Commercial electrical compliance and your legal duty of care
UK law places duties on those responsible for electrical systems at work. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 set out health and safety requirements regarding electricity at work, and HSE guidance focuses on the duty to prevent danger through safe systems and maintenance.
For business owners, landlords of commercial premises, facilities managers, and duty holders, this typically means:
- electrical installations should be maintained so they don’t present danger
- competent people should carry out inspection, testing, and remedial work
- records of inspection and maintenance should be kept and accessible
An EICR is not named as the only way to meet your legal duties, but it is a widely used method to document condition, risks, and remedial priorities, especially for fixed wiring systems.