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N32. Electrical Safety: In-depth
Summary
This topic describes the main hazards associated with electrical work and the means of protecting against them.
General safety in the workplace, including the safety of electrical systems and appliances, is required under the Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974. Specific electrical safety duties are required under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (EAW), which applies to all non-domestic premises such as care homes.
In domiciliary care, electrical safety will apply to any offices run by {{org_field_name}}. It will also be a consideration in the safety of home-based staff, even though {{org_field_name}} is not responsible for those premises.
Portable electrical equipment carried by staff as part of their workplace duties is covered by the EAW regulations in both residential and domiciliary care.
The inspection and testing of electrical installations and equipment is covered in Electrical Inspection and Testing.
Employers’ Duties
Under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (EAW), dutyholders responsible for workplace premises must:
- control the risks of death and injury from electrical appliances and systems
- control the risks of fire and/or explosion from electrical appliances and systems
- provide and maintain safe electrical equipment
- ensure that all work with and/or on electrical appliances, systems or plant is carried out in a safe manner
- provide for isolation of electrical appliances so work can be safely carried out, including precautions such as adding a circuit breaker to prevent inadvertent reconnection of the supply
- not install electrical equipment if its strength and capability may be exceeded
- ensure all people working on electrical systems are competent or adequately supervised.
Employees’ Duties
Employees are required to:
- take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others possibly affected by their activities at work
- co-operate with their employer’s health and safety arrangements
- report faulty or damaged appliances.
In Practice
Legal Requirements
Under the Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974, employers are required to provide and maintain plant and systems that are, as far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to health. This includes risks from electrical systems, plant and equipment.
Specific requirements governing the safety of electrical systems and equipment in non-domestic workplace premises are contained in the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (EAW).
The EAW regulations contain a range of duties that apply to those responsible for premises. Key requirements include the following.
- All electrical systems must be of such construction as to prevent danger, so far as is reasonably practicable.
- All electrical systems and equipment must be properly maintained.
- Every work activity, including operation, use and maintenance on or near an electrical system, must be carried out in a safe way.
- Electrical equipment must not be used where its strength and capability may be exceeded.
- Electrical equipment used in adverse or hazardous environments should be appropriately constructed or protected.
- All conductors that may give rise to danger must be adequately insulated, protected or placed in a position which will prevent danger.
- Adequate measures, such as earthing, must be taken to prevent danger arising when a conductor, other than a circuit conductor, may become charged.
- Nothing that might give rise to danger, through breaking the electrical continuity or introducing high impedance, must be placed in a circuit conductor that is connected to earth or any other reference point, unless suitable precautions are taken — all connections in circuit and protective conductors must be suitable for the purpose.
- Adequate means must be provided to protect against the risk of injury from excess currents, eg adequate fuses or circuit breakers.
- Provision must be made for the switching off and isolation of electrical equipment so work can be safely carried out on it — this must include precautions to prevent inadvertent reconnection of the supply through locking off and, where necessary, earthing devices when work is being carried out on or near equipment made dead.
- No work should be carried out on live conductors, except where it can be justified that it would be unreasonable to make them dead, where it is reasonable in the circumstances to work on them live and where suitable precautions are taken to prevent injury.
- Adequate working space, lighting and access should be provided for work on or near electrical equipment to prevent injury.
- All persons working on electrical systems where knowledge and/or experience is needed to prevent the risk of injury should be competent or adequately supervised for the work.
These duties are interlaced with the general duties set out under regulations 3, 5, 10 and 13 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and regulations 7–9 of Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), which require an employer to provide risk assessments, policies, information and training on the safe operation and use of all equipment used in the workplace.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for making sure that electrical installation work in non-domestic buildings is safe.
BS 7671:2018
All electrical work carried out in the UK should meet accepted standards.
There are no significant differences in general installation requirements for electrical work throughout Great Britain. Scotland, England and Wales all cite BS 7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations. IET Wiring Regulations (as amended) as the recommended means of complying with legal requirements. The 18th edition of the Wiring Regulations is effective from 1 January 2019 and will apply to installations made after that date — it is not retrospective. The issues addressed by the new edition include:
- protection against over-voltages, where the consequences would affect safety services, medical care, public services, commercial and industrial activity
- additional requirements to protect against fire relating to arc fault detection devices (AFDDs)
- changes to the requirements covering embedded electric heating systems for surface heating, de-icing and frost protection systems
- new content on energy efficiency.
