What Is It?
An electrical risk assessment is a systematic document that identifies the hazards associated with a specific electrical job or work environment, evaluates the likelihood and severity of harm from each hazard, and sets out the control measures that will be used to reduce the risk to an acceptable level. It follows the HSE's five-step approach: identify hazards, decide who might be harmed and how, evaluate the risks and decide on precautions, record your findings, and review and update as needed. For electrical contractors, risk assessments cover hazards specific to electrical work - electric shock, arc flash, burns, working at height, confined spaces, and exposure to hazardous materials like asbestos - as well as general workplace hazards such as slips, trips, manual handling, and lone working.
About This Template
Risk assessments are a legal requirement under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Every self-employed electrician and electrical contractor must assess the risks associated with their work before starting a job. This isn't just a compliance exercise - electrical work is inherently dangerous, and a proper risk assessment forces you to think through the hazards, put control measures in place, and communicate risks to anyone else on site. For commercial and construction site work, a written risk assessment is almost always required before you'll be allowed to start. Under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015), contractors carrying out construction work - which includes most electrical installation, alteration, and maintenance work - must plan, manage, and monitor their work to ensure it is carried out safely, and a risk assessment is the foundation of that planning.
When to Use
- Before starting any electrical work on a construction site (required under CDM Regulations 2015 for all contractors)
- When working in hazardous environments such as confined spaces, at height, or near water
- For all commercial and industrial electrical work where a principal contractor requires documentation
- When employing others or working with subcontractors who need to understand the risks
- When working on live equipment where isolation is not possible (requires specific justification and additional precautions under Regulation 14 of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989)
- Before any domestic rewire, consumer unit change, or other notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations
- When tendering for contracts - many main contractors and facilities managers require risk assessments as part of the pre-qualification process
- As a regular review exercise for your most common job types to keep your standard procedures current
- When site conditions change (e.g., other trades working nearby, adverse weather, discovery of asbestos or other unexpected hazards)
What to Include
- Job details: location, description of work, date, and who is carrying out the assessment
- Hazard identification: electrical shock, arc flash, burns, falls from height, manual handling, asbestos exposure, working in confined spaces, lone working, use of power tools, dust and debris
- Who is at risk: the electrician, other workers on site, building occupants, members of the public, visitors
- Risk rating matrix: likelihood (1-5) multiplied by severity (1-5) to give a risk score, with action levels for each band
- Control measures for each hazard: isolation procedures, lock-off/tag-out, insulated tools, barriers, PPE requirements, permit-to-work systems
- PPE requirements: insulated gloves (rated to appropriate voltage), safety boots with composite toe caps, eye protection, arc flash rated clothing where needed, hard hat on construction sites, high-visibility vest
- Emergency procedures: location of first aid kit, nearest A&E, emergency contact numbers, procedure for electric shock, CPR awareness
- Safe isolation procedure confirming compliance with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (GS38 guidance on test instruments)
- Method statement reference for high-risk activities (working at height, live working, confined space entry)
- COSHH assessment reference if working with hazardous substances (e.g., cable lubricants, solvents, PU foam)
- Sign-off by the person carrying out the assessment and acknowledgement by all workers on site
- Review date and trigger conditions for reassessment
Tips
Don't treat risk assessments as a tick-box exercise - genuinely think through each hazard. The five minutes you spend on a risk assessment could prevent a life-changing injury or fatality. In the UK, around 1,000 people are killed and over 200,000 seriously injured at work each year
Create generic risk assessments for your most common job types (e.g., domestic rewire, consumer unit change, commercial installation, PAT testing) and then adapt them for each specific site with a brief site-specific assessment
Review your risk assessments if conditions change - what was low risk in the morning can become high risk if it starts raining, other trades start working nearby, or you discover unexpected hazards like asbestos
Keep risk assessments simple and practical - a one-page document that your team actually reads is better than a ten-page document that nobody looks at. The HSE explicitly states that risk assessments should be proportionate to the risk
Store completed risk assessments for at least three years (or longer for work involving hazardous substances under COSHH) as they may be needed for HSE investigations, insurance claims, or legal proceedings
Use the hierarchy of control when selecting control measures: eliminate the hazard first, then substitute, engineer controls, administrative controls, and PPE as a last resort
Brief your team on the risk assessment before work starts - a toolbox talk at the beginning of the day takes two minutes and ensures everyone understands the risks and controls
Legal Requirements for Electrical Risk Assessments
Several pieces of UK legislation require electrical contractors to carry out risk assessments. Understanding which laws apply to your work is essential for compliance and for protecting yourself if something goes wrong.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA) is the primary piece of UK health and safety legislation. Section 2 places a general duty on every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare at work of all their employees. Section 3 extends this duty to anyone else who might be affected by the work, including members of the public. Self-employed electricians have the same duties under Section 3.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR) make risk assessment a specific legal requirement. Regulation 3 requires every employer and self-employed person to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of their employees and anyone else who may be affected by their work. If you employ five or more people, the significant findings must be recorded in writing. Even if you employ fewer than five, a written record is strongly recommended as evidence of compliance.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (EWR) apply specifically to electrical work. Regulation 4 requires that all electrical systems are constructed and maintained to prevent danger. Regulation 14 restricts live working to situations where it is unreasonable in all circumstances for the conductor to be dead. A risk assessment is how you demonstrate compliance with these regulations and justify any decision to work live.
