Electrical Safety for London Workshops and Light Industrial Units

Workshops, small factories, garages and light industrial units across London run machinery, power tools, compressors and welders, often in dusty or damp conditions. Many units are older buildings that have been altered by successive tenants, so the electrical installation can be a patchwork. This guide covers the main checks for owners and tenants. It is general information, not legal advice.

Who is responsible

Employers must keep electrical systems and equipment safe for anyone working on site. In a rented unit, the lease usually sets out whether the landlord or the tenant looks after the fixed installation. Agree it in writing, especially when you take on a unit that a previous tenant altered.

Fixed wiring: EICR

Industrial premises usually need more frequent inspection than offices or shops because of the harder conditions. An EICR checks distribution boards, sub-mains, sockets, isolators and lighting. Our guide to EICRs for commercial units explains the process.

Three-phase supplies and machinery

• Larger machines and compressors often need a three-phase supply and their own circuits.
• Each machine should have a local isolator and, where needed, an emergency stop that is easy to reach.
• Machines moved around the unit over time may now be fed by leads or sockets not designed for them.
• Dust and swarf can build up inside sockets, isolators and boards, so keep them covered and clean.

Common problems in older units

Inspections in older workshops often find unlabelled boards, missing covers, damaged conduit, cables run along floors, and circuits added without proper protection. Clear labelling of every board and isolator helps both safety and fault finding. See our guide to board labelling.

Portable tools and extension leads

Power tools, grinders, heaters and site lights take a lot of wear. Daily visual checks by the user and regular PAT testing help catch damaged cables early. Use industrial plugs and leads where the work calls for them. See our guide to PAT testing.

Emergency lighting and fire alarms

Units with staff or visitors usually need emergency lighting on escape routes and a fire alarm suited to the building, set out in the fire risk assessment. See our guide to emergency lighting testing.

Book an inspection

Energy North Ltd inspects workshops and light industrial units across North, East and West London with City & Guilds certified electricians, and can plan testing around production. See our EICR service.