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The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 puts a duty of care upon both employer and employee to ensure the safety of all persons using work premises. This includes self-employed.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 also place a legal responsibility on employers, employess and self-employed persons to comply with the regulations and take reasonable practical steps to minimise the possible danger of using electrical appliances.
These regulations also state:
"As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent so far as is reasonably practicable such danger." [reg 4(2)]
"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 include such source and such equipment" [reg2(1)]
"Electrical equipment includes anything used, intended to be used or installed for use to generate, provide, transmit, transform, rectify, convert, distribute, control, store, measure or use electrical energy" [reg2(1)]
The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 states that "Every employer shall make suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of their employees to which they are exposed whilst they are at work, and the risks to the health and safety of persons not in their employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by them of their undertaking". [reg3(1)]
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) states "There are 1,000's of accidents in the work place reported every year involving shocks and burns, 30 of which are fatal.
Electrical accidents commonly occur whilst equipment is being maintained, generally equipment that uses electrical power, most accidents happen because workers are not trained.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 also place a legal responsibility on employers, employess and self-employed persons to comply with the regulations and take reasonable practical steps to minimise the possible danger of using electrical appliances.
These regulations also state:
"As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent so far as is reasonably practicable such danger." [reg 4(2)]
"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 include such source and such equipment" [reg2(1)]
"Electrical equipment includes anything used, intended to be used or installed for use to generate, provide, transmit, transform, rectify, convert, distribute, control, store, measure or use electrical energy" [reg2(1)]
The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 states that "Every employer shall make suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of their employees to which they are exposed whilst they are at work, and the risks to the health and safety of persons not in their employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by them of their undertaking". [reg3(1)]
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) states "There are 1,000's of accidents in the work place reported every year involving shocks and burns, 30 of which are fatal.
Electrical accidents commonly occur whilst equipment is being maintained, generally equipment that uses electrical power, most accidents happen because workers are not trained.
The following incidents are real:
- An employee received an electric shock that broke both shoulders
- An employee received a fatal electric shock whilst examining a faulty air conditioning unit.
- An electrical fitter had to have both arms amputated after receiving burns from a 33 000 volt supply.
- An employee suffered brain damage following an electrical shock he received whilst working.
- Person received a severe electric shock after incorrectly rewiring a plug.
- An employee was trying to apply insulating tape to a live electrical cable but received a shock.
Injuries From Electric Shocks
The severity of injury depends on the current's pressure (voltage), the amount of current (amperage), the type of current, the current's path through the body, and how long the body remains in conact with the current.
The severity of injury depends on the current's pressure (voltage), the amount of current (amperage), the type of current, the current's path through the body, and how long the body remains in conact with the current.
Some electrical shocks can result in:
- Neurological damage (Brain damage)
- Damage to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems
- Severely burned internal organs and tissues
- Severe skin burns
- Cataracts
- Kidney failure
- Violent muscle spasms that can break and dislocate bones
Health & Safety Legislation
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