Building standards
Electrical work carried out in industrial or commercial buildings is covered by the EAW. In dwellings, the relevant building standards and regulations must be followed in all parts of the UK.
Electrical work in dwellings in England and Wales must meet the requirements of Part P of the Building Regulations. To ensure this is the case, homeowners are strongly recommended by the Government to use a registered electrician to complete any work.
Certain work is notifiable to a local building control body, such as rewiring or the installation of a replacement consumer unit.
Specific requirements for electrical installations in Scotland are covered by the Building (Scotland) Act 2003, as amended.
Electrical Safety in Domiciliary Care
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (EAW) apply to any premises that come under the control of a domiciliary care provider, including offices. They also apply to portable electrical equipment used by care staff in the performance of their work.
Domiciliary care organisations are not responsible for the electrical systems in service user’s homes. However, under the Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974 they are responsible for the safety of their staff while working in such settings.
Home care managers should carry out a general risk assessment of any premises where staff will be working. Any obvious electrical faults or concerns should be noted and addressed with the premises owner. Care staff should be trained to be aware of any hazards and to report any concerns they may have. They should not use electrical equipment that they suspect may have a fault or may be hazardous. Signs of a possible hazard might include scorch marks on equipment or sockets, overloaded sockets, bare wires, etc.
Any electrical equipment supplied by a domiciliary care organisation should be subject to risk assessment and standard checks and inspection.
Risk Assessment
All work with electricity or electrical equipment should be subject to risk assessment. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) warns that the risk of injury from electricity is strongly linked to where and how it is used. For instance, risks increase where electrical equipment is used in wet surroundings or outdoors.
The HSE warns that some items of equipment can also involve greater risk than others. For example, extension leads and flexible cables are particularly liable to damage.
Risks can be decreased by:
- ensuring that people working on or with electrical equipment or systems are competent for the task and have suitable training, skill and knowledge
- ensuring that electrical installations are safe
- reducing voltage where possible, eg temporary lighting can be run at lower voltages, or where electrical power tools are used, battery-operated rechargeable tools are safest
- providing electrical safety devices, such as a residual current devices (RCDs)
- carrying out preventive maintenance
- providing safe and suitable portable electrical equipment and where necessary carrying out portable appliance testing (PAT)
- ensuring that staff who use electrical equipment are trained in safe systems of work and in carrying out pre-use checks.
Risk can be further reduced by ensuring that sockets are not overloaded, by using socket outlets which are close by and thus can be easily disconnected in an emergency, and by using proper, approved, connectors to join lengths of cables if joining cables is necessary.
Persons at risk
Any person using equipment supplied with electrical power is at risk if that equipment is incorrectly or inadequately maintained, untested or has not undergone periodic examination, maintenance or test at the last date on which this was required.
Maintenance and repair personnel are especially at risk if the equipment they are testing or repairing is not correctly isolated from all possible sources of electrical power.
Persons not directly involved with the installation, test or repair may be placed in danger if the correct procedure for isolation is not carried out.
Hazards
Electrical hazards are associated with:
- the fixed installation
- electrically powered tools
- portable electrical appliances
- leads, connectors and other components of electrical tools and appliances.
Specific risk assessments
Examples of activities where a specific risk assessment will be required include:
- electric welding adjacent to water (eg ship repairing)
- use of computer controlled equipment, especially robots
- working near overhead and underground power lines
- portable equipment used outside in construction operations or for ground maintenance
- testing, maintenance and the provision of electrical services in flammable risk areas or explosives magazines
- provision and/or maintenance of electrical services in areas adjacent to bulk or bottled gas storage areas
- any requirement for live working
- provision of electrical services in buildings during the construction phase.
Electrical safe systems of work
HSR25 Memorandum of Guidance is published by the HSE to help dutyholders meet the requirements of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. It states that work “shall be carried out in such a manner as not to give rise, so far as is reasonably practicable, to danger”. Typically, this will require an electrical system to be isolated and confirmed that it is not live before work commences.
Safe systems of work should be formulated following a risk assessment to assess the hazards, risks and control measures. In particularly hazardous situations, permits to work may be required. Any safe system of work has to be supported with suitable training, information and supervision to ensure the competence and safety of the workforce.
