Electrical work carries obvious risks - shock, burns, and arc flash can kill or cause life-changing injuries. But electricians also face the same hazards as other trades: working at height, asbestos in older buildings, and the business responsibilities that come with being an employer or contractor.
This guide covers the safety requirements specific to electrical contractors, from safe isolation to the business basics.
Electrical safety fundamentals
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 place duties on employers and self-employed people to ensure electrical systems are safe.
Core legal requirements
Regulation 4 - All systems must be constructed and maintained to prevent danger
Regulation 12 - No live working unless:
- Unreasonable to work dead, AND
- Suitable precautions taken to prevent injury
Regulation 13 - Adequate working space, access, and lighting
Regulation 14 - No one shall work on electrical equipment unless competent or supervised
Live working should be the exception, not the rule. If you can isolate, you must. "It's quicker to work live" is not a legal justification.
Safe isolation procedure
Before any work on electrical systems:
| Step | Action | Verification |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Identify circuit to be worked on | Check drawings, trace cables |
| 2 | Isolate supply | Switch off and isolate at source |
| 3 | Secure isolation | Lock off, post warning notices |
| 4 | Prove dead | Test with approved voltage indicator |
| 5 | Prove the tester | Test on known live source before AND after |
Key points:
- Use a proper voltage indicator (not a multimeter for proving dead)
- GS38 compliant test leads and probes
- Lock-off devices on isolators where possible
- If you can't lock off, remove fuses and keep them with you
GS38 requirements
HSE Guidance Note GS38 specifies requirements for electrical test equipment:
Test leads must have:
- Adequate insulation
- Finger barriers or shrouded probes
- Fused leads where appropriate
- Maximum 4mm exposed tip on probes
- High breaking capacity fuses (if fused)
Cheap test leads from non-specialist suppliers often don't meet GS38. Stick to leads from electrical wholesalers or test equipment manufacturers.
Live working
When live working is genuinely necessary, formal controls are required.
When might live working be justified?
- Testing and fault-finding where the circuit must be energised
- Specific situations where isolation would cause greater risk
- Brief live testing to verify dead before full isolation
NOT justified:
- Convenience or saving time
- Avoiding the effort of tracing circuits
- Customer pressure to keep power on
- "I've always done it this way"
Controls for live working
If live working is genuinely necessary:
| Control | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Risk assessment | Document why live working is necessary |
| Competent person | Only trained, experienced workers |
| Insulated tools | Fully rated for the voltage |
| Barriers and screens | Prevent accidental contact |
| PPE | Insulating gloves, face shield for arc risk |
| Accompaniment | Second person where risk warrants |
| Rescue plan | Know what to do if it goes wrong |
Arc flash
Arc flash is an explosive release of energy from an electrical fault. It's rare in domestic work but a serious consideration for commercial and industrial installations.
Risk factors:
- Higher voltages (400V+)
- High fault currents
- Older equipment with slower protection
- Working close to live parts
Controls:
- Arc flash risk assessment for higher-risk work
- Arc-rated PPE where required
- Remote switching/racking where possible
- Reduced energy let-through (faster protection)
Part P and Building Regulations
Part P of the Building Regulations covers electrical safety in dwellings in England.
What's notifiable?
Certain electrical work in homes must be either:
- Done by a registered competent person scheme member (self-certification), OR
- Notified to Building Control before work starts
Notifiable work includes:
- New circuits
- Consumer unit replacements
- Work in kitchens and bathrooms (other than like-for-like replacements)
- Work in special locations (around pools, saunas, etc.)
- Additions to existing circuits in kitchens and bathrooms
Non-notifiable work includes:
- Like-for-like replacements
- Adding sockets/lights to existing circuits (except kitchens/bathrooms)
- Work outside dwellings
Competent person schemes
Registration with a scheme (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, etc.) allows self-certification of notifiable work.
Scheme membership typically requires:
- Demonstrated competence (qualifications + experience)
- Adequate insurance
- Regular assessment visits
- Following scheme rules
Part P is about Building Regulations compliance, not general health and safety. You can be fully Part P compliant but still have poor safety practices. The two are separate.
Working at height
Electricians regularly work at height - accessing consumer units, installing lighting, running cables in roof spaces.