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) apply to most electrical installation work because it falls within the definition of construction work. Under CDM 2015, contractors must plan, manage, and monitor their work to ensure health and safety. For projects with more than one contractor, a principal contractor must be appointed, and a construction phase plan is required - your risk assessment feeds directly into this plan.
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 apply whenever you work above ground level - which is common in electrical work when accessing distribution boards, lighting, cable trays, and ceiling voids. You must assess the risk of falls and use appropriate measures: avoid working at height where possible, use suitable platforms or access equipment, and take measures to minimise the distance and consequences of any fall.
Key Hazards for Electrical Contractors
Electrical work involves a unique combination of hazards. Your risk assessment should address each of the following, with specific control measures tailored to the job.
Electric shock and electrocution remain the most serious hazards. Contact with live conductors at 230V or above can cause cardiac arrest. Even lower voltages can be dangerous in wet conditions or when current passes across the chest. Control measures include safe isolation procedures (following GS38 guidance), use of voltage indicators with proving units, lock-off/tag-out systems, insulated tools, and RCD protection. Never assume a circuit is dead - always test before touching.
Arc flash occurs when an electrical fault creates a plasma discharge. Temperatures can exceed 19,000 degrees Celsius, causing severe burns, blindness, and hearing damage. The risk is highest when working on or near live equipment, particularly at distribution boards and switchgear. Control measures include arc flash rated PPE (minimum ATPV 8 cal/cm2 for most electrical work), maintaining safe working distances, using remote switching where possible, and ensuring protective devices are correctly rated and operational.
Working at height is involved in a significant proportion of electrical jobs - installing lighting, running cables through ceiling voids, accessing distribution boards above head height, and working on external installations. Falls from relatively modest heights cause serious injuries. Use appropriate access equipment (step platforms, podium steps, tower scaffolds), ensure it is set up correctly, and never stand on chairs, desks, or other improvised platforms.
Confined spaces such as ceiling voids, risers, plant rooms, and underground cable ducts present risks of oxygen depletion, toxic atmospheres, and restricted movement. Before entering any confined space, assess whether entry is necessary, test the atmosphere, ensure adequate ventilation, and have a rescue plan in place. Confined space work may require a permit-to-work system.
Asbestos exposure is a significant risk in any property built before 2000. Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are commonly found in ceiling tiles, floor tiles, cable ducts, distribution board backings, thermal insulation, and textured coatings (Artex). Before drilling, chasing, or disturbing any material that might contain asbestos, check the asbestos register (required for non-domestic premises) or arrange for a survey. If you suspect asbestos, stop work immediately and seek specialist advice.
PAT testing and portable equipment hazards apply both to your own tools and to equipment you are testing. Faulty portable appliances can cause electric shock or fire. Ensure your own tools are regularly inspected and tested, use 110V equipment on construction sites (via a centre-tapped earth transformer), and visually inspect all equipment before each use.
Manual handling injuries from lifting heavy equipment - distribution boards, cable drums, transformers, and generators - are among the most common causes of lost working days. Assess the load, the environment, and the individual's capability before lifting. Use mechanical aids where possible, and never attempt to lift more than you can safely manage.
