Looking back on a successful year: ESR 2022 round up

It has been a busy year for the Electrical Safety Roundtable (ESR), and as 2022 comes to an end, it takes time to reflect on its achievements and look ahead to what is to come in 2023.

The ESR’s biggest event of the year was its parliamentary reception, which was sponsored by Mark Fletcher MP, and took place on the 16 November in celebration of the roundtable’s 10th anniversary. Over 70 participants made their way to the House of Commons to discuss enhancing standards of electrical safety across the UK. Guests heard from prominent safety campaigner Louise Adamson, and political representation from Lord Don Foster of Bath and Clive Betts MP.

The ESR: Electrical Safety in the Home group launched a tool to report unsafe electrical installations found in homes across Great Britain in collaboration with TrustMark, to help fill a data gap on the quality of electrical installations in homes. The group also published bilingual guidance for landlords in Wales on The Renting Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) (Wales) Regulations 2022 and provided support for the Domestic Premises (Electrical Safety Certificate) Bill.

The ESR: Electrical Safety in the Workplace group has also had a busy year, with the launch of the Above and Beyond Awards which provide the chance to recognise and celebrate those individuals and organisations who go above and beyond their legal obligations to enhance and improve electrical safety within the workplace. The group also published two technical leaflets explaining aspects of the Electricity at Work Regulations.

Finally, the Electrical Safety Roundtable Social Housing subgroup saw significant growth this year, contributed to the government consultation and call for evidence on electrical safety in social housing and updated two guidance documents; the ‘Code of Practice for the Management of Electrotechnical systems in Social Housing’ and ‘How to Manage Electrical Systems within Higher Risk Buildings’ which was shortlisted for two awards.

On reflection, 2022 has been a successful and busy year for the roundtable. As it looks ahead to 2023, the ESR awaits the government’s response to the electrical safety in social housing: consultation and call for evidence and looks forward to announcing the first winners of the Above and Beyond Awards. Its commitment to working to enhance the standards of electrical safety remains steadfast, and it looks forward to continuing to work collectively to achieve this.