses and circuit breakers
— protecting against shock from line to earth currents.
 Automatic disconnection by fuses and circuit breakers — preventing overheating by
excess current.
 Residual current devices — preventing shocks through earth leakage currents where
earthing alone is not adequate protection.
 Sufficient socket outlets, avoiding the use of multiple adaptors or long cables.
 Protection against ingress or splashing by liquids or dusts by location or enclosure —
preventing shock or high leakage currents.
 Explosion-protected equipment in flammable or explosive atmospheres — preventing
fires and explosions.
 Non-interruptible or back-up supply for essential safety equipment.

In addition to the functional and protective measures in the electrical installation, other control
measures for the fixed and portable electrical equipment include the following.

 Design and construction — preventing direct access to live conductors protecting against
shock and burns.
 Earthing of exposed conducting parts by connection to the protective conductor of the
fixed installation, in conjunction with a suitable fuse or circuit breaker — protecting
against shock and burns (Class I equipment).
 Double or supplementary insulation, without the need for connection to the protective
conductor of the fixed installation - providing electrical isolation from live conductors
and protecting against shock and burns (Class II equipment).
 Reduced (110V ac) or extra low voltage (below 50V ac or 120V dc) equipment with
power supplied from a centre-tapped-to-earth (CTE) transformer (touch voltage is
therefore reduced to 50V) — protecting against shock and burns (Class III).
 Interlocking of removable covers on high-voltage or high-current equipment
automatically isolating the power source if the panel is removed or if earth leakage is
detected (electrophoresis and electrochemical analytical apparatus) — protecting against
electric shock.
 Separation from hazardous atmospheres or the use of suitable explosion-protected
equipment to protect against fire and explosion. Such equipment will be specially rated as
EExd or EExe.
Procedures
Operational Procedures

Modifications and other work on the installation should be in accordance with BS 7671 (IEE
Wiring Regulations). A permit to work confirming the disconnection, isolation and locking-off
procedures, and for testing and proving the system dead, together with all other necessary safety
precautions, should be initiated by the person responsible for the installation and issued to those
undertaking the work. On completion of the work, the installation should be checked before it is
returned to normal operation.

Circuit diagrams and drawings must be updated following modifications to the installation.

Work on live equipment must be justified. A permit to work, detailing the protective insulated
tools, equipment and other precautions to prevent injury, may be necessary. Non-essential
persons must be prevented from approaching exposed live or charged conductors by suitable
barriers or the presence of a second person.

Equipment should be used only for the purpose for which it is designed, and within its design
rating or capacity in an environment for which it is suitable. Operation and maintenance should
be in accordance with the supplier's instructions and operating or maintenance manual.

Equipment should be checked by the user and damaged items, including flexible cords, should be
removed from use.

Reduced voltage equipment (110V CTE) or equipment supplied from a safety extra low voltage
(SELV) transformer (Class III) should be used where practicable. The transformer should
comply with the requirements of BS EN 61558-2-23:2001 Safety of Power Transformers, Power
Supply Units and Similar. Particular Requirements for Transformers for Construction Sites, from
BSI Sales, ISBN 0580 373061. Double-insulated equipment should be used in preference to
earthed equipment.

Heating appliances should have an excess temperature cut-out device or sensor that isolates the
electrical power at a predetermined temperature. Such appliances should normally have enclosed
heating elements, reducing the likelihood of ignition of flammable substances.

Domestic-type refrigerators should not be used for the storage of highly flammable liquids other
than in vapour-tight sealed containers, unless all electric spark sources are removed from the
interior compartment.

Equipment left running unattended should be clearly marked or labelled, detailing the emergency
action and telephone numbers for contacting staff. Critical conditions of unattended experimental
equipment (temperature, pressure, liquid level, voltage, etc) should be monitored and the
electrical supply automatically disconnected if these conditions are not maintained within safe
limits.
All fixed and portable electrical equipment should be marked for unique identification and
arrangements made for each item to be checked routinely for safety by visual inspection and
testing as appropriate.

Inspection and Testing for Safety

The electrical installation must be inspected and tested in accordance with BS 7671 (IEE Wiring
Regulations) requirements before acceptance, after significant modifications have been made
and, in any event, at intervals not exceeding five years.

Fixed and portable equipment, together with their flexible cords, cables and plugs, should be
maintained for safety by visual inspections and testing. The details of the test programme,
including the type of tests, the pass/fail criteria and the frequency of inspections, will depend on
the type of equipment and the level of risk from its use and location. A guidance scheme is given
below.