Lone working presents additional risks because there is nobody to raise the alarm or provide first aid if something goes wrong. If you work alone, inform someone of your location and expected return time, carry a charged mobile phone, and consider a personal alarm or check-in system.
The Risk Assessment Process: Step by Step
The HSE recommends a straightforward five-step approach to risk assessment. Here is how to apply each step to electrical contracting work.
Step 1: Identify the hazards. Walk the site before starting work. Look for anything that could cause harm - exposed wiring, damaged equipment, asbestos-containing materials, restricted access, wet conditions, overhead cables, and other trades working nearby. Check the electrical installation's condition, the age of the property, and any previous reports or certificates. Talk to the site manager or property owner about known issues.
Step 2: Decide who might be harmed and how. Consider everyone who could be affected: yourself, your employees and subcontractors, other workers on site, building occupants (especially vulnerable people such as the elderly, children, or disabled persons), and members of the public. For each hazard, describe the type of harm - electric shock, burns, falls, crushing, respiratory disease - and the mechanism by which it could occur.
Step 3: Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions. For each hazard, assess the likelihood of harm occurring (taking into account existing controls) and the potential severity. Use a risk rating matrix to calculate a risk score: likelihood (1 = very unlikely, 5 = almost certain) multiplied by severity (1 = minor injury, 5 = fatality). Scores of 1-6 are low risk (proceed with standard controls), 8-12 are medium risk (additional controls needed), and 15-25 are high risk (work must not proceed until risk is reduced). Apply the hierarchy of control: eliminate, substitute, engineer, administrate, PPE.
Step 4: Record your findings and implement them. Write down the significant hazards, who is at risk, the existing controls, the risk rating, and any additional controls needed. Communicate the findings to everyone involved in the work. This is where our template comes in - it provides a structured format to record all of this information clearly and consistently.
Step 5: Review and update your assessment. Risk assessments are living documents. Review them when conditions change, after an incident or near-miss, when new information becomes available, or at regular intervals (at least annually for generic assessments). Update the assessment and re-brief your team on any changes.
How to Fill In This Template
This section-by-section guide will help you complete the risk assessment template accurately and efficiently.
Header section: Enter the job reference number, site address, date of assessment, description of work to be carried out, and the name and signature of the person carrying out the assessment. If you are working under CDM 2015, include the principal contractor's details and the construction phase plan reference.
Hazard identification table: List each hazard in the first column. Use the pre-populated hazards in the template as a starting point, but add any site-specific hazards you have identified during your walk-around. Common additions include overhead power lines, underground services, working near water, biological hazards (needle stick, pigeon droppings in loft spaces), and noise from power tools.
People at risk: For each hazard, tick or list who could be harmed. Include your own team, other contractors, building occupants, and members of the public where relevant. Note any particularly vulnerable groups.
Risk rating: Complete the likelihood and severity scores for each hazard before control measures are applied (the inherent risk), and then again after control measures are applied (the residual risk). The residual risk score should be significantly lower. If it remains high, you need stronger controls or should consider whether the work can proceed safely.
Control measures: For each hazard, list the specific control measures you will implement. Be precise - don't just write "PPE". Instead, write "insulated gloves rated to 1000V (BS EN 60903), safety glasses with side shields (BS EN 166), arc flash rated coveralls (ATPV 8 cal/cm2 minimum)". Reference any permits to work, method statements, or COSHH assessments that apply.
Emergency procedures: Record the location of the nearest first aid kit, the name of the qualified first aider on site, the address of the nearest A&E department, and the emergency contact numbers for the site. Include the procedure for dealing with electric shock - isolate the supply, do not touch the casualty until the supply is confirmed dead, call 999, commence CPR if not breathing.
Sign-off: The assessor must sign and date the assessment. All workers who will be carrying out the work should sign to confirm they have read and understood the assessment. Keep the original on file and provide copies to the principal contractor if working under CDM 2015.
Generic vs Task-Specific Risk Assessments
Understanding the difference between generic and task-specific risk assessments is important for managing your paperwork efficiently without compromising safety.
