What to do if you believe someone has had, or is getting, an electric shock.
- It may not be immediately clear but, if you think someone is suffering from electric shock, approach with extreme caution.
- Never touch the person receiving the electric shock while they are still in contact with the electricity source. You could suffer one too.
- Separate the person from the source of electricity. The best way is to turn off the supply, either by unplugging the appliance causing the shock or by turning the mains off at the fusebox (consumer unit). Alternatively, use a piece of insulated material (such as a dry, non-conductive material such as a length of wood) to remove the source of electricity from the person.
- If the person is unconscious, call 999 immediately.
- If they are not breathing normally, begin CPR if you are able to do so, and use a defibrillator if one is available. Only attempt first aid that you are trained and confident to carry out.
- If the person is conscious and seems well, monitor their condition. The effects of an electric shock may not be immediately obvious. It can cause internal injuries such as deep burns, muscle damage, heart rhythm disturbances, or broken bones caused by muscle contractions.
Using an RCD will help to protect you from dangerous electric shocks
- Although not a guarantee of absolute safety, it limits the time that current can flow through the body if a person comes into contact with a live source of electricity.
- If you are using electrical appliances or tools in the garden, make sure you are protected by an RCD, preferably one fitted in the main household fusebox.
- Alternatively, a dedicated RCD-protected socket or a plug-in RCD should be used.
Stay safe with electrical products
Check plugs and sockets
Don't ignore burn marks, ‘arcing’ (buzzing or crackling) sounds, fuses blowing, circuit-breakers tripping, or if it feels hot to touch.
Unplug and contact the retailer, manufacturer, or a qualified repair technician.
Protect with an RCD
An RCD (residual current device) in your consumer unit (fusebox) protects you from electric shocks if a product is faulty.
If you don’t have RCD protection, use an RCD plug on the socket where the product is plugged in.
Fit smoke and heat alarms
Ensure there is at least one smoke or heat alarm per floor in your property. Fit enough alarms to cover all areas where a fire could start.
Test alarms at least once a month. Replace them every ten years or when the replace by date is reached.
Selected FAQs
Answers to the most commonly-asked questions we receive about electrical safety.
A periodic inspection is an inspection and associated testing to check whether an electrical installation is in a satisfactory condition for continued service. On completion of the necessary inspection and testing, an Electrical Installation Condition Report will be issued detailing any observed damage, deterioration, defects, dangerous conditions and any non-compliances with the present-day safety standard which might give rise to danger.
It is recommended that periodic inspection and testing is carried out at the following times:
- for tenanted properties, every 5 years or at each change of occupancy, whichever is sooner
- at least every 10 years for an owner-occupied home
- at least every 5 years for a business
The Landlords and Tenant Act 1985 requires landlords of properties with short leases to keep the electrical wiring in repair and in proper working order. We recommend landlords arrange for periodic inspection and testing to be carried out by a registered electrician at the relevant intervals shown above.
Periodic inspection and testing of the electrics should be carried out more frequently on the places and premises listed here:
- 3 years for a caravan
- 1 year for a swimming pool
Periodic inspection and testing should be carried out only by electrically competent persons, such as registered electricians.
First, you need to find out whether the electrician you used is actually registered. To do this, contact the operator of the scheme they have claimed to be part of, and they will tell you whether this is the case. If they are registered, the scheme operator can guide you through their complaints procedure.
If you find out the electrician misled you and is not registered, you should report this to your local Trading Standards Department as they are breaking the law. We would also recommend that you get an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) carried out on your home; this will assess any work that has been undertaken and will act as sufficient documentation to certify that work. This needs to be carried out by a registered electrician and unfortunately will be an added cost for you.
To find a registered electrician near you, please go to the Find an Electrician section of this website where you will find information specific to your region of the UK.
The average success rate of an electrical product recall in the UK is just 10-20%.
Often the manufacturer has no way of directly contacting those who purchased the item.
This means millions of potentially unsafe product remain in use, putting owners at risk of electrical shocks, fires, or even death.
Registering your product makes it easy for the manufacturer to get in touch with you if there is a problem.
The easiest way is to register online and you’ll usually need:
- Brand name
- Model (usually either a name or a number)
- Serial number
- Date of purchase (or as near to it as you can remember)
Visit our Product Registration page for more information and to register your electrical products.
Electrical products are recalled more regularly than you might think, but the response rate to a recall is often worryingly low. This means there are potentially millions of recalled electrical items still in UK homes.
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