Electrical Fire Safety

Fires in the workplace can have a devastating effect on businesses through loss of working hours, stock, property and potential injury or loss of life.

In 2022, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service attended 385 fires at comercial buildings in Essex. 122 of these fires (32%) were caused by an electrical appliance or supply.

Follow our simple tips to reduce the risk of avoidable electrical fires at your workplace:

• Include electrical fire safety in your risk assessment

• Ensure electrical equipment is installed and maintained by a competent person

• If in any doubt over the safety of your electrics/electrical items, seek immediate advice from a qualification electrian

• Use the correct fuse rating, and don’t overload your plug sockets

• Complete regular visual inspections to look for overloading, overheating cables, defective wiring and equipment, bunched or coiled cables or impaired cooling fans

• Fixed Wire Testing - you have a legal duty under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 to ensure all facilities, equipment and devices are subject to a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.

• Portable Appliance Test (PAT) - must be carried out by a competent person under HSE guidance.