Electrical Safety Inspection and Test Requirements for Laboratory Equipment

Formal visual inspection of Class I, II and III equipment (to be made with the equipment
switched-off and isolated from the supply)
Suitability of equipment for its
1.
environment
2. Ability to isolate
3. Condition of the plug
4. Condition of the flexible cord
5. Condition of the equipment
Confirmation of maker's or approved test authority
plate or mark, indicating compliance with relevant
standards for equipment in adverse or hazardous
conditions
Confirmation that the equipment can be switched off
and isolated from the supply
No external damage or signs of overheating
The core terminations are correctly wired and tight with
no loose strands and cable cores not strained
The outer protective insulation of the flexible cord is
secured in the cord anchorage
The fuse is securely located and shows no sign of
overheating
The fuse is approved for safety (usually ASTA 20
marked) and is rated according to the current rating of
the flexible cord, not the equipment
The plug cover is secured in position
Undamaged throughout its length, with no joints
Located in a position where it will not be damaged
Is of adequate length for the equipment
Is 3-core for Class I equipment and 2-core for Class II
Is rated for the equipment to which it is connected
Works satisfactorily without intermittent faults,
overheating or unusual noises
The on/off switch operates properly, and is clearly

Frequency of inspections (inspection
and test periodicity should be based
on risk assessments; however, the
6. following advice is offered in order
to provide an initial “benchmark”
and should be modified by the
results of such risk assessments)
Formal test procedures to be carried out using a portable appliance test instrument or an
insulation/earth continuity tester in the case of permanently connected equipment
Earth continuity testing (Class I
7.
equipment only)
8. Insulation resistance testing
9. Dielectric or flash testing
10. Frequency of testing
marked to determine the “off” position
The case is undamaged, with all panels and covers in
place and secured
The cord is held in a proprietory cord anchor with
strain relief facilities
The casing prevents access to internal live conductors
or parts that may become live
Formal, recorded inspection of Class I portable and
hand-held equipment, including single-phase, separated
extra-low voltage and battery-powered items, should be
carried out at least annually
Class II equipment should be formally inspected at
least every three years
Permanently wired single and three-phase equipment
should be formally inspected at least every five years
Detachable cords and cord reels, both 2-core and 3-
core, should be formally inspected at least annually
An earth continuity measurement with a test current not
less than two times the fuse rating, and not exceeding
25A or 10A in the case of IT/computing/electronic
equipment, derived from a 10V test supply applied for
a period of five seconds shall be less than 0.1 ohms
between the input earth terminal and accessible
conductive parts, or 0.5 ohms for low-current electronic
equipment (ie equipment with a permanently attached
flexible cord, with the cord impedance being included
in the reading)
The insulation resistance measured with a 500V DC
test voltage between the circuit conductors (live and
neutral connected together) and the body of the
equipment shall be greater than 1M ohm for Class I
equipment and 7M ohms for Class II equipment
Alternatively, the earth leakage current shall not exceed
0.75mA at 1.06 times the rated voltage (portable and
hand-held Class I equipment), 3.5mA (stationary Class
I equipment) and 0,25mA (Class II) equipment
Not to be carried out as part of a routine testing
programme, because the high voltages are likely to
damage low-voltage electronic circuits
Formal, recorded testing of Class I bench-mounted
 portable and hand-held equipment should be carried out
at least annually
Stationary and fixed Class I equipment should be
formally tested at least every three years
Permanently wired single and three-phase equipment
should be formerly tested at least every five years

Equipment that, on inspection, is found to be damaged or faulty or has an earth continuity higher
than the required figure or insulation resistance below the specified test figure should not be
used. Failures should be notified to the laboratory manager and an assessment of that equipment
made by a “competent person” (as defined by regulation 16 of the Electricity at Work
Regulations 1989) to determine whether it should be repaired or replaced.

Note:

If the earth continuity is higher than the “pass” level, it is not safe to use. If the insulation
resistance is lower than required, it may still be safe if the figure results from the characteristics
of a component in the primary mains circuit (eg a filter discharge resistor or an interference
suppressor).

Emergency Procedures

Procedures for electrical emergencies should be established for:

 electric shock
 electrical fires
 loss of electrical power.

Although not mandatory, all laboratory workers should be given basic instruction and training in
procedures to deal with electric shock and the management of electric shock casualties. Training
should include procedures for isolating casualties from the supply, and resuscitation techniques.

All laboratory workers should be instructed and trained so that they know what action to take if
fire occurs in electrical equipment, including the need for emergency disconnection where
necessary and the selection of appropriate fire-extinguishing agents.

Loss of electrical power in the laboratory may require the provision of maintained fittings
(escape lighting to allow workers to leave in safety, not to continue working) and an emergency
standby power supply from a generator to power essential safety or other equipment.

Last reviewed 29 July 2020