Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
Legislation
These Regulations are an expansion of responsibility for electrical safety contained in the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and came into force 1 April 1990.
The onus of the regulations is very much on employers to assess the work activities which utilise electricity, or may be affected by it and to define all foreseeable risks associated with them.
The provisions do not stop at merely preventing electric shock but also require the employer to have regard to all foreseeable risks such as:
- Suitability, design, construction and installation of electrical systems for specific tasks.
- Possibility of adverse (including environmental) effects due to the siting of such systems.
- Provision of suitable and adequate protection/precautions.