What types of electrical accident happen at work?
[Contact with live conductors — exposed cables, defective equipment; arc flash — explosive release of energy from electrical faults; step and touch potential from buried or overhead cables; faulty portable appliances (PAT testing failures); working on live systems without isolation]
What does the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require?
[All electrical systems safe; maintained in safe condition; adequate strength and capability; protection from contact with live conductors; competent persons only for electrical work; isolation before work on systems; Reg 16 — defence of reasonable steps taken]
What injuries can electrical accidents cause?
[Cardiac arrhythmia / cardiac arrest; electrical burns (entry and exit wounds); arc flash burns to skin, eyes, airways; secondary injuries from fall after shock; neurological damage; PTSD]
How is an electrical injury claim valued?
[Depends on injury type — see our related guide for burn injuries, /head-injury-at-work for falls after shock, /psychological-injury-after-work-accident for PTSD; cardiac and neurological injuries assessed under relevant JCG chapters]
Sources
- Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (SI 1989/635)
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
- HSE — Electricity at work (hse.gov.uk/electricity)
- Judicial College Guidelines, 17th edition (2024)