Procedures for working on electrical systems and equipment
Work on electrical systems and equipment can vary from changing a plug on a portable appliance to adding a new socket or rewiring a whole building. The procedures and control measures needed for each will be very different. The level of competence required for wiring installations will be different from those required for changing a light bulb, fuse or plug. Work that requires technical knowledge and experience, eg maintenance of, will require a qualified electrician.
Fixed installation, inspection and testing
To ensure the current and future safety of electrical equipment and systems, a regular regime of testing and inspection must be established. It is advisable to perform the inspection first, as obvious defects can be identified and rectified before testing commences.
For more information, see the Electrical Inspection and Testing topic.
Emergency procedures
Persons working on the electrical installation, or using portable electrical equipment, will report any defects noted immediately. The works manager will ensure that any defective equipment is withdrawn from use immediately the problem is discovered and is prevented from any possible inadvertent use until it has been repaired and tested.
The following incidents must be reported as a dangerous occurrence under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (SI 2013 No. 1471).
- Any plant or equipment that unintentionally comes into:
a) contact with an uninsulated overhead electric line in which the voltage exceeds 200V
b) close proximity with such an electric line and causes an electrical discharge.
- Any explosion or fire caused by an electrical short circuit or overload (including those resulting from accidental damage to the electrical plant) which either results in the stoppage of the plant involved for more than 24 hours, or causes a significant risk of death.
Methods of Electrical Protection
Electrical insulation
Insulation is used as a physical non-conducting barrier to prevent contact with live electrical parts and persons or metalwork.
This is achieved by:
- cables having insulated coatings of plastic, rubber or paper
- switchgear having physical barriers and insulated covers
- bus bars (solid copper bars in distribution systems) being mounted on non-conducting stand off posts
- equipment being potted (set in resin).
The higher the value of the insulation resistance provided, the greater the level of protection. The resistance of insulation is measured in Mega Ohms (MΩ).
Class I and II-type equipment
Earthed equipment (Class I) relies on the metallic (exposed conducting) parts of the equipment being effectively earthed. If the earth connection is lost, there is a risk of the exterior of the equipment becoming live and causing an electric shock for anyone touching it.
Double insulated equipment (Class II) includes double insulated equipment which is marked with a double-square symbol.
Such equipment is constructed with high-integrity insulation and does not have nor need an earth connection to maintain safety.
Typical examples of Class II equipment could be a plastic-bodied pistol drill, an inspection lamp or a computer monitor. As the equipment has no exposed conductive parts, it does not require an earth conductor, so it is supplied with a cable that has only two wires: live and neutral. Even though protection is afforded by double insulation, it is still advisable to give the added protection of fitting an RCD.
Equipment that does not bear the double-square symbol should be assumed to be Class I. Class I equipment is supplied with a cable that has three wires: live, neutral and earth.
Cable insulation
Insulation materials should suit the environment in which cables are to be used. Cable insulation must be afforded physical protection against accidental and normal wear and tear damage. Specialist materials will be needed in aggressive or hostile environments.
Cable insulation colours
Colour coding of cables is prescribed in BS 7671:2018, although some existing installations may have the colours of an older scheme. It is therefore vital that an electrical installation certificate describes the codes in use.
The following table shows the scheme in use since April 2004.
Single-phase wiring | Live — brown (replaces red)Neutral — blue (replaces black) |
Three-phase wiring (single core and multi-core cables) | Live 1 — brown (replaces red)Live 2 — black (replaces yellow)Live 3 — grey (replaces blue)Neutral — blue (replaces black) The changed use of blue and black will need extra care if the new scheme is connected to the old scheme, as live and neutral may become mixed. |
The colour for earth conductor insulation remains green and yellow striped.
Electrical segregation
Segregation providing a physical means (distance) to avoid contact with foreign bodies (including fingers) or the ingress of dust or moisture is achieved by:
- enclosure — metal or plastic enclosures
- providing sufficient distance between persons and equipment and live conductors, such as overhead power lines for power supplies and high-level feeds for gantry cranes.
