What Is It?
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (EAWR) are statutory regulations made under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 that set out the principles for electrical safety in all workplaces across the UK. They impose a duty on employers, self-employed persons, and employees to ensure that electrical systems are designed, constructed, maintained, and used in a way that prevents danger. The regulations are broadly worded and apply to all electrical equipment and systems, from the fixed wiring of a building to portable appliances, high-voltage installations, and temporary site supplies. They are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Who Needs It?
The regulations apply to all employers, self-employed persons, and employees in every type of workplace — offices, factories, construction sites, shops, restaurants, hospitals, schools, warehouses, and any other place of work. Duty holders include: employers who are responsible for the overall safety of the electrical systems, employees who must cooperate with safety measures and not interfere with electrical equipment, managers and facilities staff responsible for maintenance programmes, and self-employed persons who must ensure their own electrical systems and equipment are safe. Landlords of commercial properties also have duties under these regulations to maintain the fixed electrical installation.
When Is It Required?
The regulations are in force at all times in every workplace. Specific actions triggered by the regulations include: ensuring electrical systems are safe when first put into service, maintaining them in a safe condition throughout their working life, carrying out regular inspection and testing (typically via EICR for fixed installations and PAT testing for portable equipment), ensuring anyone working on or near electrical systems is competent, and implementing safe systems of work for electrical activities including isolation, lock-out/tag-out procedures, and permit-to-work systems for high-voltage work.
What Does It Cover?
- Regulation 4: All electrical systems must be constructed and maintained to prevent danger — the core requirement covering design, installation, and ongoing maintenance
- Regulation 5: Electrical equipment must be of sufficient strength and capability for the intended purpose
- Regulation 7: All conductors in a system that may give rise to danger must be insulated, protected, or placed so as to prevent danger
- Regulation 8: Earthing or other suitable precautions must be taken to prevent danger from any conductor that is not a circuit conductor but may become charged
- Regulation 12: Adequate means must be provided for cutting off the supply and isolating any electrical equipment where necessary to prevent danger
- Regulation 13: Adequate precautions must be taken to prevent electrical equipment that has been made dead from being inadvertently re-energised
- Regulation 14: No work on or near live electrical equipment unless it is unreasonable to make it dead, it is reasonable to work live, and suitable precautions are in place
- Regulation 16: Persons working on electrical systems must be competent, or supervised by a competent person, to prevent danger and injury
How Long Is It Valid?
The regulations are permanent legislation and do not expire. Compliance is an ongoing obligation for as long as the workplace operates. There is no single certificate or inspection that provides permanent compliance — rather, it requires a continuous programme of maintenance, inspection, testing, safe working procedures, and competent supervision. EICRs for the fixed installation are typically carried out every 5 years for commercial premises, and PAT testing at intervals determined by risk assessment.
How Much Does It Cost?
£200–£1000
Costs vary enormously depending on the size and type of premises. A small office EICR costs £200-£400, while a large commercial or industrial premises can cost £500-£1,000+ for the fixed installation inspection alone. PAT testing is additional at £1-£3 per appliance. Ongoing maintenance contracts typically cost £500-£2,000+ per year depending on the size and complexity of the electrical systems. These costs are a legal requirement, not an optional expense.
What Happens If You Don't Comply?
Breaches of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 are criminal offences. The HSE can issue improvement notices (requiring action within a specified time), prohibition notices (immediately stopping dangerous activities), and prosecute offenders. Fines are unlimited for offences tried in the Crown Court. Individuals — including directors, managers, and employees — can be personally prosecuted, with penalties including unlimited fines and imprisonment of up to 2 years. In cases where a breach causes death, corporate manslaughter charges and individual gross negligence manslaughter charges can be brought.
How to Get One
Assess your current electrical systems and identify all electrical equipment in the workplace, including the fixed installation, portable appliances, temporary supplies, and any specialist equipment.
Appoint a competent person (or team) responsible for electrical safety. This may be an in-house electrician, a facilities manager with electrical knowledge, or an external contractor.
Obtain an EICR for the fixed electrical installation, carried out by a qualified electrician. Commercial premises should be inspected every 5 years, or more frequently for higher-risk environments.
Implement a PAT testing programme for all portable and movable electrical equipment, with testing frequencies based on the IET Code of Practice risk assessment approach.
Establish safe systems of work for any electrical maintenance or modification activities, including isolation procedures, lock-out/tag-out protocols, and permit-to-work systems where necessary.
Train all employees on basic electrical safety, including not overloading sockets, reporting damaged equipment, and understanding the dangers of working near electrical systems. Keep training records as evidence of compliance.
