1. EaWR 1989
3rd Edition 2015

2. The law demands that we use electricity safely
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
The Electricity at Work Regulations came into force on 1st April The purpose of the Regulations is to require precautions to be taken against the risk of death or personal injury from electricity in work activities.
HSR 25
Mines and Quarries: Are not covered – Regulations apply to mines only via a separate document.

3. Title by law, DUTYHOLDER’ which is anyone involved with electricity,
because you have a duty of care to persons, livestock and property
Electricity at Work Regs 1989
LAW
16 Regulations cover all systems, rest are for mines and quarries
Regulation 29 is the defence Regulation which covers 4(4), 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,16
These are ABSOLUTE regulations, which means they are to be complied with without regard to time, effort or expense
Regulation 16, (Absolute), is in regard to competency . This is the legal status of anyone working with working on or testing electrical installations
Legal means relating to or concerned with the law
Legally any competent person has to follow non statutory documents or codes of practice to enable them to follow the law, eg BS 7671, Guidance Notes 1 to 8 GS 38, IET CoP for Electrical safety Management,, In-service inspection and testing PAT
Records of Electrical Installation Certificates, Electrical Installation Condition Reports and Minor Works Certificates

4. The Types of Regulations
Reasonably Practical
Assess the risks in terms of carrying out the activity and the cost. The greater the risk the less weight can be given to the cost of preventative measures
Absolute
If the regulation does not qualify that it is “reasonably practical” then it is Absolute The requirement must be met regardless of cost

5. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 - Overview
Regulation Number
Description
Reasonably Practical
Absolute
REGULATION 1
ELECTRICITY AT WORK REGULATIONS CAME INTO FORCE 1 APRIL 1990
N/A
REGULATION 2
INTERPRETATIONS DEFINITIONS
REGULATION 3
PERSONS ON WHOM DUTIES ARE IMPOSED BY THESE REGULATIONS

6. Regulation Number Description Reasonably Practical Absolute
SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION 
REGULATION 4 (2)
SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
REGULATION 4 (3)
WORK ACTIVITY
REGULATION 4 (4)
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
REGULATION 5
STRENGH AND CAPABILITY OF ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
REGULATION 6
ADVERSE OR HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTS
REGULATION 7
INSULATION PROTECTION AND PLACING OF CONDUCTORS
REGULATION 8
EARTHING OR OTHER SUITABLE PRECAUTIONS
REGULATION 9
INTEGRETY OR REFERENCED CONDUCTORS SYSTEMS OF EARTH

7. Regulation Number Description Reasonably Practical Absolute
CONNECTIONS ELECTRICALLY AND MECHANICALLY SUITABLE 
REGULATION 11
MEANS OF PROTECTING FROM EXCESS OF CURRENT
REGULATION 12
MEANS OF CUTTING OFF THE SUPPLY AND ISOLATION
REGULATION 13
PRECAUTIONS FOR WORK ON EQUIPMENT MADE DEAD
REGULATION 14
WORK ON OR NEAR LIVE CONDUCTORS
REGULATION 15
WORKING SPACE, ACCESS AND LIGHTING
REGULATION 16
PERSONS TO BE COMPETANT TO PREVENT DANGER AND INJURY

8. Important points They are Statutory Regulations
(Legally binding as opposed BS7671; 2015)
All
Electrical
Systems
Conductors
APPLY TO WHAT?
All
Activities ON
NEAR
Equipment

9. Regulation 1
CITATION AND COMMENCEMENT This is simply a statement of the name of the regulations along with a statement of when they came into force “These Regulations may be citied as the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and shall come into force on 1st April 1990”

10. Regulation 2
Interpretation, showing the basic parts of the electrical system.

11. PERSONS ON WHOM DUTIES ARE IMPOSED BY THESE REGULATIONS
This regulation gives a clear statement of who EaWR 89 applies to.
Employee’s
Employers
Self Employed
including
trainees

12. Regulation 4 Systems, work activities and protective equipment
4(1) This deals with the construction of an electrical system.
4(2) This considers the need for maintenance.
4(3)This considers the way in which we all approach work.
4(4) Absolute This requires that any equipment used to protect people, PPE, including test equipment is fit for use, used properly and appropriate for the task.

13. Strength and capability of electrical equipment
Regulation 5 Absolute
Strength and capability of electrical equipment
This regulation looks at the capability of the electrical equipment (not a system) that is to be put into service.
Consideration needs to be taken into account of the possibility of the equipment being used under abnormal conditions.
“No electrical equipment shall be put into use where its strength and capability may be exceeded in such a way as may give rise to danger.”

