Electrical Safety: Staying Safe on the Job

Electricity can kill or severely injure people and cause damage to a property. However, you can take simple precautions when working with or near electricity and electrical equipment to significantly reduce the risk of injury and damage.

What are the hazards that electrical contractors face?

The main hazards of working with electricity are:

  • Electric shock and burns from contact with live parts
  • Injury from exposure to arcing
  • Fire from faulty electrical equipment or installations
  • An explosion caused by an unsuitable electrical apparatus or static electricity igniting flammable vapours or dusts

Electric shocks can also lead to other types of injury. For example, a shock might cause a fall from a ladder, which could lead to a sprain or broken limb.

How to minimise electrical hazard risks?

Conduct a risk assessment of electrical hazards that includes:

  • Who could be harmed by electrical hazards
  • How the level of risk has been established
  • Precautions taken to control risks

The risk assessment should take into consideration the type of electrical equipment used, the way in which it is used and the environment that it is used in.

You must make sure that the electrical installation and the electrical equipment is suitable for its intended use and the conditions in which it is operated, and that it is only used for its intended purpose.

In wet surroundings, unsuitable equipment can become live and make its surroundings live too. Fuses, circuit-breakers and other devices must be correctly rated for the circuit they protect. Isolators and fuse-box cases should be kept closed and, if possible, locked.

Cables, plugs, sockets and fittings must be robust enough and adequately protected for the working environment. Ensure that machinery has an accessible switch or isolator to cut off the power quickly in an emergency.

Maintenance

You must make sure that electrical equipment and installations are maintained to prevent danger.

Users should carry out visual checks of electrical equipment, including portable appliances. Remove the equipment from use immediately and repair or replace it if:

  • The plug or connector is damaged
  • The cable has been repaired with tape or is not secure
  • Internal wires are visible
  • Burn marks or stains are present (suggesting overheating)
  • Repairs should only be carried out by a competent person—someone who has the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to carry out the work safely.

Perform frequent checks on items that are more likely to become damaged (such as portable electrical tools). Checks are needed less frequently for equipment that is less likely to become damaged (such as desktop computers).

Visual checks are not usually necessary for small, battery-powered items, or for equipment that works from a mains-powered adaptor (such as laptops). However, the mains-powered adaptor for such equipment should be visually checked.

Consider whether electrical equipment, including portable appliances, should be more formally inspected or tested by a competent person. You should also determine how often such inspections should be completed.

Make arrangements for inspecting and testing fixed wiring installations, including the circuits from the meter and consumer unit supplying light switches, sockets and wired-in equipment (such as cookers and hairdryers), to be carried out regularly so there is little chance of deterioration leading to danger. This work should normally be carried out by a competent person, usually an electrician.

When is someone competent to do electrical work?

A competent person is someone who has the training, skill, knowledge and experience to carry out the work safely and prevent injury to themselves and others.

A successfully completed electrical apprenticeship, with some post-apprenticeship experience, is a way of showing technical competence for general electrical work.

More specialised work, such as maintenance of high-voltage switchgear or control system modification, is likely to require additional training and experience.

Key Points

  • Ensure that workers know how to use the electrical equipment safely.
  • Make sure enough sockets are available. Check that socket outlets are not overloaded by using unfused adaptors, as this can cause fires.
  • Ensure there are no trailing cables that can cause people to trip or fall.
  • Switch off and unplug appliances before cleaning or adjusting them.
  • Ensure that everyone looks for electrical wires, cables or equipment near where they are going to work, and that they check for signs warning of dangers from electricity and other hazards. Remind your employees that electrical cables may be within walls, floors and ceilings (especially if your employees will be drilling into these locations).
  • Make sure anyone working with electricity has sufficient skills, knowledge and experience to do so. Incorrectly wiring a plug can be dangerous and can lead to fatal accidents or fires.
  • Stop using equipment immediately if it appears to be faulty. Have it checked by a competent person.
  • Ensure that any electrical equipment brought to work by employees, or any hired or borrowed, is suitable for use before using it and remains suitable by being maintained as necessary.
  • Consider using a residual current device (RCD) between the electrical supply and the equipment, especially when working outdoors or within a wet or confined place.

Overhead electric lines

  • Be aware of the dangers of working near or underneath overhead power lines. Electricity can flash over from them, even though machinery or equipment may not touch them.
  • Don’t work under power lines when equipment (such as ladders, crane jibs, and scaffold poles) could come within six metres of one without getting advice from the line owner. Speak to the line owner before any work begins.

Underground cables

  • Always assume cables will be present when digging in the street, pavement and/or near buildings.
  • Consult local electricity companies and service plans to identify where cables are located.