Earthing
Electricity will always take the path of least resistance. Therefore, the purpose of an earth protection is to provide a low resistance path to conduct a fault current to earth. In the event of a fault, a high current flows to earth with the deliberate intention of rapidly blowing a fuse, tripping a circuit breaker or operating an earth fault protection device to disconnect the electrical supply. The earthing connection should therefore be as low resistance as possible to ensure that an earth fault current does not allow a rise in potential (voltage).
Where metal enclosures are used for electrical equipment, they must always be earthed. The level of protection afforded by an enclosure is known as the Ingress Protection number (IP number) and is expressed as a code (eg IP54).
Bonding (or cross bonding) is an earth connection that links all metal equipment that could become live.
This is categorised as:
- main bonding, which is connected to water and gas pipes near the incoming electrical supply
- supplementary bonding, which is connected to metal sinks, showers, cisterns, metal workbenches, etc.
Bonding cables should have green and yellow insulation and the connections (bonding clamps) should be clearly marked (usually with an embossed aluminium tag) displaying the words:
SAFETY ELECTRICAL CONNECTION — DO NOT REMOVE |
The requirements of cable sizes and resistance values of earthing systems are set out in BS 7671:2018. These calculations are outside the scope of this topic and should be checked and measured by a competent electrical contractor.
Earth fault protection
RCDs are fitted to electrical circuits to detect current leaking to earth.
An RCD will protect against the effects of electric shock by sensing current flow and disconnecting the circuit before significant harm occurs. It is important to note that RCDs do not protect against overload or short-circuit faults.
RCDs should be regularly tested, with care taken to ensure that disconnecting the supply does not cause hazards due to the shutting down of safety critical devices, computers or lighting circuits. There is usually a small button on the RCD to operate the trip for test purposes.
Overload protection
Overload protection is an electrical or mechanical means to disconnect the electrical supply in the event of overload and short-circuit conditions. Its purpose is to protect the electrical system, cabling and equipment, rather than people.
In general terms, an overload device (eg a fuse or circuit breaker) will operate very rapidly when a large fault current is passed through it. However, it is a common misconception that overload protection always operates instantaneously.
Design specifications set out in British Standards permit and even specify that the device must carry loads well in excess of their rating for a time before the overload protection operates. This is to allow for sudden surges and to prevent fuses blowing under normal operating conditions.
Low voltage systems
To reduce the risk of shock when working with powered hand tools, it is common to reduce the working voltage levels by providing transformed extra-low voltage supplies or, whenever possible, by using battery-powered tools.
Electrical Hazards
Risks from electrical appliances and systems
There are around 1000 electrical accidents at work each year and some 25 to 30 people die of their injuries. Typical causes are:
- damaged and poorly maintained or installed electrical appliances and systems
- work on or near live electrical appliances or supply
- electrical fires caused by poorly maintained electrical equipment and systems or electrical overload
- inadvertent contact with electrical sources.
Electrical shock
Electrical shock can result from direct or indirect contact with live electrical equipment, often from a faulty appliance.
Direct contact involves touching conductors that are meant to be electrically charged and indirect contact involves touching parts of the system or equipment (such as the casing) that has become electrically charged through a fault condition.
The effect of an electrical shock can range from mild muscle spasms through difficulty in breathing to coronary failure. It is dependent on the current flow and the time a person is exposed to that current. A person may also be thrown away from the circuit. This can result in a fall or the person being thrown into another hazard (eg moving machinery or vehicles).
Anyone suspected of suffering from an electric shock should be approached with extreme caution. If they are still in contact with the electrical source they should not be touched as the shock can pass from person to person. To remove them from the electricity, the source appliance should be unplugged or the power turned off at the fuse box. If this is not possible then the source appliance should be removed from the person by using a piece of insulating material, such as a length of wood.
After removing the person from the source of electricity, if they are unconscious an ambulance should be called immediately and first-aid delivered. If a person is not breathing then cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be started.
Even if the electric shock is minor and the person appears unhurt they should still be advised to see a doctor.
Electrical burns
Flesh can be burnt if contact is made with live electrical parts. This occurs from the flow of electricity through skin and tissue. Burns are due to the heating effect of the current flow and can occur at either the point of contact or the path out of the body. Electrical burns are frequently deep tissue burns as the body presents a resistance to the current, which causes heat to be generated. Physical burns can also occur from the heat generated from an electrical arc created by a fault condition.