14. Adverse or hazardous environments
Regulation 6
Adverse or hazardous environments
This regulation looks at the positioning of equipment and the effect of how and where it is installed.
Looks at ‘reasonable’ levels of safety in respect of;
Mechanical damage.
Effects of weather.
Effect of wet, dirty, dusty or corrosive conditions.
Flammable or explosive substances, including dusts, vapours or gases.

15. Insulation protection and placing of conductors
Regulation 7
Insulation protection and placing of conductors
Regulation 7 considers the need to provide adequate insulation for conductors, along with any additional protection that they may need to prevent damage and hence danger.
It also recognises the need for positioning cables away from areas where danger is likely to arise.

16. Earthing or other suitable precautions
Regulation 8 Absolute
Earthing or other suitable precautions
‘Precautions shall be taken, either by earthing or by other suitable means, to prevent danger arising when any conductor, (other than a circuit conductor), …….becomes charged ….as a result of a system or fault……and to comply with this regulation a conductor shall be regarded as earthed when it is connected to the general mass of earth by conductors of sufficient strength and current carrying capability to discharge electrical energy to earth’
Installations require correct design procedures and also testing by competent persons with a good knowledge of design principals to notice any anomalies

17. Regulation 9 Absolute Integrity Of Referenced Conductors
This regulation deals with the need to maintain the integrity of any referenced conductor.
We are not permitted to connect anything in a referenced conductor that would cause it to be broken (open-circuited).
‘ If a circuit conductor is connected to earth or to any other reference point, nothing which might reasonably expected to give rise to danger by breaking the electrical continuity or introducing high impedance shall be placed in that conductor unless suitable precautions are taken to prevent danger’

18. Regulation 10 Absolute Connections
This regulation considers the need to maintain the integrity of the connection of any conductors.

19. Means For Protecting From Excess Current
Regulation 11 Absolute
Means For Protecting From Excess Current
This regulation looks at how a system maybe protected from an excess of current.
An excess of current can be caused from two specific instances, i.e. short-circuit & overload
Efficient means, suitably located, shall be provided for protecting from excess of current every part of a system as may be necessary to prevent danger.

20. Regulation 12 Absolute
Means For Cutting Off The Supply And For Isolation
Where necessary to prevent danger, suitable means including, where appropriate, methods of identifying circuits shall be available for:-
Cutting off the electrical supply to any electrical equipment.
The isolation of electrical equipment
Isolation means the disconnection and separation of the electrical equipment from every source of electrical energy in such a way that this disconnection and separation is secure

21. Precautions For Working On Equipment Made Dead
Regulation 13 Absolute
Precautions For Working On Equipment Made Dead
This regulation is to safeguard electricians working on dead equipment and other people who are working in the vicinity.
Adequate precautions shall be taken to prevent electrical equipment, which has been made dead in order to prevent danger while work is carried out on or near that equipment, from becoming electrically charged during that work if danger may thereby arise.

22. Work On Or Near Live Conductors
Regulation 14 Absolute
Work On Or Near Live Conductors
Considers work that is to be carried out on live electrical equipment or systems
‘No person shall be engaged in any work activity on or so near any live conductor (other than one suitably covered with insulating material so as to prevent danger)’- unless:-
It is unreasonable in all the circumstances for it to be dead.
It is reasonable in all the circumstances for him to be at work on or near it while it is live.
Suitable precautions (i.e. Live working risk assessment, PPE) are taken and complied with to prevent injury.

23. Working Space Access And Lighting
Regulation 15 Absolute
Working Space Access And Lighting
This considers the area which work will take place on an item of electrical equipment or system.
It requires that adequate space, access and lighting is provided when working on electrical equipment or systems
Switch room
Luminaire

24. Persons To Be Competent To Prevent Danger And Injury
Regulation 16 Absolute
Persons To Be Competent To Prevent Danger And Injury
This regulation is in some ways the most important. It deals with competency.
Who defines competency and who is responsible for ensuring that only competent people are working on a task?

25. REGULATION 29 …………..DEFENCE
REGULATION 29 …………..DEFENCE, commence with the premise that you are Guilty until you prove yourself innocent
IN ANY PROCEEDINGS FOR AN OFFENCE CONSISTING OF A CONTRAVENTION OF REGULATION 4/4,5,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16(25) IT SHALL BE A DEFENCE FOR ANY PERSON TO PROVE THAT THEY TOOK ALL REASONABLE STEPS AND EXERCISED ALL DUE DILIGENCE TO AVOID THE COMMISSION OF THAT OFFENCE

26. Thank you Heading Text Body Text Please Note:
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Copyright (11/2011)