Electrical Contractors Insurance

If you’re looking for insurance to protect yourself or your electrical contractor business, we’re more than happy to provide you a no-obligation quote or a free review of your upcoming renewal. We’re specialists in this sector therefore, we have a strong understanding of the insurance requirements you need protect your business.

Call us on 01536 303310 or complete our quote form and we’ll be in touch as soon as possible.

Storm Bert & Darragh: What to do if my business has been affected?

Cars in flooded water on the roads

Business owners across the UK have been impacted by Storm Bert and Storm Darragh; with property damages caused by strong winds and/or flooding, knowing what to do and what insurance policies cover what areas of your business can be a bit confusing. We have sourced advice on what to do next and included a quick overview of what policies cover what areas of your business if you do need to make a claim.

My Business Premise or Property is Flooded – what should I do?

Firstly, property owners, business owners and their employees should only return to the property if it’s safe to do so. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has released a 6 step recovery guide which is as follows:

Step 1 – Contact your insurer as soon as possible

They will advise you on arranging emergency accommodation if necessary (or any temporary alternative trading premises if you are a business with business interruption cover), the information they will need from you to support your claim, and how to go ahead with the immediate clean-up and repair process.

Step 2 – Assessing the damage and finding temporary accommodation

A loss adjuster will be appointed to assess the claim. An initial assessment of the damage will be done, the repair process explained and the options for alternative accommodation outlined. You should expect to hear from your loss adjuster after contacting your insurer and they will get in touch if they need to arrange a visit to your home.

Step 3 – Cleaning and stripping out

Your loss adjuster will organise the cleaning and stripping out of your premise. This work should start within four weeks of discussing it with your loss adjuster.

Step 4 – Disinfecting and drying your home

Your insurer or loss adjuster will appoint a drying company to disinfect and dry out your home. This can take from a few weeks to several months. Your loss adjuster will give you a timetable and keep you informed.

Step 5 – Repair and reconstruction

Repair work should begin shortly after you get your drying certificate from the drying company. Your loss adjuster will appoint a builder to do the repair and reconstruction work and will keep you updated on expected timeframes. You can also ask your insurer if you are eligible for Build Back Better, which can include installing property flood resilience measures as part of flood repairs.

Step 6 – Moving back into your home (or building)

Your insurer or loss adjuster will discuss with you when you can return home (or your commercial property).  Depending on how badly damaged your home is, this can be between a few weeks and a year or more after the flood.

6 Step Guide directly from ABI

What to do if my property suffered from damage due to storm force winds?

Again, the ABI has advised on what to do in the event of damages because of storm force winds which are as follows:

  1. Contact your insurer as soon as possible. Most will have 24-hour emergency helplines to ensure you get advice on what to do and arrange repairs as quickly as possible.
  2. If necessary, arrange temporary emergency repairs to stop any damage from getting worse, but speak to your insurer first. If you have to arrange emergency repairs yourself, tell your insurer and keep any receipts, as this will form part of your claim.
  3. Do not be in a rush to throw away damaged items, unless they are a danger to health, as these may be able to be repaired or restored. Your insurer will advise.

Business Owners – what policies should I be checking?

Most commercial insurance policies cover storm damage and any stock and equipment if affected.

A Business Interruption policy will cover the costs of loss of trading due to the damage and your business not being able to operate or open to the public. In some cases, the policy can cover the cost of operating elsewhere while repairs are being conducted. This type of policy may be combined with your business insurance policy or taken out separately.

A comprehensive motor insurance policy covering any commercial vehicles will cost the cost of repairs and replacing vehicles that was caused by the storm.

Be prepared for the next storm

With extreme weather becoming more of a regular occurrence, having the right protection in place can give you peace of mind if your business or home is affected.

Speaking to a commercial insurance broker like us, we have a wealth of knowledge of all the insurance policies that are available and what may be best suited for your business to protect you from any future eventualities.

Call 01535 303310 or complete our contact form for a no-obligation discussion of your business insurance.

Top 5 tips for fleet managers

Fleet of delivery vans

Our insurance experts at Hallsdale Insurance were asked to shortlist their top 5 tips for Fleet Managers – whether this be a full-time fleet manager or an individual such as a Finance Director or Business Owner that has been assigned the job!

Here at Hallsdale we have plenty more tips for Fleet Managers regarding their fleet insurance, but here are the top 5!

Implementing these should help reduce claims and therefore reduce future insurance premiums, in a market that is generally seeing quite substantial increases in premium pricing.

  • Use In-Vehicle Cameras

Statistics show a big reduction in fault accidents for fleets that use in-vehicle cameras. The simple reason being that drivers know they are being filmed, so they will drive more carefully, and this should result in a reduction in fault accidents.