Electrical arcs
Arcs occur when the electrical energy discharge literally “arcs” over, through an air gap or some other conductive medium (metal tools, condensation, ingress of moisture, debris, contamination through corrosion or reaction to elements in the environment). Arcs are a high-energy transfer (capable of allowing tens of thousands of amperes to flow instantaneously) that can melt or fuse metals.
An arc also produces ultraviolet (UV) light, which can damage eyesight.
The heat generated from an arc can cause physical burns, with the main risk from the spattering of molten metal resulting from the arc.
Electrical overload and short circuit
These conditions occur when excessive current, usually caused by a mechanical or electrical overload, is drawn through conductors, connections and motors. The heat created by an overload condition can lead to a breakdown of insulation materials and cause a short circuit either between supply lines or to earth and/or neutral. Overloads are also frequently the cause of fires.
Overloads typically occur from the effects of:
- excessive loading of circuit conductors (too many items of equipment connected to a circuit)
- a missing phase of a three-phase supply
- worn, defective or seized bearings on motor driven equipment
- conductive parts falling onto live connections (hand tools, metal swarf).
Electrical fires
Faulty electrical installations cause approximately 12,500 electrical fires and an average of 81 deaths per year. These fires are often due to a lack of testing and inspection and poor housekeeping, or both.
All electrical equipment (including cables) produces heat when using electrical energy. If a circuit is overloaded, the conductors get hotter and the temperature can rise to the point where the insulation starts to break down and cables eventually catch fire.
If materials are left or stored too close to electrical equipment, overheating can occur by restricting ventilation or by acting as a heat insulator. This allows temperatures to rise to abnormal levels.
Regular maintenance and inspection of electrical equipment is extremely important to ensure that the equipment is functioning properly and that all airways and ventilation grills are clear.
The most common causes of electrical fires are:
- electrical or mechanical overloading
- overheating of combustible materials
- short circuits
- blocked motor vents or clogged fan cowls and ventilation grills
- cooling fans not working
- excessive build-up of dust, fluff, grease and general debris around electrical equipment
- storing flammable materials too close to electrical equipment.
Electrical explosion
Electrical explosions are caused or initiated by electricity in areas that have flammable or explosive atmospheres. An explosion can occur when a spark from a switch, relay or motor ignites a flammable substance, such as fuel vapours or explosive dusts. There are specific requirements for safety in these conditions that are set out in the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR).
Earth faults
If the earth conductor is missing or badly connected, normally safe parts of equipment may become and remain live when another fault condition arises. This can lead to the risk of shock, fire, arc or explosion. Earthing systems therefore need periodic testing by a competent person.
Faults associated with earthing include:
- incorrect earthing, mainly owing to cables being too small
- failure to bond (connect) electrical systems and equipment together
- failure to replace earthing after maintenance or testing
- poor earth connections owing to damp or dirty conditions
- corrosion of connections in hostile environments, eg by acid, alkaline, salts or solvents.
Work Near Electricity
Work near or around electrical power supplies should only be conducted by suitably qualified and competent persons. If in doubt, advice can be obtained from electricity supply companies.
A high voltage cable does not have to be touched to get an electric shock and even low voltage cables can be dangerous.
Electrical danger signage
Signs warning of electrical danger should always be heeded. Yellow warning signs stating Danger of Death are often found on or around electrical distribution equipment such as substations, electricity poles and pylons.
Overhead power lines
Overhead Power Lines (OHPLs) pose a major risk of serious injury, as the supply voltages carried are considerably higher than industrial or domestic supplies. In addition, OHPLs are often not insulated and contact (or near contact) with them can be fatal.
If non-electrical work is to be carried out near OHPLs, it is advisable to contact the supply authority to request that they isolate the supply in the area.
HSE guidance should be followed: Avoiding Danger from Overhead Power Lines.
Underground cables
In an accident they are often not electrocuted but are usually severely burned on the front of their bodies and often blown backwards for several yards. The severity of these injuries can prove fatal.
Serious injuries are preventable if a safe system of work is followed. The HSE recommends that anyone conducting work that involves digging near to buildings should:
- always carry out a risk assessment
- always assume cables will be present
- obtain appropriate service plans from regional electricity companies, local authorities, highways authorities, etc.
