‘Conductor’ means a conductor of electrical energy (i.e. solid, liquid or gas).
A ‘circuit conductor’ (CC) means a conductor intended to carry electric current in normal conditions (ie. cable); it would include a neutral and earth conductor, but not solely an earth conductor (ie energised only during abnormal conditions).
‘System’ means an electrical system in which all equipment is, or may be, electrically connected to a common source of electrical energy.
‘Electrical equipment’ includes anything used to generate, provide, transmit, transform, rectify, convert, conduct, distribute, control, store, measure or use electrical energy.
Duties (r3)
Employees whilst at work shall:
- cooperate with their employer so far as is necessary to enable duties on that employer to be complied with
- comply with the regs in relation to matters within their control.
Systems, work activities, protective equipment (r4)
Systems shall at all times be so constructed and maintained so that they should prevent danger.
Operation, use and maintenance of a system, or work near a system, shall be carried out in a manner that should not give rise to danger.
Protective equipment shall be suitable, suitably maintained and properly used (r4(4)).
Capability (r5)
No Electrical equipment shall be put to use where its strength and capability (ie. in normal, transient and fault conditions) may be exceeded in such a way as to give rise to danger.
Adverse or hazardous environments (r6)
Electrical equipment which could be exposed to:
- mechanical damage; or
- the effects of weather, natural hazards, temperature or pressure; or
- the effects of wet, dirty, dusty or corrosive conditions; or
- any flammable or explosive substance including dusts, vapours or gases
- shall be so constructed and protected so that it should prevent danger.
Insulation, protection and placing of conductors (r7)
All conductors in a system which may give rise to danger shall be covered with insulating material and protected (eg trunking, sheathing) or so placed so that they should prevent danger.
Earthing, integrity and other precautions (r8,9)
Precautions (eg earthing, double insulation, low voltage or current limitation) shall be taken where a conductor (other than a CC) could become charged as a result of either the use of, or a fault, in a system.
An earth conductor shall be of sufficient strength and capability to discharge electrical energy to earth.
NB A ‘conductor’ in this context could be a conductive part of equipment (casing etc) not normally live, but energised as a result of an electrostatic/electromagnetic effect or a fault.
Nothing which could break electrical continuity or introduces high impedance (e.g. fuse, thyristor, transistor) shall be placed in a conductor connected to earth or other reference point (eg a neutral) unless suitable precautions are taken.
NB Permitted devices would include a joint or bolted link, but would not permit a removeable link or manually operated knife switch in the absence of bonding of all exposed metal work and multiple earthing.
Connections (r10)
Every joint and connection (terminal, plug and socket etc) in a system shall be mechanically and electrically suitable
for use.
Excess current protection (r11)
Every part of a system shall be protected from excess current (eg short circuit, or mechanical overload of a motor) by an efficient means, suitably located (eg a fuse or circuit breaker in each separately-rated circuit).
Isolation and cutting-off supply (r12)
There shall be suitably identified means of cutting off the supply (eg a switch) and of isolation of any Electrical equipment (defined as disconnecting Electrical equipment from any source of power to ensure it cannot be inadvertently reenergised).
NB The means of cutting off the supply and the means of isolation, can be one and the same.
There is an exemption for sources of electrical energy (accumulators, capacitors and generators) but precautions should be taken to prevent danger.
‘Dead’ working (r13)
Where electrical equipment has been made dead to enable work to be carried out, precautions shall be taken to prevent the electrical equipment becoming charged if danger would result (e.g. use of lock-off isolators, interlocked covers to equipment, insulated conductors and shrouded terminals).
‘Live’ working (r14)
No person shall work so near a live (uninsulated) conductor that danger may arise unless:
- it is unreasonable for it to be dead (ie commissioning, fault finding, to comply ‘with’ a legal duty or to avoid widespread hardship)
- it is reasonable in the circumstances (ie segregated parts of equipment, safe distance, special tools)
- precautions are taken to prevent injury (ie protective equipment).
Working space, access and lighting (r15)
Adequate working space, access and lighting shall be provided at all Electrical equipment on or near which work is being done that could give rise to danger (it could be work of any kind).
Competence (r16)
Unless a person has the necessary technical knowledge and experience to prevent danger or injury, they shall work under the degree of supervision appropriate to the work.
Defence (r29)
It shall be a defence to prove that all reasonable steps were taken and all due diligence exercised to avoid committing an offence (not applicable to r4 (except 4.4), r6 and r7).
Electricity At Work Regulations 1989(No 635), The Stationery Office.
Related information: see HSE’s ‘L’ and ‘HS(G)’ series including the following HSE references all available from HSE Books.
HS(R)25 Memorandum of guidance on the Electricity At Work Regulations 1989(ISBN 0 7176 1602 9) 1998
HS(G)85 Electricty at work: safe working practices (ISBN 0 7176 2164 2) 2003
HS(G)107 Maintaining portable and transportable electrical equipment (ISBN 0 7176 0715 1) 1994
HS(G)118 Electrical safety in arc welding (ISBN 0 7176 0704 6) 1994.
See also the list of publications and supplements by the British Approvals Service for Electrical Equipment in Flammable Atmospheres (BASElectrical equipmentFA) - part of Electrical Equipment Certification Service - also available from HSE Books.
These summary sheets are designed to help users become familiar with the practical requirements of key health and safety law. Please note that only the Courts can authoritatively interpret the law, and users are advised to check the legislation proper and associated codes of practice or guidance where necessary. Consequently, EEF is not responsible for any acts or omissions arising from the use of these sheets.
Throughout the summary sheets series, use of the term ‘shall’ indicate a strict duty, but ‘should’ or ‘could’ indicate a qualified duty such as ‘shall, so far as is reasonably practicable’.
These summary sheets are copyright and may not be reproduced without the written permission of EEF, London
©EEF October 2003