Introduction to Fire Safety Management

15.18.1 Duties – regulation 3
The key duty holders under EAWR are employers and 
the self-employed, both of whom are required to comply 
with the requirements for matters within their control.
Employees at work also have duties to:
➤
Cooperate with their employer to enable them to 
comply with their requirements and
➤
Comply with the EAWR for matters under their con-
trol (this duty is equivalent to the employer duty 
above and refl ects the level of responsibility of 
employees in electrical trades and professions).

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Summary of key legal requirements
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15.18.2 Systems, work activities and protective 
equipment – regulation 4
This general duty requires that:
➤
All systems are at all times of such construction as to 
prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, danger
➤
All systems are maintained so as to prevent, so far 
as is reasonably practicable, danger
➤
Every work activity including operation, use and 
maintenance of and near a system is carried out so 
as not to give rise, so far as is reasonably practicable, 
to danger
➤
Any equipment provided for the purposes of protect-
ing people at work on or near electrical equipment 
is suitable for use, suitably maintained and properly 
used.
The remainder of EAWR provides further detail on these 
general duties.
15.18.3 Strength and capability of equipment – 
regulation 5
Electrical equipment must not be put to use where its 
strength and capability may be exceeded in such a way 
as may give rise to danger. In satisfying this requirement, 
consideration should be given to the expected current 
fl ow including load and transient currents, fault currents 
and pulses of current.