Carry out preventative maintenance

    All electrical equipment and installations should be maintained to prevent danger.
It is strongly recommended that this includes an appropriate system of visual inspection and, where necessary, testing. By concentrating on a simple, inexpensive system of looking for visible signs of damage or faults, most of the electrical risks can be controlled. This will need to be backed up by testing as necessary.
It is recommended that fixed installations are inspected and tested periodically by a competent person.


Electrical safety and you

Electricity can kill. Each year about 1000 accidents at work involving electric shock
or burns are reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Around 30 of these
are fatal.

Those using electricity may not be the only ones at risk: poor electrical installations
and faulty electrical appliances can lead to fires which may also cause death or
injury to others. Most of these accidents can be avoided by careful planning and
straightforward precautions.

What are the hazards?

The main hazards are:

■■ contact with live parts causing shock and burns (normal mains voltage,
■■ 230 volts AC, can kill);
■■ faults which could cause fires;
■■ fire or explosion where electricity could be the source of ignition in a potentially
flammable or explosive atmosphere