Common scenarios
| Task | Typical Access |
|---|---|
| Consumer unit work | Step ladder or platform steps |
| Ceiling lighting | Step ladder, podium, or tower scaffold |
| High-level cable runs | Tower scaffold, MEWP, or podium |
| Roof space work | Crawling boards, adequate lighting |
| External work | Ladder, scaffold, or MEWP |
Hierarchy of control
- Avoid - Can the work be done without height access? (Pre-fabricate at ground level?)
- Prevent falls - Podiums, tower scaffolds, MEWPs with guardrails
- Mitigate - Harnesses and fall arrest (last resort)
Ladders
Ladders are acceptable for:
- Short duration work (typically under 30 minutes)
- Light work that allows three-point contact
- Where other equipment isn't reasonably practicable
Ladder safety:
- 75-degree angle (1 in 4)
- Secured at top or footed
- On firm, level ground
- Extend 1m above landing point
- Don't overreach
Step ladders and platforms
For most electrical work, platform steps or podium steps are better than ladders:
- More stable working platform
- Hands free for work
- Guardrails on podiums prevent falls
Asbestos awareness
Asbestos is present in most buildings built or refurbished before 2000. Electricians are particularly at risk because electrical work often involves:
- Drilling into walls and ceilings
- Working in roof spaces
- Disturbing old cable routes
- Removing old equipment in plant rooms
Before you start
Always ask:
- Is there an asbestos survey or register?
- When was the building constructed/refurbished?
- Has previous work disturbed potential ACMs?
If no information available:
- Treat any pre-2000 building as potentially containing asbestos
- Don't drill, cut, or disturb until you know what's there
Common asbestos locations (relevant to electricians)
| Material | Location |
|---|---|
| Insulating board | Behind electrical panels, fire protection around cables |
| Textured coatings | Ceilings (Artex-type finishes) |
| Cement products | Cable ducts, conduit, electrical backing boards |
| Loose fill | Roof spaces, cavity walls |
| Floor tiles | Under raised floors in data centres, plant rooms |
What to do if you find it
- Stop work immediately
- Don't disturb it further
- Keep people away
- Report to the client/duty holder
- Get professional advice before continuing
A single instance of drilling through asbestos board can release thousands of fibres. The diseases caused are incurable and often fatal. This is not a trivial risk.
CDM and electrical work
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 apply when electrical work is part of construction projects.
When does CDM apply?
CDM applies to virtually all construction work, including:
- New electrical installations
- Alterations and additions
- Rewires
- Maintenance and repair that's part of construction
Your duties as a contractor
- Plan your work to avoid risks
- Provide information to principal contractor
- Follow site rules and construction phase plan
- Cooperate with other contractors
- Ensure your workers are competent
Coordination with other trades
Electrical work often overlaps with other activities:
| Interface | Coordination needed |
|---|---|
| Builders/plasterers | First fix timing, chase depth, fire stopping |
| Plumbers | Bonding, cross-bonding, pipework routes |
| Fire alarm contractors | Integration, cable routes, detection zones |
| Data/telecoms | Separation requirements, containment sharing |
Business and employer duties
If you employ others or run a business, additional duties apply.
Risk assessment
You must assess risks to your employees and others affected by your work.
Key risks to assess:
- Electrical work activities (by type/complexity)
- Working at height tasks
- Manual handling (cable drums, equipment)
- Asbestos exposure potential
- Driving for work
Training and competence
| Training | Who needs it | Refresh |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical safety/safe isolation | All electricians | As needed |
| Part P scheme requirements | Notifiable work | Scheme requirements |
| Working at height | Anyone working at height | As needed |
| Asbestos awareness | All construction workers | Annual recommended |
| First aid | Appointed persons | 3 years |
Supervision
- New or trainee electricians must be supervised
- Level of supervision depends on competence and risk
- Supervision doesn't mean constant presence, but appropriate oversight
Insurance
| Insurance | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Employers' liability | Legal requirement if you employ anyone (£10m minimum) |
| Public liability | Not legally required but commercially essential |
| Professional indemnity | Often required for certification/testing work |
Tools and equipment
Electrical test equipment
- Calibrated and maintained
- GS38 compliant test leads
- Proved before and after use
- Stored properly (not bouncing around in van)
Hand tools
- Insulated tools for electrical work (VDE rated)
- Regular inspection for damage
- Replace worn or damaged tools
PPE
| PPE | When needed |
|---|---|
| Safety footwear | Most sites and commercial premises |
| Eye protection | Drilling, cutting, live work near arc risk |
| Gloves | Handling rough materials, insulating gloves for live work |
| Hi-vis | Sites, roadside work |
| Head protection | Sites with overhead hazards |
Common compliance gaps
Based on typical issues found:
Electrical safety
- Working live when isolation was possible
- Poor isolation procedures (no proving, no lock-off)
- Non-GS38 test equipment
- Insufficient competence for work undertaken
Working at height
- Ladders used for work better suited to platforms
- Unsecured ladders
- Overreaching
- No control for roof space work
Asbestos
- Not asking about asbestos before work
- Drilling without checking
- No asbestos awareness training
Business basics
- No written risk assessments
- No employers' liability insurance displayed
- No training records
- Inadequate supervision of trainees
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily. Part P only applies to notifiable work in dwellings. You can do non-notifiable domestic work, all commercial work, and notifiable domestic work if you notify Building Control (and they may require inspection). However, most domestic customers expect Part P registration, and many commercial clients require competent person scheme membership.
