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The regulations do not give detailed requirements on how the standards of safety can be met,
but the health and safety executive has produced a memorandum of guidance (ISBN 0-7176-1602-9)
which suggests measures that can be taken to satisfy the regulations relating to electrical systems and equipment.
Compliance with the regulations is defined as either 'reasonably practical' or 'absolute'.
Reasonably Practicable
In this instance, the risks of a particular work activity or environment can be balanced against the time, trouble and
expense involved in taking steps to avoid the risks.
Absolute
An absolute requirement must be met regardless of cost, trouble etc. If an absolute requirement cannot be met,
the work or use of the relevant equipment is effectively prohibited.
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The regulations are effective from 1 April 1990.
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This regulation defines 6 words or phrases:
Conductor
- Any material which conducts electricity, e.g. metal, liquid, ionised gas
Circuit Conductor
- A conductor intended to be live or charged in normal conditions, e.g. a phase conductor or neutral conductor.
Electrical Equipment and Electrical System
- The terms cover anything producing, storing, transferring or using electrical energy, and all cables, conductors and
equipment that can be or is connected to the energy source, including portable equipment and measuring devices.
Danger - defined as the risk of injury.
Danger and risk of injury depends on the physical circumstances, working methods and equipment used, as well as the
training and competence of those involved in using electricity.
Injury - Death or injury from shock, fire, burns, arcing or explosion caused by electrical
energy.
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Regulation 3 - Status: Absolute
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This regulation determines who has legal duties regarding work on or near electrical equipment of all types.
every duty holder (employer, employee or self-employed) must comply with the electricity at
work regulations with regard to matters that are within their control, and shall co-operate with each other at all
times to ensure work safety.
Employees have two duties:
- For their own safety and that of others working on or near electrical equipment for which they are responsible.
- To comply with the safety arrangements put in place by their employer (following instructions and procedures, and
using correct tools and safety equipment).
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This regulation sets out the 4 fundamental safety requirements for all systems, work activities and protective equipment.
1) Status - Reasonably Practical
all systems shall at all times be of such
construction as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practical, danger.
2)
Status - Reasonably Practicable
as may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems
shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practical, such danger.
3)
Status - Reasonably Practicable
every work activity, including operation, use and
maintenance of a system and work near a system, shall be carried out in such a manner as not to give rise, so far as is
reasonably practical, to danger.
4) Status - Absolute
Any equipment provided under these regulations for the purpose of protecting persons at work on or near electrical equipment
shall be suitable for the use for which it is provided, be maintained in a condition suitable for that use, and be properly used.
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Regulation 5 - Status: Absolute
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This regulation demands that the capability of all electrical equipment is adequate for its likely use. Test equipment must also
meet the requirements of this regulation.
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Regulation 6 - Status: Reasonably Practical
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This regulation requires electrical equipment to be constructed or protected to withstand adverse or hazardous
environments.
Equipment must be able to withstand the following conditions:
- Weather, natural hazards, temperature and pressure
- the effects of wet, dirty or corrosive conditions
- Flammable or explosive substances, including dust, vapours or gases
- mechanical damage.
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Regulation 7 - Status: Reasonably PracticaL
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This regulation requires potentially-dangerous live parts to be made inaccessible.
Where the risk of contact with a live or charged part is high, the status of regulation 6 may become absolute. Note: A charged
part is a part which although disconnected from an energy source, may have acquired or stored energy due to inductive or
capacitive effects.
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Regulation 8 - Status: Absolute
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This regulation requires precautions to be taken to protect people from danger or injury when conductors
become live or charged due to faults.
The general means of compliance is to earth all exposed conductive
parts of equipment using circuit protective conductors and to bond all extraneous conductive parts to the earthing
system.
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Regulation 9 - Status: Absolute
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This regulation states that precautions must be taken to ensure the integrity of circuit conductors which are earthed
or connected to some other reference point.
An earth referenced conductor shall not incorporate any device
which is likely to affect the integrity of that conductor - no fuses, circuit breakers or electronic devices.
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Regulation 10 - Status: Absolute
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This regulation requires connections and joints in systems to be mechanically and electrically suitable for their
intended use.
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Regulation 11 - Status: Absolute
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This regulation requires suitably-located protection against excess currents to be provided where necessary.
Protection must be placed in every system to prevent danger to users from overloads, short circuits and earth
faults. Devices normally take the form of fuses or circuit breakers.
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This regulation requires two forms of protection to be provided to prevent danger to those who may work on electrical
equipment:
• Switching off the current
•Isolation of electrical equipment
1) Status - Absolute
a means must be provided for cutting off the supply to equipment in all conditions.
2) Status - Absolute
this point is concerned with the isolation of equipment and requires secure separation from every source of
electrical supply when safe working dictates that equipment must be made dead.
3) Status - Reasonably Practical
some equipment may be the source of electrical energy, and internal isolation is not possible. Nevertheless, measures must be taken to
prevent the risk of injury.
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Regulation 13 - Status: Absolute
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This regulation states that precautions must be taken to ensure isolated and decommissioned equipment is made dead
and kept dead until deliberately re-energised.
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Regulation 14 - Status: Absolute
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This regulation prohibits live working except in exceptional defined conditions.
These conditions are that it must be unreasonable in all circumstances for it to be dead and it must be reasonable in all
circumstances for the person to be at work on or near it while it is live and suitable precautions must be taken to prevent
injury. This is an absolute requirement and live working should not be carried out unless these conditions are met.
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Regulation 15 - Status: Absolute
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This regulation requires adequate working space, access and lighting to be provided at all times when work is being carried
out on or near electrical equipment or systems.
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Regulation 16 - Status: Absolute
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This regulation is concerned with the competency of personnel to prevent danger or injury.
Employees should be made familiar with safe working practices through regular training and instructions laid down by their
employer.>
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This regulation permits a defence to be offered against criminal prosecution under certain regulations.
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Appendices to memorandum HS(R)25
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Appendix 1
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Lists relevant HSE and HSC publications on electrical safety
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Appendix 2
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Lists other publications with electrical safety content - BS codes of practice, IEE wiring regulations
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Appendix 3
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Gives technical information on working area and access.
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Note: Regulations 17 - 28 apply to mines only
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