This is intended to provide guidance to Principal Duty Holders (PDH) & Qualified Supervisors (QS) to ensure the adequate supervision of electrical work undertaken by your business and should be read in conjunction with the latest revision of the Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS).
These tables allow you to determine the degree of supervision needed by type of electrical installation and by level of operative.
Table 1: Level of operative supervised | |
|---|---|
| Operative Level | Guidance |
| Level 1 | Operatives would be Instructed persons (electrically) who would generally be apprentices, labourers, electricians mates or electrical improvers - and who under the supervision of a Skilled person (electrically), who could be able to install wiring systems. Others that fall within this category are career changers who many have training and/or qualifications but lack experience. |
| Level 2 | Operatives would be Instructed persons (electrically) who are experienced, trusted electrical installers who can carry out electrical work efficiently and in accordance with the current BS 7671 and Building Regulations/Standards. Therefore they can be expected to mostly work without the need of close and detailed supervision. |
| Level 3 | Operatives would be considered as Skilled persons (electrically) who possess practical, theoretical and electrical engineering skills, experience and knowledge with adequate technical supervisory experience comparable to that of a Qualified Supervisor. |
Table 2: Degree of risk in the electrical installation work. | |
|---|---|
| INSTALLATION WORK EXAMPLES | DEGREE OF RISK |
| Electrical work where the installation is isolated when not under the control of the installer. Examples: First fix electrical installation work. Second fix electrical installation work. | Low |
| Electrical work defined in BS 7671 as Minor Works in an unoccupied building – subject to safe isolation procedures documented and implemented. | Low |
| Electrical work defined in BS 7671 as Minor Works in an occupied building – subject to safe isolation procedures documented and implemented | Medium |
| All other Electrical installation work including that covered by relevant Building Regulations and Technical Handbooks. | High |
| Electrical work – Periodic Inspection and Testing | High |
Table 3: Risk factor. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 Operative (instructed person: apprentice, improver, electrician’s mate) | ||||
| Level 2 Operative (instructed person: experienced, trusted) | ||||
| Level 3 Operative (skilled person: equivalent to QS without role or qualification) | ||||
| Low risk | Medium risk | High risk | ||
| Degree of risk in the installation (From Table 2) |
Table 4: Degree of supervision | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Risk | Nature of instruction to operative | Minimum required competence of inspector* | Involvement of Qualified Supervisor on site |
| Verbal | Satisfying the definition of a Skilled person (electrically). | Remote | |
| Written | Satisfying the definition of a Skilled person (electrically). | Periodically | |
| Written | Satisfying the definition of a Skilled person (electrically). | Close and detailed. |
*It is recognised that the person responsible for carrying out the initial verification or periodic inspection, testing and certification of the installation may not be the registered QS. The person shall hold an appropriate qualification or be able to demonstrate equivalent competence.