Simple precautions

There are some simple precautions that can be taken that will significantly reduce the risk of electrical injury to you and others around you:

• Work near electricity
• Excavation and underground services
• Overhead power lines
• Work using electrically powered equipment
• Work on electrical equipment, machinery or installations
• Maintaining electrical equipment
• Electricity in potentially explosive atmospheres

The downloadable HSE leaflet Electrical safety and you: A brief guide provides details of how you can work safely near electricity. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) has produced a document that discusses domestic electrical safety.

Much of the information on these web pages has been summarised to make it suitable for a wide audience. You should always use the published guidance listed on the resources page when deciding how to work safely and meet the requirements of the law.

Additional information is available from HSE and there are useful links to other information sources.