Electrical Safety on Site Toolbox Talk
Electricity gives no warning. You cannot see it, hear it or smell it, and one contact can stop your heart. Most electrical injuries on site come from damaged leads, wet conditions and people doing electrical work they are not qualified for.
Takes about 7 minutes, plus a 5-question quiz.
Key points to read out
- Only competent, qualified electricians do electrical work (for domestic work in England and Wales, usually registered with a competent person scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT). Do not wire, rewire or open up anything yourself.
- Use 110V tools through a centre tapped earth transformer on site. If 230V must be used, it needs RCD protection.
- Leads and tools on construction sites are inspected and tested on a regular schedule. Out of date means do not use.
- Treat every wire and circuit as live until it has been isolated and proved dead by a qualified person.
- Check leads and tools before use. Cut, crushed or taped cables get tagged out, not repaired with tape.
- Keep electrical gear out of water and away from wet ground. Do not handle plugs with wet hands.
- Run leads overhead or along walls on hooks, not through water, doorways or vehicle routes where they get crushed.
- Use non-conductive ladders near anything electrical. Metal ladders and live wires do not mix.
- Before cutting or drilling into walls, floors or ceilings, check for hidden cables with a detector and drawings.
- Look up before you set up. Scaffolds, ladders, long materials and plant must stay well clear of overhead lines and any service cable to the building.
- Never use a damaged power board, double adaptor or household lead on site.
- Know where the consumer unit or distribution board is so power can be cut fast in an emergency.
- If someone gets a shock: do not touch them, switch off the power, call 999 and start CPR if needed.
Questions to ask the crew
- Where is the main consumer unit or distribution board for this site?
- What do you do with a damaged lead?
- What would you do if you saw someone stuck to a live tool?
- How do we check for cables before cutting into a wall?
- Are there any overhead or service lines near our scaffold, ladders or plant today?
Reference: Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
How to run this talk
- Hold the talk next to the site switchboard or panel so everyone knows where to cut the power.
- Bring one good lead and one damaged lead (tagged out) and ask the crew to find the faults.
- Show the 110V transformer and an RCD, and test the RCD with its test button.
- Walk the site and look up for overhead and service lines near scaffold, ladders and plant.
- Finish by asking who has a tool or lead that is out of date, then record the talk on the sign-in sheet.
Electrical Safety on Site quiz
Ask these after the talk. Answers are underneath each question.
Before plugging a power tool in on site, what protection must the supply have?
- None if the tool is new
- 110V through a centre tapped earth transformer, or RCD protection if 230V must be used
- A double adaptor with a fuse
Answer: B. Reduced voltage through a centre tapped transformer limits the shock to 55V to earth, and RCDs cut power fast if 230V is used.
You find a lead with a cut in the outer sheath. What do you do?
- Wrap it in electrical tape
- Tag it out and take it out of use
- Use it only in dry areas
Answer: B. Tape hides damage and does not restore the insulation, so damaged leads come out of service until repaired or replaced.
Someone is stuck to a live tool and cannot let go. What do you do first?
- Grab them and pull them off
- Switch off the power at the source without touching them
- Throw water on them
- Pull the lead out by the cable while holding them
Answer: B. Touching them puts the current through you too, so cut the power first, then call 999 and start CPR if needed.
What should you assume about a wire or circuit you have not had isolated and proved dead?
- It is dead if the light switch is off
- It is live
- It is dead if it is painted over
Answer: B. Only a qualified person can isolate and prove a circuit dead, so until then you treat it as live.
Which ladder should you use near electrical work?
- Aluminium, because it is lighter
- Non-conductive fibreglass
- Any ladder if you wear gloves
Answer: B. Metal ladders conduct electricity, so a fibreglass ladder removes one path to earth through your body.
Questions about electrical safety on site
How often should 110V tools be PAT tested on a building site?
There is no fixed legal interval. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require equipment to be maintained so it is safe, and HSE guidance sets inspection and testing frequency by how harsh the environment is, with construction sites among the harshest. Use 110V tools, do a user check before every use, and follow the site schedule for formal inspection and testing.
What is an RCD and why do you need one on site?
A residual current device cuts power in a fraction of a second when it detects current leaking to earth, such as through a person. On UK sites, HSE recommends 110V centre tapped earth tools as the first choice, with RCD protection wherever 230V equipment has to be used.
What should you do if someone gets an electric shock?
Do not touch them while they could still be in contact with the power. Switch the power off at the source, call 999, and start CPR if they are not breathing normally; use a defibrillator if there is one.
Who is allowed to do electrical work on a building site?
Only qualified electricians who meet your local licensing or competence rules. Other trades can use tools and leads, but must not wire, repair or open up electrical equipment.
Sign-in sheet
Print this page or download the sign-in sheet. Or run it in the app and the crew signs on the phone.
| Name | Company | Signature |
|---|---|---|
Get it signed
Run this talk in the app. The crew signs on your phone and you get a dated attendance record as a PDF.