HSE guidance should be followed: HSG47 (Third edition) Avoiding Danger from Underground Services.
Finding Registered Electrical Contractors
Using an electrician registered with an approved certification scheme ensures that a client is getting work that meets the British Standard for electrical safety (BS 7671). It also ensures that the contractor has valid insurance policies in place, including Public Liability Insurance.
Both the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) and the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC) have search facilities on their websites to find registered members. An additional joint ECA/NICEIC “one stop shop” search facility is available at www.electricalsafetyregister.com.
The ECA offers membership and certification to contractors and businesses across the electrotechnical and engineering services industry. Certification is generally through approved industry certification bodies or the ECA’s own Certification Scheme.
The NICEIC is a national accredited certification body. They offer registration for a wide range of recognised electrical schemes and provide learning and development courses throughout the UK.
Registered contractors should carry a scheme certification card. Search facilities on the ECA/NICEIC websites include certificate checks to ensure that contractors are who they claim to be.
For domestic work, the Registered Competent Person Electrical single mark and register applies in England and Wales.
All electrical enterprises that are listed on the register and permitted to display the mark are certified to undertake work on domestic electrical installations under the Government approved Competent Person Scheme. Electricians must meet strict qualification requirements and their work is regularly assessed by their electrical Competent Person Scheme Operator to ensure their ongoing competence. The scheme allows individuals and enterprises to self-certify that their work complies with the Building Regulations.
A search facility is available on the Registered Competent Person Electrical website. This allows people to enter their postcode and find a registered electrician nearby.
Managing Electrical Contractors
Contracts offered to electrical contractors for any design, construction, maintenance, inspection or testing work carried out on fixed electrical installations should specify the following details.
- The contractor must be competent and preferably registered under an appropriate national accreditation scheme. Contractors may use only competent and fully trained staff operating under appropriate supervision.
- Safe plant and tools must be available for use as required on site.
- All work must comply with the current edition of the IET Wiring Regulations, relevant British and international standards and all statutory safety regulations.
- Contractors’ staff should operate in accordance with {{org_field_name}}’s health and safety standards and all appropriate safety legislation. Method statements of safe working practices should be prepared in advance of work commencing.
- Work on live conductors is to be avoided wherever possible, and may only be carried out under a permit-to-work.
- Appropriate warning notices (eg “Danger: No Unauthorised Entry” fixed to lift motor room doors), safety equipment (eg insulating rubber mats or wooden step ladders) are to be used in areas with exposed live electrical conductors, and other items (eg test equipment and lock-off padlocks) must be provided to facilitate staff and contractors working safely.
- All electrical work must be fully documented and tested with correct commissioning procedures observed.
- The contractor should delegate, by name, the person responsible for safety matters; this must be the most senior or supervising contractor.
- The installation must be satisfactorily tested by the installer to ensure that the required safety parameters have been met upon completion of the work. A copy of the test results should be given to {{org_field_name}}
- Contractors must comply with the requirements of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.
Registered electricians should provide a certificate to confirm that their work has been designed, inspected and tested in line with the BS 7671 electrical safety standard. If the work is notifiable they should also arrange a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate to confirm compliance with Building Regulations.
CQC Fundamental Standards Compliance
In England, adult social care providers must comply with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 in order to maintain registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The regulations include Fundamental Standards below which care must not fall.
With regard to electrical safety, Regulation 15: Premises and Equipment, includes a requirement for all premises to be safe, suitable and properly maintained.
Under the regulations, where premises are unsafe and put patients at risk of harm, or where harm has occurred, CQC can move directly to prosecution, without first serving a warning notice.
Guidance for Providers on Meeting the Regulations, describes how the regulations apply.
Prompts included in section 15(1)(d) of the guidance state that:
- providers must ensure that they meet the requirements of relevant legislation, including fire, electrical and building maintenance legislation
- any change of use of equipment should be informed by a risk assessment
- there should be regular health and safety risk assessments of equipment with the findings acted on without delay if improvements are required
- arrangements should be in place for the purchase, service, maintenance and renewal/replacement of premises and equipment — thus ensuring safety
- providers must have operational policies and procedures, and maintenance budgets to maintain their equipment so that it is sound, operationally safe and exhibiting only minor deterioration
- all equipment must be used, stored and maintained in line with manufacturers’ instructions
- providers must make sure that staff and others who operate the equipment are trained to use it appropriately.
