Electricity can kill or severely injure people and cause damage to property but simple precautions can help protect you, your workers and others around you.
Our electrical safety at work webpages have guidance and resources on how to help reduce the risk of electrical injury.
The page on simple precautions when working with electricity explains how you can reduce the risk of electrical injury while working with electricity in different ways.
The webpages also have a range of helpful resources, including our publication The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989: Guidance on Regulations.
Electrical safety training from HSE
Our live online training course HSE Inspectors' Guide to Electrical Safety is being held on 10 and 11 November.
The course will give you a practical understanding of what our inspectors are looking for in the control of general electrical safety risks.
The worker had been attempting to unblock an autoclave machine when their arm was severed below the elbow.
The nightshift worker was rushed to hospital where doctors spent 6 hours saving their arm. They have since undergone 3 major surgeries to restore the use of their hand.
HSE's investigation found the company were responsible for a number of failings including:
- not having sufficient measures in place to prevent workers from being at risk when clearing blockages
- workers being exposed to risk, specifically the failure to properly isolate the machine before cleaning
- workers not being provided with sufficient information and instruction about how to use and how to clean the machine safely
Read more about the incident in our press release: £300,000 fine for company after worker’s arm is severed in machinery incident.
For more health and safety stories visit our news centre, including:
DSE work is visually demanding and employers have certain legal responsibilities.
Our working safely with DSE webpages have information and guidance on how to protect workers' health.
Although working with DSE does not cause permanent eye damage, prolonged screen use can result in:
- tired eyes
- discomfort
- temporary short-sightedness
- headaches
The law says employers must arrange an eye test for DSE users if they ask for one, and provide glasses if a worker needs them only for DSE use.
This should be a full eye and eyesight test by an optometrist or doctor, including a vision test and an eye examination.
Find out more about eyes and eyesight testing.
HSE is conducting a statutory review of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012).
This review is separate to the recent consultation but is using the evidence collected during that process.
We are seeking views and information in 2 surveys. Your feedback will help HSE build a better understanding of how CAR 2012 works in practice.
The surveys close at 11:59pm on 16 September 2026.
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