Electricity

Employ a qualified electrician belonging to either of the following:

• the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) 
• the National Inspecting Council for Electrical Installing Contractors (NICEIC)

Make sure you obtain an ECA or NICEIC Electrical Inspection Certificate for all new electrical installation work. A Minor Works Certificate is used for an alteration, addition or extension to one existing circuit only.

Electricity emergency

• know where the mains isolator is located
• ensure you know how to contact your supplier in an emergency

Electrical Safety Law

Businesses have to comply with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.

Display a Treatment of Electric Shock poster.

General Information

• do not overload electrical sockets: one plug to one socket
• install extra sockets in preference to adaptors
• use the correct fuse or fuse wire (never improvise)
• turn off and unplug faulty equipment
• if you are cleaning or moving equipment, make sure you turn off and disconnect first
• install circuit breakers and do not obstruct isolators
• protect light bulbs and strip lights with diffuser covers
• ensure equipment us earthed correctly
• report all faulty equipment
• replace frayed and damaged electric wiring
• provide emergency back up lighting
• ensure all electrical equipment is tested regularly
• tested equipment will need to be labelled with a retest date, etc
• if unsure consult a qualified electrician

Wiring a plug

• the green/yellow wire is the earth and should be at the top
• the blue wire is the neutral and should be on the left
• the brown wire is the live and should be on the right nearest the fuse
• the thick insulation cable should be in the plug and secured by the cord grips
• the three different wires should not show outside the plug
• make sure that you have the correct fuse in place
• make sure that there are no loose wires in the plug
• the screws on the tops of the pins are firmly secured
• ensure the plug cover is firmly secured to the base