Yes, but only when it's unreasonable to work dead AND suitable precautions are taken. Testing and fault-finding often require energised circuits. But routine installation work should always be done dead. If you're regularly working live for installation work, your procedures need reviewing.
At minimum: a voltage indicator (not just a multimeter) with GS38 compliant leads and probes. The voltage indicator should be 'proved' on a known live source before and after testing for dead. Many electricians use a proving unit for this. Test lamps alone are not acceptable as they can fail to indicate.
Yes, if you work in buildings built or refurbished before 2000 (which is most of them). Asbestos awareness training is required for anyone whose work could disturb asbestos. This includes electricians due to the nature of the work. Training should be refreshed regularly - annual refresher is common practice.
Public liability insurance is essential (typically £1-2m minimum, many clients require £5m). Professional indemnity is recommended if you're doing testing and certification. Employers' liability is only legally required if you employ anyone, including casual labour. Tools and van insurance are also important but not health and safety requirements.
Yes, for short-duration, low-risk work where other equipment isn't reasonably practicable. Consumer unit work, ceiling rose replacements, and similar brief tasks can be done from a suitable ladder or step ladder. For longer duration work, repeated access, or work needing both hands free, platform steps, podiums, or tower scaffolds are more appropriate.
Electrical certificates (your copies), risk assessments, training records, equipment maintenance and calibration records, test equipment proving logs (good practice), accident records, and supervision records for trainees. Keep records for at least 6 years - longer for training records and anything that might relate to later health claims.
CDM applies to all construction work, but domestic clients have their duties automatically transferred to contractors. For a typical domestic rewire where you're the only contractor, you don't need a construction phase plan document - but you still need to plan the work safely. If there are multiple contractors, CDM requirements increase.
You have a duty not to leave an installation in a dangerous condition. If you find serious defects, inform the customer in writing. For imminent danger (exposed live parts, fire risk), you may need to isolate and make safe even if that means loss of supply. Document what you found and what you did. Consider your professional indemnity position if the customer refuses remedial work.
You need to assess risks, but not necessarily a unique written document for every job. Generic risk assessments covering your typical work types are acceptable, reviewed and adapted for specific jobs where needed. Novel, complex, or high-risk work should have specific assessment. The key is that risks are identified and controlled, not paperwork for its own sake.
Getting professional help
Most electricians manage their own health and safety effectively, but professional input can help with:
- Setting up a new business - Getting procedures right from the start
- Expanding into new work types - Commercial, industrial, or specialist sectors
- After an incident - Reviewing what went wrong and preventing recurrence
- Competent person requirements - Meeting scheme assessment requirements
Need help setting up your safety management system or preparing for scheme assessment? A health and safety professional can review your arrangements and identify gaps.
Related content
Topics:
- Electrical Safety - General electrical safety guidance
- Working at Height - Fall prevention guidance
- Asbestos - Asbestos awareness and management
Articles:
Related sectors:
- Construction - CDM and site safety
- Plumbers - Related trade
- Builders - Related trade
- Landlords - EICR requirements
Tools:
- Responsibility Checker - Find out what applies to you
External resources:
*This guidance covers key health and safety requirements for UK electricians and electrical contractors. It is not exhaustive and does not constitute legal advice.