While BS 7671 is a non-statutory British Standard, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (EAWR)is statutory law made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Breaches of the EAWR carry unlimited criminal fines and personal prison sentences for company directors, managers, and individual electrical contractors.

Statutory Hierarchy: Absolute vs Reasonably Practicable

Duties under EAWR fall into two strict legal categories:

  • Absolute Duties: The regulation contains no qualifying words like "so far as is reasonably practicable". Compliance is mandatory regardless of financial cost or operational inconvenience (e.g. Regulation 14 on live working).
  • Qualified Duties: Qualified by "reasonably practicable", meaning duty holders must weigh the risk against the sacrifice (cost, time, effort) needed to avert the danger.

The Five Pillar Regulations Every Electrician Must Know

Regulation 4: Systems, Work Activities & Protective Equipment

All electrical systems must be constructed, maintained, and operated at all times in such a manner as to prevent danger. Work equipment provided for electrical work must be suitable for the purpose and properly maintained.

Regulation 12: Means for Cutting Off Supply & Isolation

Suitable means must be available for cutting off the electricity supply to any electrical equipment, and for isolating any electrical equipment from every source of electrical energy.

Regulation 13: Precautions for Work on Equipment Made Dead

Adequate precautions must be taken to prevent electrical equipment that has been made dead from becoming electrically charged while work is being carried out on or near it (the statutory foundation for Lock-Out / Tag-Out and GS38 safe isolation).

Regulation 14: Work on or Near Live Conductors

No person shall be engaged in any work activity on or so near any live conductor that danger may arise, UNLESS ALL THREE of the following legal tests are satisfied:

The Strict Three-Part Test for Live Working:

1. It is unreasonable in all circumstances for the conductor to be dead (e.g. diagnostic fault tracing or testing that cannot be done with power off); AND

2. It is reasonable in all the circumstances for the person to be at work on or near it while it is live; AND

3. Suitable precautions (including the provision of suitable insulated tools, barriers, and PPE) are taken to prevent injury.

Commercial inconvenience or a client refusing to allow a brief shutdown NEVER justifies live working in court.

Regulation 16: Persons to be Competent

No person shall be engaged in any work activity where technical knowledge or experience is necessary to prevent danger, unless they possess such knowledge or experience, or are under appropriate supervision.