CQC key question test
Since October 2014, a five key-question test has been used during CQC inspections in England in order to determine published ratings for each provider.
Key question judgments are made with reference to guidance published by the CQC for its inspectors. Service providers should make sure that they access the latest copies to inform their policies and procedures.
From November 2017, the revised guidance in Key Lines of Enquiry, Prompts and Ratings Characteristics for Adult Social Care Services applies. This contains:
- Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOE) which prompt inspectors to ask certain questions
- Ratings Characteristics which indicate what outstanding, good, requiring improvement and inadequate services look like.
With reference to the electrical safety of premises and equipment, inspectors are prompted to ask a range of KLOE questions, including the following.
- S2.1: What arrangements are there to manage risks appropriately?
- S2.6: How are the premises and safety of communal and personal spaces (such as bedrooms) and the living environment checked and managed to support people to stay safe?
- S6: Are lessons learned and improvements made when things go wrong?
- S6.1: Do staff understand their responsibilities to raise concerns, to record safety incidents, concerns and near misses, and to report them internally and externally, where appropriate?
- S6.5: How effective are the arrangements to respond to relevant external safety alerts, recalls, inquiries, investigations or reviews?
To answer these questions, inspectors are encouraged to ask patients and their relatives their views and experiences about the care they receive. They are also prompted to gather feedback from other sources and stakeholders.
In addition to the KLOE prompts, the CQC guidance describes what inspectors should look for in services with different ratings. For example, with reference to the electrical safety of the premises and equipment, in a service rated as “good” inspectors are encouraged to look for evidence that:
- {{org_field_name}} consistently focuses on how it can improve its safety record
- monitoring and reviewing activity enables staff to understand risks and gives a clear, accurate and current picture of safety
- staff understand how to minimise risks and there is a good track record on safety and risk management
- there is an open culture of learning from mistakes, concerns, incidents, accidents and other relevant events
- staff understand how to raise concerns and are comfortable doing so
- {{org_field_name}} takes all possible action to assess and reduce the risk of injury caused by people’s living environment
- staff are clear about their responsibilities regarding premises and equipment
- staff share information about environmental and equipment-related risks with relevant external professionals.
In a service rated as “outstanding” inspectors are prompted to look for evidence that:
- there is a comprehensive safety management system which takes account of current best practice models
- {{org_field_name}} proactively engages with people and other organisations to assess and minimise risks to the environment, premises and equipment, and it anticipates issues
- {{org_field_name}} works innovatively and mitigates risk creatively to maximise people’s autonomy and independence.
Key Lines of Enquiry, Prompts and Ratings Characteristics for Adult Social Care Services replaces the guidance found in the appendices to {{org_field_name}} handbooks published by the CQC in 2015.
Training
All Staff
It is important to stress to all employees that electricity can kill. Therefore, instruction and training must be given on electrical safe systems of work. In addition, many employees will require some level of training for working with electricity. This may be an instruction not to carry out certain work and, in other cases, that certain work can only be carried out by those with specific qualifications.
General risks and instructions on the use of electricity should be given at induction and/or general health and safety training sessions. Items that should be covered include:
- risks associated with electricity
- how to carry out general user checks as required by portable appliance maintenance procedures
- emphasis on what work can and cannot be carried out on electrical systems and apparatus
- how to report found and suspected faults.
Staff Authorised to Carry Out Minor Work on Electrical Equipment
Training sessions should be held for those carrying out work on equipment that does not need to be isolated. Such tasks will have been determined through the risk assessment procedure. Training should focus on:
- general principles of electricity
- precautions
- particular knowledge necessary for the tasks to be carried out
- what work can and cannot be carried out.
Staff Authorised to Carry Out Electrical Activities
Electricians
Electricians required to do any form of electrical work, including inspection, testing and certification of electrical installations should be suitably qualified and competent.
A range of different qualifications are available and these have gone through considerable changes over the years. Qualifications such as the City & Guilds 2382 provide a certificate in the requirements for electrical installations and this is required by the Institution of Engineering and Technology, which produces the BS 7671 wiring regulations.
