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If you are going to be working with or around electricity, electrical safety training is crucial to ensure your own safety, the safety of others and the safety of the environment around you. Electrical safety knowledge is not just for electricians – anyone working with electricity will need to undertake some training in order to ensure they have the knowledge and competence that their role requires.
Core components of electrical training programmes should cover workplace safety, hazards, managing risks and how to respond to an accident or emergency. Some training programmes will be designed for industry professionals working in high-risk environments or roles and will require more in-depth study.
Common injuries from electrical incidents include electrocution/shock, electrical and thermal burns and loss of muscle control. The consequences of an electrical accident can be life changing and, in some cases, fatal. When people are properly instructed and trained, the chances of an accident or injury occurring are reduced. Electricity is also a significant cause of fires both at home and in the workplace, and in 2023, there was a 70% increase in fires involving electric bikes and a 7% increase in fires from e-scooters.
Key causes of electrical incidents and accidents include faulty wiring, overloading sockets and poor working practices. By completing a training programme to enhance your electrical safety knowledge, you will be able to work safely and competently around electricity; additionally, you will be able to comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
Importance of Electrical Safety Training
It is crucial that everyone who works with electricity knows how to do so safely because the consequences of an electrical incident can be severe. The type of training you require and how comprehensive it needs to be should correspond with your role, the level of risk you face and how complex your work is. For example, if you work in an office, you may only require a basic level of electrical safety, whereas an electrician or technician will require significantly more in-depth training.
Employers should not allow anyone to work with electricity unless they have received adequate training and instruction and are deemed competent. Failing to complete adequate safety training can result in accidents, injuries, fires and even fatalities.
Proper electrical safety training should inform you of the risks of working with electricity, how to manage risks to protect yourself and others, as well as how to stay compliant with law and legislation. The primary goal of electrical safety training should be to minimise workplace accidents and encourage a culture of compliance and safe working practices.
Being well trained and certified also makes you more employable and has reputational benefits, as clients will be more likely to trust someone who is properly trained and qualified.
Overview of Electrical Safety Training Programmes
Basic electrical safety training
Basic electrical safety programmes should minimally cover the following:
- What is electricity?
- Key terms (current, voltage, resistance, AC and DC)
- Basics of circuits and electrical components
- The dangers of electricity (including burns, electrocution and fire)
- Working safely with electricity and electrical appliances
- Protective measures (e.g. PPE)
- What to do in the event of an emergency
Even in basic training, it is also helpful to include some real-life case studies about what happens when electrical work goes wrong. This will emphasise the real-world consequences that a lack of preparation, communication or risk management can have.
Advanced training for electricians and technicians
Advanced electrical safety training courses are designed for people who require a more in-depth understanding of electricity, or who wish to advance their careers, for example:
- Electrical engineers
- Senior electrical engineers
- Maintenance technicians
The goal of advanced training is to teach in-depth knowledge and advanced concepts of electrical safety precautions, including how to conduct risk assessments and strategies for inspection and testing.
An advanced training course for electricians may cover the following:
- Learning the roles and responsibilities of an electrician
- Understanding safety precautions
- Learning the basic principles of direct and alternating current (AC/DC)
- How to calculate voltage and resistance
- Working safely with electrical equipment
- Electrical incidents
- Recognising risk and putting controls in place
- Combined inspection and testing
- Regulations and legislation
Industry-specific programmes
Once you have an overview of basic electrical safety, you may benefit from taking an industry-specific training course that contains specialist information relevant to your particular role.
Specialist electrical training might focus on specific aspects of electrical engineering that are not covered in detail in basic and advanced training courses, for example:
- High Voltage Compliance Training for experienced engineers
- HSE Inspectors Guide to Electrical Safety aimed at business owners, senior managers and technical specialists responsible for managing and controlling general electrical safety risks
Online and virtual training options
Technology now allows us to take courses without entering the classroom. Some of the benefits of e-learning include its flexibility and accessibility. There are a number of different digital training options available, such as:
- Online training (e-learning)
- Virtual training (including virtual reality (VR) or simulation)
- Training via mobile apps
There are hundreds of different courses available to study online that can be found with a quick online search – here are a few popular options:
St John Ambulance offers a basic course in electrical safety that covers:
- Working safely with electrical appliances
- Injuries and emergency procedures
- Electricity and the law
It can be taken online and only takes around 30 minutes to complete. The course is approved and accredited by RoSPA and IOSH and is suitable for those who work with electrical appliances at work.
IHASCO offers an IOSH-approved basic course in electrical safety, available in 40 languages that takes around 25 minutes to complete. It is aimed at anyone who works with or around electricity, regardless of what industry you work in.
