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Electrical Safety

13th November 2008

The lead legislation here is The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (SI1989 No.635) which came fully into force on 1st April, 1990.
The provisions do not stop merely at preventing electric danger from shock, burns or fire, they also require the University to have regard to all foreseeable electrical risks. These will include the suitability, design, construction and installation of electrical systems for the specific task, the possibility of adverse effects including environmental and the necessary precautions due to the siting of such systems, and the provision of suitable and adequate protection and precautions.

Some of these Regulations are absolute and must be complied with regardless of any costs or other considerations. These are 3, 4(4), 5 and 8 - 16. All other Regulations are qualified by the terms 'so far as is reasonably practicable'. Here, the University must weigh the risks of the activity against the cost in terms of physical activity, time, trouble and expense involved in eliminating them.  In reality there is likely very little difference between these as electrical danger is such a significant hazard. 

Any failure would therefore be very difficult to defend in a civil or criminal court.

Policy

It is the Policy of the University to comply fully with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.

In order to comply with these statutory obligations the following “Operating Procedures Relating to the Use of Electrical Installations and Equipment' together must be followed in full.

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