What are the risks from electricity?

Harm can be caused to any person when they are exposed to ‘live parts’ that are either touched directly
or indirectly by means of some conducting object or material. Voltages over 50 volts AC or 120 volts DC
are considered hazardous.

Electricity can kill. Each year about 1000 accidents at work involving electric shocks or burns are reported
to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Around 30 of these are fatal, most of them arising from
contact with overhead or underground power cables.

Shocks from faulty equipment can cause severe and permanent injury and can also lead to indirect
injuries, due to falls from ladders, scaffolds, or other work platforms.

Faulty electrical appliances can also lead to fires. As well as causing injuries and loss of life, fires cause
damage to plant, equipment and property.

back to top

Who is most at risk from electricity?

Anyone can be exposed to the dangers of electricity while at work and everyone should be made aware
of the dangers.

Those most at risk include maintenance staff, those working with electrical plant, equipment and
machinery, and people working in harsh environments such as construction sites.

Most electrical accidents occur because individuals:

 are working on or near equipment which is thought to be dead but which is, in fact, live

 are working on or near equipment which is known to be live, but where those involved are without
adequate training or appropriate equipment, or they have not taken adequate precautions

 misuse equipment or use electrical equipment which they know to be faulty.

back to top

Legal duties and obligations around electricity

As well as a moral duty on employers to protect employees and members of the public, General Health
and Safety Legislation covers all employers and workplaces.

In addition, specific duties and obligations are laid out in the following regulations:
 The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 These regulations apply to all aspects of the use of electricity
within the workplace from electrical supplies to the use of electrical equipment. They place a duty on
employers, employees and the self-employed to:

 have the electrical systems constructed in a way that prevents danger

 maintain their electrical systems as necessary to prevent danger

 have work on, use of, or closure of, electrical systems carried out in a way that prevents danger.

Additionally:

 electrical equipment used in hazardous environments (e.g. extremes of weather, temperature,

corrosive conditions) must be constructed or protected to prevent it becoming dangerous

 only those with adequate knowledge or experience, or who are under adequate supervision should
work with, or on, electrical equipment that could cause danger or injury.

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) These
regulations cover the reporting of certain incidents, including those involving electricity.

You must notify the enforcing authority immediately by telephone using the Incident Reporting Line 0845
300 9923 or via the Health and Safety Executive's Incident Report page (external site)

The following incidents must be reported:

 injury to staff due to an electric shock or electrical burn leading to unconsciousness or requiring
resuscitation; or admittance to hospital

 electrical short circuit or overload causing fire or explosion

 plant or equipment coming into contact with overhead power lines.

To view the full text of the above legislation online, please follow the links under Legislation.

back to top

Assessing the risks from electricity

Consider the following hazards in your risk assessment:

Live parts Normal mains voltage, 230 volts AC, can kill. Also, contact with live parts can cause shocks
and burns.
 Fire Electrical faults can cause fires. This is particularly true where the equipment contains a heat source
(e.g. heaters, including water heaters, washing machines, ovens, heat-seal packaging equipment).

Flammable or explosive atmospheres Electricity can be a source of ignition in a potentially flammable

or explosive atmosphere, e.g. in spray paint booths or around refuelling areas.

Where and how electricity is used The risks from electricity are greatest in harsh conditions.

In wet conditions, unsuitable equipment can easily become live and can make its surroundings live.

While outdoors, equipment may not only become wet but may be at greater risk of damage.

In cramped or confined spaces with a lot of earthed metalwork, such as inside tanks, ducts and silos, if
an electrical fault develops it can be very difficult to avoid a shock.

Types of equipment in use Some items of equipment can also involve greater risk than others.
Extension leads are particularly liable to damage to their plugs and sockets, cables, and electrical
connections. Other flexible leads, particularly those connected to equipment that is moved a great deal,
can suffer from similar problems.

back to top

Basic electrical safety

Below are some minimum steps you should take to ensure electrical safety.

Mains supplies

 install new electrical systems to BS 7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations

 maintain all electrical installations in good working order

 provide enough socket-outlets for equipment in use

 avoid overloading socket-outlets – using adaptors can cause fires

 provide an accessible and clearly identified switch ('Emergency Off' or 'EMO' button) near fixed
machinery to cut off power in an emergency

 for portable equipment, connect to nearby socket-outlets so that it can be easily disconnected in an
emergency.

Use the right equipment

 choose electrical equipment that is suitable for its working environment

 ensure that equipment is safe when supplied and maintain it in a safe condition

 electrical equipment used in flammable/explosive atmospheres should be designed not to produce

sparks. Seek specialist advice when choosing this type of equipment.

 protect light bulbs and other easily damaged equipment – there is a risk of electric shock if they are
broken.