Staff to carry out work on high-risk activities
All such staff must be qualified and trained electrical technicians. City & Guilds qualifications will be necessary, with a particular emphasis that all qualifications are updated to include the latest edition of the IET Regulations (BS 7671).
List of Relevant Legislation
- Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974
- Building Regulations 2010
- Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
- Plugs and Sockets, etc (Safety) Regulations 1994
- Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
Further Information
Publications
HSE Publications
The following are available from the HSE website.
- HSG47 Avoiding Danger from Underground Services
- HSG85 Electricity at Work. Safe Working Practices
- HSG107 Maintaining Portable Electrical Equipment
- HSG220 Health and Safety in Care Homes
- HSG230 Keeping Electrical Switchgear Safe
- HSR25 The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. Guidance on Regulations
- INDG231 Electrical Safety and You — A Brief Guide
- INDG236 Maintaining Portable Electric Equipment in Low-risk Environments
- INDG354 Safety in Electrical Testing at Work
British Standards
The following are available from the BSI Shop.
- BIP 2082:2015 Electrician’s Guide to the Building Regulations
- BIP 2223:2018 On-site Guide for BS 7671:2018 Wiring Regulations
- BS 1362:1973 Specification for General Purpose Fuse Links for Domestic and Similar Purposes (Primarily for Use in Plugs)
- BS 1363-1:216+A1:2018 13A Plugs, Socket-Outlets, Adaptors and Connection Units. Specification for Rewirable and Non-rewirable 13A Fused Plugs
- BS 7671:2018/A1:2020 Requirements for Electrical Installations. IET Wiring Regulations
IET Publications
The following are available from the Institution of Engineering and Technology website.
- Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (5th Edition)
- Guidance Note 3: Inspection & Testing (2018) (8th edition)
- On-site Guide (BS 7671:2008 Wiring Regulations, Incorporating Amendment 3:2015)
CQC Publications
The following are available from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website.
- Guidance for Providers on Meeting the Regulations (2015)
- How CQC Monitors, Inspects and Regulates Adult Social Care Services (2018)
- Key Lines of Enquiry, Prompts and Ratings Characteristics for Adult Social Care Services (June 2017)
Other Publications
- Electrical Equipment — Requirements for Plugs & Sockets, etc. Guidance Notes on the UK Plugs & Sockets, etc (Safety) Regulations 1994 (SI 1994 No. 1768)
Organisations
- City and Guilds
- http://www.cityandguilds.com
- Established in 1878, City and Guilds is the leading vocational awarding body in the UK and its qualifications assess skills that are of practical value in the workplace.
- Electrical Contractors Association
- http://www.eca.co.uk
- The ECA is the UK’s leading trade association representing the interests of contractors who design, install, inspect, test and maintain electrical and electronic equipment and services. The ECA has over 3000 registered members. Each undergoes regular, rigorous technical assessments to ensure they carry out safe electrical work and each is covered by the ECA Bond and Guarantee of Work Scheme.
- Electrical Safety First
- http://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk
- The Electrical Safety First is the trading name used by the Electrical Safety Council charity committed to reducing deaths and injuries through electrical accidents at home and at work.
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
- http://www.hse.gov.uk
- The HSE is responsible for the regulation of the risks to health and safety arising from work activity in England, Scotland and Wales, except in certain businesses (regarded as lower risk), which are the responsibility of local authorities. Its roles are to prevent work-related death, injury or ill health.
- Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI)
- http://www.hseni.gov.uk
- The HSENI is responsible for the regulation of the risks to health and safety arising from work activity in Northern Ireland.
- Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
- http://www.theiet.org
- The IET is a not-for-profit organisation and professional society for the engineering and technology community worldwide. The IET was formed in March 2006 by the merger of the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) and the Institution of Incorporated Engineers (IIE).
- National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC)
- http://www.niceic.com
- The National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting provides assessment and certification services for contractors working across the building services sectors. They assess electricians, renewable energy installers, plumbers and gas and heating engineers.
- Registered Competent Person Electrical
- http://www.electricalcompetentperson.co.uk
- The Registered Competent Person Electrical single mark and register provides a search facility to simplify the task of finding and checking a competent, registered electrician qualified to work on domestic electrical systems. Listed providers can use the Competent Person Scheme Operator logo.
- SELECT
- http://www.select.org.uk
- SELECT is the trade association for the electrical contracting industry in Scotland.
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