Report Electrical Hazard Letter: Free Template and What to Include

If you need to formally report an electrical safety hazard under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, a written letter is the recommended first step — it creates a clear record and shows you're pursuing the matter formally. Below is what a strong report electrical hazard should include.

What this letter needs to cover

• Describe the specific electrical hazard with location and dates observed
• Reference the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and the employers duty to maintain electrical systems safely
• Request immediate inspection by a competent person
• Request written confirmation of corrective action

Why electrical hazards need immediate formal reporting

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 place a strict duty on employers to ensure electrical systems are maintained to prevent danger — exposed wiring, damaged equipment, or overloaded circuits are not minor issues to be dealt with eventually, they're serious safety risks that require prompt action.

What to include before you send it

• The specific hazard — location, equipment involved, and nature of the danger
• How long the hazard has existed, if known, and whether it's been reported before
• The immediate risk it poses to you and colleagues
• A request for urgent remedial action and confirmation once resolved

What to do if the hazard is genuinely dangerous right now

For an immediate, serious danger — exposed live wiring, visible sparking, or similar — don't wait for a written response before taking action. Isolate the area if it's safe to do so, warn colleagues, and report it verbally immediately, using this letter to follow up with a formal written record afterwards.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my employer doesn't act on this report?
You can escalate to the Health and Safety Executive, particularly if the hazard remains unaddressed and poses ongoing risk.

Can I refuse to work near the hazard until it's fixed?
You have a right to refuse work you reasonably believe presents serious and imminent danger — this is a separate but related protection worth knowing about if the hazard is severe.

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Postcode]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[Name of Recipient]
[Job Title, e.g. Facilities Manager]
[Company Name]
[Company Address]
[Company Postcode]
[Date]

Dear [Name],

Subject: Urgent – electrical hazard

I am reporting an electrical hazard that could cause an electric shock or fire.

• The equipment or fitting: [e.g. the power cable on the photocopier / a wall socket]
• Where: [e.g. second-floor office]
• The danger: [e.g. exposed wires / scorch marks on the casing]
• When I saw it: [Date(s)]

Under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 [Northern Ireland: the Electricity at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1991], employers must make sure electrical systems are maintained so as to prevent danger.

Please take this out of use immediately and have it inspected by a competent person, such as a qualified electrician, before it is used again.

Please confirm in writing what you have done to make it safe.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]