Prevention of dangerous situations

Failure to carry out remedial work after discovering a dangerous electrical hazard, for example, exposed live parts due to a missing blank in a consumer unit, could result in someone receiving a serious or even fatal electric shock. Such an omission would be in breach of regulations 4(1) and 4(2) of the Electricity at Work Regulation 1989 (EWR), which could result in prosecution.

Solution

Where a dangerous electrical hazard is identified an amount of remedial work is required to make the situation safe before the contractor leaves the site. Consider as an example, where a consumer unit is found have missing blanks thereby resulting in exposed live parts open to touch. Before leaving site the contractor would be expected to fit suitable blanks to remove the hazard.

As a further example, consider an energised circuit where the end of the cable had been fitted with an unenclosed connector block. In such cases, the contractor would be expected to isolate the circuit and fit a suitable enclosure complying with requirements of Regulation 526.5, relating to terminations of live conductors.

In addition to making the hazardous situation safe, NICEIC Approved Contractors and Domestic Installers should complete and Electrical Danger Notification (EDN) form. The purpose of the EDN is to:

• Advise in writing to a person responsible for the safety of the electrical installation of the location (usually the householder or duty holder) the nature of the dangerous condition, and
• Provide a record of the immediate action taken to remove or minimise the danger, thereby assisting the Approved Contractor or Domestic Installer to discharge the duty imposed on competent persons by regulations 4(1) and 4(2) of the EWR, and
• Provide a record of the advice given to remedy the deficiency as a matter of urgency

The completed EDN should be issued to the person having reprehensibility for the safety of the installation.

Further details on how to complete an Electrical Danger Notification form are given in the NICEIC publication Guide to Completing Specialized Certificates and Reports.

Regulation 526.5

Every termination and joint in a live conductor or a PEN conductor shall be made within one of the following or a combination thereof:

• A suitable accessory complying with the appropriate product standard
• An equipment enclosure complying with the appropriate product standard
• An enclosure partially formed or completed with building material which is non-combustible when tested to BS 476-4

Regulation 4(1) Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (EWR)

All systems shall at all times be of such construction as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, danger.

Regulation 4(2) EWR

As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as reasonably practicable, such danger.