A generic risk assessment covers a type of work that you carry out regularly - for example, domestic rewires, consumer unit replacements, commercial installation work, or periodic inspection and testing. It identifies the typical hazards, the standard control measures you always use, and the general precautions that apply. A good set of generic risk assessments forms the backbone of your health and safety management system and can be used across multiple jobs with minimal modification.
A task-specific risk assessment is created for a particular job at a particular site. It builds on your generic assessment but adds site-specific hazards and controls. For example, your generic rewire assessment might not cover the fact that this particular property has asbestos in the ceiling tiles, or that the consumer unit is located in a confined space, or that the only access to the loft is via a narrow spiral staircase. The site-specific assessment captures these additional risks.
In practice, most electrical contractors use a combination of both. You maintain a library of generic risk assessments for your standard work types and then carry out a brief site-specific assessment when you arrive at each job. For straightforward domestic work in a modern property, the site-specific element might be a quick walk-around and a few notes on the generic assessment. For complex, unfamiliar, or high-risk work, a more detailed site-specific assessment is essential.
The HSE accepts this approach provided that the generic assessments are genuinely relevant to the work being done, the site-specific elements are properly considered, and the combined assessment addresses all significant risks. Our template is designed to work as either a standalone task-specific assessment or as a site-specific supplement to your generic assessments.
Method Statements and RAMS
Risk assessments and method statements are often requested together, particularly for commercial work and construction sites. Together, they are known as RAMS (Risk Assessment and Method Statement). Understanding the difference and how they work together will help you produce better documentation.
A risk assessment identifies what could go wrong and what you will do to prevent it. It focuses on hazards, risks, and control measures. It answers the question: what are the dangers and how will we manage them?
A method statement describes how the work will be carried out safely, step by step. It is a practical document that turns the control measures identified in the risk assessment into a sequence of operations. It answers the question: exactly how will we do this work safely? A method statement typically includes the scope of work, the sequence of operations, the tools and equipment required, the competency requirements for each task, the safety measures at each stage, and the quality checks to be carried out.
For electrical work, a method statement might cover the step-by-step safe isolation procedure, the sequence of cable installation, the testing regime, and the reinstatement process. It should cross-reference the risk assessment and identify which control measures apply at each stage of the work.
Many main contractors and facilities managers require RAMS to be submitted and approved before work can begin on site. Some will not allow you through the gate without approved RAMS. While this can feel like paperwork for paperwork's sake, well-prepared RAMS demonstrate your competence, help you plan the job thoroughly, and protect you if something goes wrong.
Our risk assessment template can be used alongside your own method statement, or you can use a combined RAMS format. The key is that both documents are specific to the work being done, proportionate to the risk, and actually used on site - not just filed away in a drawer.
Who Needs an Electrical Risk Assessment?
The short answer is: everyone carrying out electrical work in the UK, whether you are a sole trader, a limited company, or an employer with a team of electricians.
Sole traders and self-employed electricians have a legal duty under Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to conduct their work in a way that does not put themselves or others at risk. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require self-employed persons to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment. Even though you are not required to have a written assessment if you employ fewer than five people, a written record is strongly recommended - it demonstrates compliance, satisfies principal contractors and clients, and protects you in the event of an HSE investigation or insurance claim.
Employers with one or more employees must carry out risk assessments under the Management Regulations and communicate the findings to their employees. If you employ five or more people, the significant findings must be recorded in writing. In practice, every electrical contractor should have written risk assessments regardless of team size.
Subcontractors working on construction sites must provide risk assessments to the principal contractor under CDM 2015. Your risk assessment will form part of the construction phase plan, and the principal contractor is responsible for ensuring that all contractors' assessments are coordinated and that the risks from one contractor's work do not affect another's safety.
Apprentices and trainees require additional consideration in your risk assessment. They are less experienced and may not recognise hazards that an experienced electrician would spot immediately. Your assessment should identify the supervision arrangements, the tasks the trainee is permitted to carry out, and any restrictions on their activities (e.g., no live working, no working at height without direct supervision).
Property managers and facilities managers who employ or engage electrical contractors should also ensure that risk assessments are in place for all electrical work carried out on their premises. This forms part of their own duty of care under the HSWA and the Occupiers' Liability Act 1957/1984.
