If you run a business or company, no matter what that is, you have a range of legal obligations under the The Electricity at Work Regulations. So what are you required to do by law? And how can you ensure that your company is 100% compliant? Well, here at Walker Electrical, we are Preston’s leading electrical specialists. We work across the North West with companies and businesses in a range of sectors, including commercial, industrial and residential. As a result, we have produced this guide to everything you should know about the important pieces of electrical legislation for businesses, and how to comply.
What are the important pieces of electrical legislation for businesses?
Electricity in the workplace is governed by two main sets of legislation. These are:
- The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
- Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
Each of these pieces of legislation places legal implications on employers to ensure the safety of electrical devices and electrical installations in the workplace. Essentially this requires that all electrical systems must be maintained to be safe at all times. This is important for your employees health and safety, and the security of your premises, as well as your company reputation. For example, if there is an electrical accident in your workplace, and you have no evidence of regular maintenance work or testing, you could be fined or even face prison.
How can you comply with the electrical legislation for businesses?
To make sure your company is compliant, you need to ensure:
- all of your electrical installations, repairs or maintenance are carried out by a professional electrician, and are documented in a log book
- your portable electrical appliances are tested regularly, on the advice of your electrician
- your electrical installations are tested regularly, on the advice of your electrician. This is known as fixed wire testing, but the official name is an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
For more information or for professional electrical support, get in touch with the team today, here at Walker Electrical.