At CPD Online College we also offer a training course in electrical safety that is approved by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). It is a 3-hour course that covers the basics but also teaches more in depth about assessing hazards and controlling risks and safe working practices in specific situations (e.g. underground electricity or overhead cables). The cost is £20+ VAT and you can find out more about our course here.
In-person workshops and certification courses
Some people learn better when content is delivered to them in person, either in a classroom environment or on-site at a workplace. In-person workshops often have a more structured environment and offer the benefit of hands-on learning, immediate feedback and being able to ask questions in real time to the course instructor.
You may also be able to take an electrical safety course, for example a City and Guilds course, that offers a mixture of classroom training and e-learning, such as this five-week C&G 2365 Level 2 and 3 diploma course .
Emergency response training
Training in how to respond to an emergency incident is essential if you work with electricity. According to the NHS, each year thousands of people die or are seriously injured due to incidents, including electrocution; however, many deaths could be prevented if first aid was administered prior to emergency services arriving. Additionally, over 15,000 fires are caused by electricity every year.
A timely response is essential after an electrical incident. Emergency response training is key if you are to respond promptly and properly and will help you to remain calm and avoid making mistakes which could cause further harm.
Emergency response training should cover:
- Some examples of emergency events relating to electricity
- What an emergency response plan is
- Signs that a person is in difficulty or has been electrocuted
- Procedures for when a person has been electrocuted by low voltage
- Procedures for when a person has been electrocuted by high voltage
- How to treat electrical burns
- Performing CPR
- Which fire extinguishers are suitable for use on electrical fires
- Calling emergency services
- Locating essential equipment (such as your nearest defibrillator)
Key Components of Effective Electrical Safety Training
Curriculum content
Curriculum content should align with the course title and learning outcomes as well as the target audience. Topics covered should include:
- Identifying electrical hazards
- Safe work practices
- Conducting risk assessments
- Use of personal protective equipment
- Compliance with legal and regulatory standards such as The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
- Emergency procedures and basic fire safety protocols
- HSE case studies of accidents and injuries
Course materials should be engaging, interesting and varied. Some people are visual learners and will absorb and retain information more easily when it is presented visually rather than in long passages of text, for example:
- Graphs
- Infographics
- Diagrams
- Pictures
- Videos
The best training courses will incorporate theoretical learning with engaging visuals, hands-on practice and a comprehensive assessment at the end to test learning.
Hands-on practice
Practical training is important in electrical safety training to reinforce your theoretical knowledge and check your understanding. Hands-on practice allows you to apply knowledge ready for working in the real world.
Hands-on practice can help to:
- Build confidence
- Develop essential skills
- Spot gaps in knowledge
- Get you ready for work
If you are studying electrical safety as part of a wider course, such as an electrician’s course at college, you should expect to be assessed on both practical and theory work.
Once you begin a job or work placement, even if you have done an electrical training programme, it is important to engage in on-the-job health and safety training as well.
Regular refresher courses
Completing refresher training is important because:
- Law and legislation may change over time and it is important to stay current
- People can become complacent
- You may forget important aspects of your training and need a reminder
- Accepted working practices may change, evolve or improve
Competency assessment
At the end of any electrical safety course, there should be some kind of assessment to check understanding and measure competence. This may include a written or online test, a quiz, a practical hands-on assessment, or a combination.
Once an assessment has been passed, depending on the course, you will usually get some kind of proof that you have finished the course successfully. This may be a certificate and/or a qualification. You should keep a record of this to give to your employer.
If you struggle to pass your training course, consider trying again or taking a different course. It is important that you are able to work safely and competently with electricity; try to see failure as a learning opportunity.
Selecting the Right Training Programme
There are multiple different training courses available to enhance your electrical safety knowledge and it is important to select the right one for you.
When selecting an electrical training programme, it is important to consider:
- What your objectives are (to gain basic knowledge, get certified, advance your career etc)
- The cost of the course
- Availability, flexibility and accessibility
- Reviews and feedback from past participants
- Your existing qualifications
- Any equipment or tools you may need
Training should be relevant to the course participants and their individual roles, needs and objectives. There are a number of courses available, with different durations and costs, therefore you may want to shop around to find a course that is right for you.
When you are taking your electrical safety training programme, perseverance is key. If you find the course hard or boring, keep in mind your end goal and keep going.
Conclusion
Working with electricity can be dangerous. If you are undertaking tasks that you do not fully understand or have had no training in, you are putting yourself and others at risk. By enrolling on a training programme to enhance your electrical safety knowledge, you will be able to work competently and compliantly and will know what to do in the event of an emergency situation.
