Regulations

New regulations coming soon.

The new regulations are now in force from January 1 2019. It is a requirement that all electrical installations designed after this date comply with BS 7671:2018 (18th Edition, 2018).

Only fully compliant electricians are used by E3 Electrical.

An ability to demonstrate an understanding and awareness of the changes should be a priority for everyone involved in the electrotechnical industry.

New Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016

The long-awaited new Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations came into force on December 8th, replacing the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994. The new regulations, which apply to electrical products placed on the market on or after that date, cover, among other things, all safety and economic obligations of operators (manufacturers, importers, distributors, etc.). For a .pdf copy to view or download, please follow this link:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/1101/pdfs/uksi_20161101_en.pdf

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) requires every employer to ensure that work equipment is suitable for the purpose for which it is provided, only used in the place and under the provisions for which it is provided. It also requires every employer to ensure that work equipment is efficiently maintained and kept fit and suitable for its intended purpose. It must not deteriorate in function or performance to a level that puts people at risk. This means that regular, routine, and planned maintenance regimes must be considered to prevent hazardous problems from arising. Regulation 3 of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 recognises a responsibility that employers and many employees have for electrical systems. It shall be the duty of every employer and self-employed person to comply with the provisions of the Regulations insofar as they relate to matters which are within his control.

It shall be the duty of every employee while at work: (a) to co-operate with his employer so far as is necessary to enable and duty placed on that employer by the provision of the Regulations to be complied with: and (b) to comply with the provision of these regulations in so far as they relate to matters which are within his control.

Legal Requirements

The legislation of specific relevance to electrical maintenance is the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 places a duty of care on both the employer and the employee to ensure the safety of all persons using the work premises. This includes the self-employed. The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 state that:

Every employer shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of: (a) the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst at work, and (b) the risks to ensure the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him or his undertaking.

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 state that.

Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.

The PUWER 1998 covers most risks that can arise from the use of work equipment. With respect to risks from electricity, compliance with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 is likely to meet the requirements of PUWER 1998. PUWER 1998 only applies to work equipment used by workers at work. This includes all work equipment (fixed, transportable, or portable) connected to an electrical energy source. PUWER does not apply to fixed installations in a building. The electrical safety of these installations is dealt with only by the Electricity at Work Regulations. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 state:

All systems shall at all times be of such construction as to prevent, so far as reasonably practicable, such danger. As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained to prevent, so far as reasonably practicable, such danger. System' means an electrical system in which all the electrical equipment is, or may be, electrically connected to a common source of electrical energy and includes such source and such equipment Electrical Equipment' includes anything used, intended to be used or installed for use, to generate, provide, transmit, transform, rectify, convert, conduct, distribute, control, store, measure or use electrical energy.

Scope of the legislation

It is clear that the combination of the HSW Act 1974, the PUWER 1998 and the EAW Regulations 1989 apply to all electrical equipment used in, or associated with, places of work. The scope extends from distribution systems down to the smallest piece of electrical equipment. There is a requirement to inspect and test all types of electrical equipment in all work situations.