About the Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974
The Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974 is quite a popular act in the United Kingdom and is often referred to as HSW, HASAW 1974 or HASAWA. This Act of the British Parliament outlines the framework to manage health and safety at workplaces across the country. It covers rather defines general duties for all concerned ranging from employers, employees, owners, managers to maintainers of work premises to maintain the aspect of health and safety within workplaces.
For businesses that operate within a higher risk environment – like chemical manufacturing industry, construction industry and others – there are also more specific legislations. The HSW itself is cornerstone legislation introduced by the government. The other regulations which complement the HASAW 1974 are referred to as statutory instruments. These are basically secondary pieces of legislation that are also known as delegated legislation. The ongoing discussion no brings us to statutory instruments which enable making small changes, additions or updates to an already existing legislation without creating an entirely new Bill.
Responsibility of enforcing the health and safety legislation of commercial electricians
It is important to note that commercial electricians in the UK are guided by the workplace health and safety legislation. Now the question is who is responsible for enforcing the health and safety at workplace legislation in the country. The overall responsibility of enforcing workplace health and safety legislation in the United Kingdom lies with the Health and Safety Executive or HSE. The HSE is a body appointed by the government. While enacting the legislation at ground level this government appointed body shares the responsibility with the relevant local authorities.
The main regulations related to health and safety of commercial electricians at workplaces
It is already mentioned above that the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 takes the centre stage among the legislations that deal with occupational health and safety in the UK. In other words there are other regulations too which are meant to implement safety and compliance at workplaces. Now let us quickly go through some of the key points of health and safety regulation that the majority of workplaces in the UK need to comply with. At the same time it should also be kept in the mind that more specific regulations could also become relevant depending upon specific industries or domains of business.
More about the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
As per the Act workplaces in the UK should provide the following –
- Proper and sufficient training to staffs to make sure that health and safety procedures are not only understood clearly but are also followed diligently
- Sufficient welfare provisions for staffs at work
- Providing a safe working environment that is maintained properly and where operations are conducted safely
Workplaces with five or more employees require employers to maintain a written health and safety policy. Employers must keep a record of the health and safety policy in workplaces with five or more employees. It is necessary to consult with employees (or their representatives) on relevant policies. It is also necessary to arrange for health and safety matters with them.
Different categories of electricians
When there is a need for an electrical work in your premise what do you do? Obviously, you hire an electrician, preferably a licensed and registered one. But it is important to note that every electrical work is not the same. There exist different categories of electricians who carry out different types of jobs using different types of tools and equipments catering to different purposes at different types of properties, namely residential, commercial and industrial. Different categories of electricians also work on different scales of projects and with varying objectives of work.
The three distinct types of electricians include – residential, commercial and industrial electricians. As it is obvious by the categorisation itself, these categories of professionals work in residential, commercial and industrial premises respectively.
- Residential electrician
This range of electricians usually works in homes, apartments and other residential properties. Typical tasks they perform include fitting of lights and fixtures, installation of wiring – in both newly built and existing properties, common electrical repairs, PAT or portable appliance testing (PAT is common for rental residential properties in the UK) and others. This category of professional electricians works on single phase power supply like 120 or 240 volts. Their objective is to ensure electrical installations in residential premises are compliant. It is also their goal to ensure these installations are safe. There is no risk to homeowners as a result.
According to qualified and trained electricians working at the Electric Works London one can become a residential electrician by completing a domestic installer course.
The course should cover the following elements –
- Part P of Building Regulations
- The wiring regulations
- Electrical inspection and testing
- Electrical installations
As far as the UK is concerned, on successfully completing a domestic installer course one may receive a City and Guilds qualification. Though that does not make one a professional electrician but that definitely enables the individual to carry out electrical tasks across homes and apartments. It may also help getting affiliated with the renowned NICEIC or National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting.
- Commercial electricians
Commercial electricians are typically found working in commercial buildings like educational institutes, hospitals, storefronts, malls, offices, warehouses restaurants and other such places. The typical list of tasks these professionals shoulder includes the following –
- Common electrical installations and repairing
- General building requirements
- Working on lighting and heating systems or elements
The typical wiring approach for this category of electricians uses a three-wire system. Two smaller wires carry one voltage. A larger wire ensures the smooth flow of a higher voltage. Based on the specific electrical needs of a property they work on –
- 120 volts
- 208 – 240 volts
- 277 – 480 volts
It is important to mention that wiring in residential properties is usually kept hidden from public view. In contrast to that wiring done by commercial electricians in commercial premises is left exposed running along walls and ceilings although conduit is used to provide protection.
In order to kick start career of commercial electricians in London it is important to achieve an electro technical qualification with either a Level – 3 NVQ Diploma in Electro Technical services or Electro Technical Systems and Equipment.
