Electrical Competency Requirements

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require all electrical work to be carried out by competent persons.
Competency means having the knowledge, experience, and training to carry out the specific electrical task safely.
The ECS (Electrotechnical Certification Scheme) card system proves competency for electrical workers in the UK.
Different levels of competency exist: from basic awareness to qualified electrician to HV authorised person.
BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations) is the technical standard that qualified electricians must understand and apply.
Apprentices and trainees must work under direct supervision of a qualified person at all times.
Periodic refresher training and CPD are essential to maintain competency as regulations and standards change.
Non-electrical workers must understand basic electrical safety but must not carry out electrical work.
Site managers must verify electrical competency cards and qualifications before allowing any electrical work.
Competency records including cards, certificates, and training logs must be maintained on site for inspection.

Prevent electrocution	Incompetent electrical work causes fatal electric shock, arc flash, and fire on construction sites every year.
Legal requirement	The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 specifically require electrical work to be done by competent persons.
Quality and safety	Competent electrical installation prevents dangerous defects that create ongoing fire and shock risks in buildings.

Do

Don't

Verify that every electrical worker holds the correct ECS card for the work they perform
Check that qualifications and competency cards are current and not expired before work begins
Ensure apprentices and trainees are directly supervised by a qualified electrician at all times
Maintain a register of all electrical workers' competency records on site for inspection
Provide additional site-specific training where required for unfamiliar systems or voltages
Include electrical competency checks in the site induction process for all electrical trades
Support ongoing CPD and refresher training to keep competency current with regulations
Match the competency level to the task — routine wiring differs from HV switching duties
Brief non-electrical trades on basic electrical safety to prevent accidental contact risks
Review competency requirements when electrical systems or scope of work change on site

DON'T allow unqualified persons to carry out any electrical installation or testing work
DON'T accept expired ECS cards or competency certificates as proof of current qualification
DON'T allow apprentices to work unsupervised on any electrical task regardless of simplicity
DON'T assume holding a general trade card covers specialist work such as HV or testing
DON'T let non-electrical workers interfere with electrical systems, even to reset a trip
DON'T skip competency verification because a subcontractor claims their team is qualified
DON'T treat competency as a one-off check — review regularly as work scope changes
DON'T allow experience alone to substitute for formal qualifications and training records
DON'T ignore refresher training requirements — regulations and standards change over time
DON'T work on electrical systems beyond your own personal level of competence

See also: Electrical Safety Awareness | Isolation and Safe Systems of Work

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