Maintenance and repairs

 ensure equipment is fitted with the correctly rated fuse.

 ensure cable ends always have their outer sheaths firmly clamped to stop wires working loose from
plugs or inside equipment

 replace damaged sections of cable completely – never repair cuts with insulating tape.

 use proper connectors to join lengths of cable – don't use connector blocks covered in insulating tape
or 'splice' wires by twisting them together

 some equipment is double insulated. These are often marked with a ‘double-square’ symbol. The
supply leads have only two wires – live (brown) and neutral (blue)

 make sure all wires are connected securely if the 13A plug is not a moulded-on type.

back to top

Good practices:
Use other forms of power where possible Electrical risks can sometimes be eliminated by using air,
hydraulic or hand-powered tools. These are especially useful in harsh conditions, but remember they
could introduce other hazards.

Reduce the voltage Using lower voltages can reduce or eliminate the risks of electric shocks and burns:

 portable tools are available which can be run from a 110 volts, centre-tapped-to-earth supply, (usually
from a transformer)

 where electrically powered tools are used, battery-operated are safest

 temporary lighting can be run at lower voltages, e.g. 12, 25, 50 or 110 volts.

back to top
 Use Residual Current Devices (RCDs) for extra safety An RCD can provide additional safety. An RCD
detects some (but not all) faults in the electrical system and rapidly switches off the supply.

The best place for an RCD is built into the main supply or the socket-outlet, as this means that the supply
cables are permanently protected.

If this is not possible, use a plug incorporating an RCD or a plug-in RCD adaptor. RCDs for protecting
people have a rated tripping current (sensitivity) of not more than 30 milliamps (mA).

Remember:

 an RCD is a valuable safety device – never bypass it

 if the RCD trips, it is a sign there is a fault. Check the system before using it again.

 if the RCD trips frequently and no fault can be found in the system, consult the manufacturer of the
RCD

 use the RCD test button regularly to check that its mechanism is free and functioning.

back to top

Maintain your electrical equipment and installations All electrical equipment and installations should
be maintained to prevent danger. This should include an appropriate system of formal visual inspection,
and where necessary, testing.

Most faults can usually be identified by an informal visual inspection. It is important that before an item is
used a check is made on the plug, cable, cable-entry or input socket and the casing of the equipment.

If a fault is identified, the item should be removed from use and repaired before being used again. Staff
should be trained to carry out these simple visual checks.

There should also be a system where formal visual inspections are carried out and recorded, backed up
by a system of Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) where appropriate.

There is a misconception that this testing should be carried out annually, but the legislation requires
employers to decide on the frequency of testing based on their risk assessment.

Factors to consider include:

 type of equipment

 where equipment is used

 is equipment portable or transportable?

 is it used in a harsh environment?

Fixed installations should also be inspected and tested periodically by a competent person. Records of
the results of inspection and testing can be useful in assessing the effectiveness of the system.

More detailed guidance is available in the booklets listed in further information.

back to top

Work safely Make sure that people working with electricity are competent to do the job. Even simple
tasks such as wiring a plug can lead to danger - ensure that people know what they are doing before they
start.

Make sure that:

 suspect or faulty equipment is taken out of use immediately

 suspect or faulty equipment is labelled ‘DO NOT USE’

 suspect or faulty equipment is kept secure until examined by a competent person

 where possible, tools and power socket-outlets are switched off before plugging in or unplugging

 equipment is switched off and/or unplugged before cleaning or making adjustments

 where possible, all electrical appliances are switched off at the mains at the end of the working day.

More complicated tasks, such as equipment repairs or alterations to an electrical installation, should
only be tackled by people with knowledge of the risks and the precautions needed.

Work on exposed live parts of equipment and systems must not be carried out unless it is absolutely
unavoidable and suitable precautions have been taken to prevent injury, both to the workers and to
anyone else who may be in the area.

back to top

Underground and overhead electrical supplies

Always assume supplies are live unless it is confirmed otherwise by a competent person or utility
company. Use plans and cable-avoiding tools to locate cables. Have overhead lines switched off if
possible or maintain safe distances from the lines for plant and equipment.
 More detailed guidance on avoidance of danger from underground and overhead electric lines is available
from the Health and Safety Executive.

back to top

Further information on electricity and safety

 Email your query now

 Call our Adviceline on 0800 019 2211

Your local inspector of health and safety will be listed under the number of your local HSE office in the
phone book under Health and Safety Executive. For premises inspected by local authorities for health and
safety, the contact point will be the environmental health department at your local council.

Free resources from Healthy Working Lives Links below are to publications pages giving options to
download these resources:

HSE and electrical safety

Under UK law the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSW Act) in Great Britain or the Health and Safety

at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 in Northern Ireland employers are responsible for ensuring the safety

and health of their employees and also the public, if they are at risk from those work activities. This includes

electrical safety.

