Unsafe Electrical Installation Prosecutions
Unsafe Electrical Installation: Overview
Unsafe electrical installations can pose serious risks, including electric shock, fires, injury, or death. The UK law imposes strict duties on landlords, builders, contractors, and business operators to ensure electrical safety.
⚖️ Legal Framework
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 – places duties on employers and employees to ensure electrical systems are maintained in a safe condition.
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA) – imposes general duties on employers and individuals regarding workplace safety.
Building Regulations Part P (Electrical Safety – Dwellings) – requires that electrical work in homes is safe and, in many cases, certified.
The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 – applies to the supply of electrical equipment for consumer use.
Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 – requires landlords to ensure electrical installations in rented properties are safe at the beginning and throughout the tenancy.
Penalties can include fines, imprisonment, compensation orders, and disqualification from work.
📚 Case Law: Unsafe Electrical Installation Prosecutions
1. HSE v. Electrika Contractors Ltd (2015) — Death from Unsafe Wiring
Facts:
An employee died after touching a live cable during maintenance. Investigations found that Electrika Contractors had failed to isolate the circuit and used unqualified labour.
Legal Issues:
Breach of Electricity at Work Regulations and HSWA.
Judgment:
Company fined £250,000; director personally fined £20,000.
Significance:
Highlighted the importance of qualified supervision and proper circuit isolation.
2. HSE v. Cornhill Properties Ltd (2016) — Unsafe Installations in Rental Flats
Facts:
Electrical installations in several flats were dangerously outdated, with exposed wiring, faulty breakers, and no testing certification. Tenants reported frequent sparks and power outages.
Legal Issues:
Breach of HSWA and landlord safety obligations.
Judgment:
Fined £150,000 and ordered to carry out immediate electrical safety upgrades.
Significance:
Showed landlord liability for maintaining safe installations in rental properties.
3. HSE v. Smart Sparks Ltd (2018) — Substandard Work in Commercial Premises
Facts:
Smart Sparks performed rewiring in a retail unit that resulted in frequent tripping, overheating cables, and eventually a small fire. An inspection revealed the use of undersized cables and improper earthing.
Legal Issues:
Breach of Electricity at Work Regulations.
Judgment:
Fined £80,000; director banned from operating as an electrical contractor for 3 years.
Significance:
Illustrated penalties for substandard professional electrical work.
4. R v. Jacob Morgan (2019) — Fraudulent Electrical Certificate & Injury
Facts:
Morgan, an unqualified individual, issued fake electrical safety certificates for a domestic property. A new tenant suffered burns from a faulty socket.
Legal Issues:
Breach of HSWA, fraud, and misrepresentation.
Judgment:
Sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and fined £5,000.
Significance:
Demonstrated criminal liability for unqualified work and fraudulent certification.
5. HSE v. Sunrise Homes Ltd (2020) — Unsafe Installation in New-Build Properties
Facts:
Sunrise Homes built a series of homes with non-compliant electrical installations, lacking RCD protection and using substandard materials.
Legal Issues:
Breach of Building Regulations (Part P) and HSWA.
Judgment:
Fined £200,000 and ordered to pay £75,000 in remediation costs.
Significance:
Established that developers bear responsibility for ensuring building compliance with electrical safety standards.
6. HSE v. Kevin Singh (2022) — Fire Caused by Botched Rewiring
Facts:
Singh carried out rewiring of a loft conversion without certification or inspection. Poor cable routing caused overheating and a fire, which injured a child.
Legal Issues:
Breach of Part P and Electricity at Work Regulations.
Judgment:
Sentenced to 8 months in prison and fined £10,000; banned from conducting electrical work for 5 years.
Significance:
Reinforced the importance of proper certification and planning in domestic installations.
🧩 Key Legal Takeaways
| Legal Issue | Key Point |
|---|---|
| Lack of qualification | Performing electrical work without competence or license is a prosecutable offence. |
| Unsafe workmanship | Poor quality work endangering users is punishable under HSE and HSWA. |
| Falsified certifications | Forging or misusing electrical safety certificates is criminal fraud. |
| Landlord liability | Landlords must ensure ongoing electrical safety in rented homes. |
| Commercial settings | Business operators have enhanced duties under Electricity at Work Regulations. |
| Building regulations | Part P compliance is essential in domestic installations. |
✅ Conclusion
Unsafe electrical installation prosecutions in the UK reflect the seriousness with which authorities treat electrical safety breaches. Courts have consistently imposed strong financial penalties, custodial sentences, and professional disqualifications for individuals and companies endangering life through negligence or fraud.
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