Health and Safety Policy Arrangements – Work on Electrical Systems

Working on electrical systems poses significant risks, including electric shocks, burns, and fires. As a small business owner in the UK, it is crucial to manage these risks to ensure the safety of your employees and comply with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. This involves conducting thorough risk assessments to identify potential electrical hazards and implementing control measures such as ensuring that all electrical installations and equipment are properly designed, installed, and maintained. Only qualified and competent personnel should carry out electrical work, and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) should be provided. Additionally, it is essential to establish safe working practices, such as isolating electrical supplies before beginning work, using suitable testing equipment, and maintaining clear communication among workers. By effectively managing electrical safety, you can protect your employees, prevent accidents, and ensure compliance with legal requirements, contributing to a safer working environment.

Take a look at the information below for things you might want to include in your own H&S policy…

Feel free to copy / paste this list, and you can find out more about our full H&S policy here.

The [Proprietor / Directors] of [My Company] will ensure that;

  1. Work on live electrical systems is avoided at all times. When working on a dead system, the power supply will be physically disconnected or secured / locked.
  2. Any electrical system to be worked on is proven to be dead in advance of the work.
  3. Work on electrical systems is suitably planned and supervised by a competent supervisor and carried out by competent persons.
  4. A suitable and sufficient risk assessment will be carried out by a competent person and include identification of systems to be worked on / nearby and making these safe.
  5. Any control measures identified in the above assessments will be put in place to prevent, reduce or control risks to personnel and/or others.
  6. The results/outcomes of any/all of the above assessments and any method statements, written procedures, safe systems of work, permits to work, control measures, PPE requirements, etc. produced from the above assessment will be communicated to the relevant personnel, who will also receive any training required to ensure that the outcomes of the above assessments are met.
  7. All the above assessments and subsequent control measures will be regularly monitored and reviewed as appropriate, taking into account new materials, equipment, legislation, work practices etc.
  1. All employees working on electrical systems are provided with adequate supervision, training, instruction and information, and hold a suitable qualification for the work.
  2. Where identified by the risk assessment / safe system of work, ensure that appropriate safety equipment is provided and used in line with the manufacturer’s instructions (including main / local earths).
  3. Individuals are provided with appropriate tools and equipment to carry out the work, and that these are regularly services and maintained, and used in line with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Our minimum health and safety performance standards will be obtained from; but not restricted to;

  • The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
  • The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
  • HSG85 – Electricity at Work – Safe Working Practices

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Written By Ian