Electrical Inspectors aim to reduce the number of electrical accidents by enforcing the law, providing advice on

good working practices, and developing guidance in response to technical changes in equipment and working

methods.

Electrical Inspectors work in cooperation with other responsible bodies including The Department for Energy

and Climate Change (DECC) , Local Authority Standards departments and The Office of Gas and Electricity

Markets (Ofgem ).
Electricity supply
 Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC)   enforces the continuity and quality aspects of the

Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 . For further information contact the DECC

Inspectorate at DECC. HSE enforces the safety aspects of these regulations. There are particular reporting

requirements placed on distributors under these regulations, these are separate to reporting requirements

under RIDDOR.

The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) look after the interests of electricity consumers. This is

principally a financial role, monitoring electricity generation, distribution and supply. For further information

contact Ofgem.

The address of your nearest Health and Safety Executive office can be found on the HSE's website. For some

workplaces (such as offices, shops, hotels, many warehouses) the Local Authority enforces electrical safety

regulations, generally its environmental services department. HSE and the Local Authorities work together to

provide consistent advice and enforcement by means of a liaison committee (HELA).

Annual electrical accident statistics in the workplace can be found in the HSE Annual Report and in the HSE

Health and Safety Statistics, also published each year.

Further information about these publications is available from HSE Books.

Electrical FAQs
Contents
 Is it safe?

 Working with electricity

 Maintaining it safely

Is it safe?
Which is safer; alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC)?

Everyone gets a 'belt' from electricity every now and then, don't they?
How do I know if my electrical equipment is safe?
How do I know if my electrical installation is safe?


Who should I talk to about electrical safety?

What voltages are dangerous?
What should I do if I think I have seen an unsafe electrical installation or
equipment?

Working with electricity

How do I know if someone is competent to do electrical work?
Can I do my own electrical work?

When should I use a residual current device?

When should I report an electrical accident to HSE?

What should I do if I think someone is working unsafely?
What should I do to avoid danger from underground cables or wires?
How do I work safely near overhead lines?
What should I do if I touch an overhead power line?
When is it safe to work on live electrical equipment?

How do I make my electrical equipment safe to work on?

 Who has the responsibility to make sure everyone works safely?
I may have a colour vision deficiency which could affect my ability to do
electrical work. Is there any guidance available?
There may be asbestos in or near the equipment I am working on. Is
there any guidance available?
Maintaining it safely
How often should I test my electrical equipment?
How often should I get my electrical installation tested?

Electricity in potentially explosive locations

FAQs

ATEX is the name commonly given to the legal requirements for controlling explosive atmospheres and the

suitability of equipment and protective systems used in them.

The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations, 2002 (DSEAR) states the legal

requirements for managing the risk of fire, explosion or similar events arising from dangerous substances at the

workplace.

 HSE has produced a quick guide to the DSEAR and ATEX Directives. More detailed questions and answers

are listed under the headings below:

 General, guidance and enforcement issues

 Definitions

 Interpretation
 Technical standards

 Existing equipment issues

 Imported products

 General issues and information

 Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) issues

Further information on ATEX issues is also available from the Department for

ATEX and explosive atmospheres

Explosive atmospheres in the workplace can be caused by flammable gases, mists or vapours or by

combustible dusts. Explosions can cause loss of life and serious injuries as well as significant damage.

These pages will tell you more about explosive atmospheres and ATEX:

 Background

 What is an explosive atmosphere?

 Where can explosive atmospheres be found?

 What is ATEX?

 Explosive atmospheres in the workplace

 Equipment and protective systems intended for use in explosive atmospheres

 Where can I find further information?

 BIS information on equipment and protective systems intended for use in explosive atmopsheres

 Publications

 ATEX and DSEAR Frequently asked questions

Background
Explosive atmospheres can be caused by flammable gases, mists or vapours or by combustible dusts. If there

is enough of the substance, mixed with air, then all it needs is a source of ignition to cause an explosion.
 Explosions can cause loss of life and serious injuries as well as significant damage. Preventing releases of

dangerous substances, which can create explosive atmospheres, and preventing sources of ignition are two

widely used ways of reducing the risk. Using the correct equipment can help greatly in this.

The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) place duties on

employers to eliminate or control the risks from explosive atmospheres in the workplace. A summary of those

requirements can be found below.

This page does not deal with intentional explosives such as those used in demolition work or blasting in

quarries.

Further information:

 HSE Explosives website

What is an explosive atmosphere?

In DSEAR, an explosive atmosphere is defined as a mixture of dangerous substances with air, under

atmospheric conditions, in the form of gases, vapours, mist or dust in which, after ignition has occurred,

combustion spreads to the entire unburned mixture.

