LABC supports new industry initiative to enhance electrical safety

The Electrical Safety Roundtable and Trustmark have teamed up to create a tool for homeowners, tenants and electricians to use to report unsafe, non-compliant or dangerous electrical work. Taking inspiration from the Health and Safety Executive’s tool for reporting of injuries, diseased and dangerous occurrences (RIDDOR) and Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures (CROSS), the aim of the tool is to quantify and help to reduce the level of unsafe and non-compliant electrical work in homes across Great Britain. 

The reporting tool, with quick and easy to complete forms, has been widely supported by participants of the Electrical Safety Roundtable, including LABC. It is hoped that the data gathered will be used to influence government thinking and assist with policy discussions, as well as inform industry initiatives and ultimately improve electrical safety standards throughout Great Britain. 

Local authority building control teams all too often have had to deal with unauthorised and poor quality electrical installations and this often result in additional cost to homeowners who have to put work right to make sure they remain safe in their homes. LABC welcomes efforts to identify dangerous work practices and encourages anyone who comes across unsafe or dangerous electrical installations to use the tool to help enhance electrical safety standards.

Commenting on the launch Simon Ayers, CEO TrustMark said, “This is a really important initiative which will help to identify areas of electrical safety risk in homes across Great Britain. Having this data provides the opportunity to improve the standard and quality of electrical installation work where it’s needed, and help to tackle key areas of skills, knowledge and training.” 

Chris Pack, Chair of the Electrical Safety Roundtable in the Home said, “It’s great to see this initiative reach fruition. As an organisation it is our mission to enhance electrical safety and the results from this tool will help us understand the major areas of electrical risk in homes and provide quantifiable data on the level of risk posed by unsafe and non-compliant electrical installations. We are looking forward to reviewing and anaylsing the data over the coming months and using that information to maximise our impact.” 

Alongside the reporting tool, a new webpage on the Electrical Safety Roundtable website has been developed to provide consumers with up-to-date guidance on the steps they can take to rectify unsafe or non-compliant electrical work. 

Note - the Electrical Safety Roundtable was founded on a mission to improve electrical safety within the home. TrustMark provides a mark of Government endorsed quality to tradespeople who undertake work in and around people’s homes.