  • Use Vehicle Telematics and GPS tracking

Vehicle telematics are considered less “big brother” and more commonly used in business vehicles in recent years. These track driver behaviour such as routes, speed, braking and time on road as well as GPS tracking so you know exactly where your fleet of vehicles are – including overnight parking.

  • Have a “named driver” rather than “any driver policy” if possible

Any driver policies have a big appeal as it gives your business a lot of flexibility if you have a high turnaround of drivers using your business fleet. However, it is likely that it is the same people using the business fleet the vast majority of the time, a “named driver” policy can be much less expensive as the risk is less and the insurer knows the driving history (claims and convictions) or each named driver.

Even if there are the occasional amendments, these can be done by your insurance broker.

  • Have a secure compound with cameras if possible

One of the biggest risks to insurers is theft of the vehicle and/or its contents. If the insurer knows there are precautions against theft, especially overnight, you will be rewarded with lower premiums.

  • If you have goods in transit insurance, make sure you have adequate sum insured

If you are a courier or haulier, or transport expensive products/goods, make sure your sums insured more than adequately cover the cost of replacement in the event of an accident, fire or theft. The cost-of-living crises and general increase in materials and production could mean it is time for you to review your sums insured on goods in transit insurance cover.

Cyber Liability Insurance (CLI)

Keyboard with a button that says Cyber Liability Insurance

Cyber Liability Insurance is the fastest growing new commercial insurance policy in the UK, with many businesses across the country buying this policy for the first time in the last few years.

As a minimum, most UK businesses now transact electronically, and probably use the Cloud for IT/CRM, therefore exposing valuable data to cyber crime.

The rise in cyber crime and general awareness of cyber criminal activity, and the potential huge impact on your business in the result of a successful attack, means that more and more companies large and small are investing in a cyber insurance policy.

A cyber-attack can be costly – the losses incurred from suffering one could mean that you’d have to go into debt to cover the cost of getting your business back up and running, or even shut your doors completely. Cyber Insurance mitigates risk by helping to pay the cost for your business to recover from an attack.

In a world where cyber threats are varied (and constantly changing), cyber insurance can help your organisation to get back on its feet, should something cyber-related go wrong. Managing cyber incidents (such as ransomware and data breaches, particularly important with client data) may require in-depth technical knowledge. As well as minimising business disruption and providing financial protection during an incident, cyber insurance may help with any legal and regulatory actions after an incident.

Probably the biggest factor of cyber insurance is business interruption, which could be lengthy if the cyber incident is particularly troublesome and complex.

The cost of cyber insurance varies depending on your business type, size, and the cyber risks it is exposed to.

Please do contact our Cyber Liability Insurance experts at Hallsdale Insurance, who have a close partnership with Coalition, a leading cyber insurer – allowing us access to exceptional cyber insurance protection. Call us on 01536 303310 or complete our enquiry form.

Why are insurance premiums increasing so much?

Premium Increase Ahead Sign
The most high-profile insurance policies – in terms of national news headlines – that are seeing big increases in the cost of premiums is private car insurance. The reasons are plentiful, the cost of new and second-hand cars being much higher for one, the cost-of-living crisis increasing crime and thefts one other. However, away from attention grabbing car insurance premiums, it is UK businesses that are really feeling the effect of business insurance policies increased year-on-year between 10-20% for most businesses. Generally speaking, it is only a declining/shrinking business that will not be affected by an increase in business insurance premium, and quite frankly they probably have bigger worries to consider! Inflation, politics, the economy, claims and the CPI has all meant that insurance premiums have been under severe upward pressure. Leading business consultancy PwC give this explanation about rising insurance premiums: “Businesses in the UK may see price rises of between 10-20% in the cost of their annual insurance bill, worth hundreds or even thousands of pounds, according to estimates from PwC UK. This comes as a direct result of rising CPI, which has significantly increased the costs of materials and labour involved in the settlement of insurance claims. The global supply chain crisis has further exacerbated this, resulting in longer and more costly repairs due to a lack of supply of materials and labour.” Source – https://www.pwc.co.uk/press-room/press-releases/double-blow-for-business-as-rising-insurance-costs-pushes-up-ann.html Hallsdale Insurance can’t promise to arrest the rise in your business insurance premiums – this will ultimately be determined by the insurers themselves – but we can assist by shopping our insurer panel and using our interpersonal strong relationships with insurers to ensure they have a sharp pencil! Introductory discounts are also available as insurers are keen to win new business in a competitive market. If you would like to speak to a member of our team about your current insurance policies or an upcoming renewal, get in touch today for a no-obligation discussion. Call us on 01536 303310 or complete our enquiry form and we’ll be in touch soon.