Atmospheric conditions are commonly referred to as ambient temperatures and pressures. That is to say

temperatures of –20°C to 40°C and pressures of 0.8 to 1.1 bar.

Where can explosive atmospheres be found?

Many workplaces may contain, or have activities that produce, explosive or potentially explosive atmospheres.

Examples include places where work activities create or release flammable gases or vapours, such as vehicle

paint spraying, or in workplaces handling fine organic dusts such as grain flour or wood.

What is ATEX?
ATEX is the name commonly given to the two European Directives for controlling explosive atmospheres:

1) Directive 99/92/EC (also known as 'ATEX 137' or the 'ATEX Workplace Directive') on minimum requirements

for improving the health and safety protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres. The

text of the Directive and the supporting EU produced guidelines are available on the EU-website. For more
 information on how the requirements of the Directive have been put into effect in Great Britain see the

information in the section on Equipment and protective systems intended for use in explosive atmospheres.

2) Directive 94/9/EC (also known as 'ATEX 95' or 'the ATEX Equipment Directive') on the approximation of the

laws of Members States concerning equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive

atmospheres. The text of the Directive and EU produced supporting guidelines are available on the EU

website. For more information on how the requirements of the Directive have been put into effect in Great

Britain see the section on Selection of equipment and protective systems.

Further information:

 ATEX Equipment Directive

Explosive atmospheres in the workplace

In Great Britain the requirements of Directive 99/92/EC were put into effect through regulations 7 and 11 of the

Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR).

The requirements in DSEAR apply to most workplaces where a potentially explosive atmosphere may occur.

Some industry sectors and work activities are exempted because there is other legislation that fulfils the

requirements. These exemptions are listed in regulation 3 of DSEAR.

What does DSEAR require?

DSEAR requires employers to eliminate or control the risks from dangerous substances – further information

on these requirements can be found on the DSEAR page. In addition to the general requirements, the

Regulations place the following specific duties on employers with workplaces where explosive atmospheres

may occur.
Classification of areas where explosive atmospheres may occur
Employers must classify areas where hazardous explosive atmospheres may occur into zones. The

classification given to a particular zone, and its size and location, depends on the likelihood of an explosive

atmosphere occurring and its persistence if it does. Schedule 2 of DSEAR contains descriptions of the various

classifications of zones for gases and vapours and for dusts.

Further information and guidance on the classification and zoning of areas where potentially explosive

atmospheres may occur and the selection of equipment for use in those areas:
 Explosive atmospheres - Classification of hazardous areas (zoning) and selection of equipment

Selection of equipment and protective systems

Areas classified into zones must be protected from sources of ignition. Equipment and protective systems

intended to be used in zoned areas should be selected to meet the requirements of the Equipment and

Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 1996. Equipment

already in use before July 2003 can continue to be used indefinitely provided a risk assessment shows it is safe

to do so.

Identifying areas where explosive atmospheres may occur

Where necessary, the entry points to areas classified into zones must be marked with a specified 'EX' sign.

Providing anti-static clothing

Employers must provide workers who work in zoned areas with appropriate clothing that does not create the

risk of an electrostatic discharge igniting the explosive atmosphere, eg anti-static footwear. The clothing

provided depends on the level of risk identified in the risk assessment.

Confirming (verifying) overall explosion safety

Before a workplace containing zoned areas comes into operation for the first time, the employer must ensure

that the overall explosion safety measures are confirmed (verified) as being safe. This must be done by a

person or organisation competent to consider the particular risks in the workplace, and the adequacy of the

explosion control and other measures put in place.

Equipment and protective systems intended for use in

explosive atmospheres
The aim of Directive 94/9/EC is to allow the free trade of 'ATEX' equipment and protective systems within the

EU by removing the need for separate testing and documentation for each Member State.

In Great Britain, the requirements of the Directive were put into effect through BIS Equipment and Protective

Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 1996 (SI 1996/192).

The Regulations apply to all equipment intended for use in explosive atmospheres, whether electrical or

mechanical, and also to protective systems.

Manufacturers/suppliers (or importers, if the manufacturers are outside the EU) must ensure that their products

meet essential health and safety requirements and undergo appropriate conformity procedures. This usually

involves testing and certification by a 'third-party' certification body (known as a Notified Body) but

manufacturers/suppliers can 'self-certify' equipment intended to be used in less hazardous explosive

atmospheres. Once certified, the equipment is marked by the 'EX' symbol to identify it as such.

Certification ensures that the equipment or protective system is fit for its intended purpose and that adequate

information is supplied with it to ensure that it can be used safely.

BIS has policy responsibility for the Regulations (although HSE enforces them). More information on the 1996

Regulations and the ATEX EU Directive 94/9/EC can be found on the GOV.UK website.