27 September 2019
During recent construction site visits Inspectors found the unsafe consumer unit and distribution board, shown in the photographs below. A consumer unit is a type of distribution board, a component of an electrical power system within which an electrical power feed provides supply to subsidiary circuits.
The first photograph was taken within a site office with power going out to the site via a 240 volt outlet, transformed down to 110 volts. It shows a consumer unit with two areas of exposure. One gap left open, the other with a crude attempt made to cover the larger gap with a piece of cardboard.
Employees at the site have to access the Residual Current Device (RCD) on a daily basis to carry out the RCD check.
The Inspector was informed that this work was carried out by a qualified electrician.
![](/Asset%20library/FOR%20HSI%20USE%20ONLY%20-%20Consumer%20unit.jpg?RenditionID=15)
Fig 1. Areas of exposure on consumer unit
The second photograph shows a distribution panel on a mobile generator being used to supply power to a construction site. The picture shows an exposed gap to the right of the bank of Mini Circuit Breakers (MCBs).
Users of the generator have to access the area shown on a daily basis, not only to test the RCD, but also to switch the generator on.
![](/Asset%20library/FOR%20HSI%20USE%20ONLY%20%20Generator%20RCD.jpg?RenditionID=15)
Fig2. Area of exposure on mobile generator
In both situations the risk of electrocution, electric shock and burns by coming into contact with live electrical elements, behind the RCDs & MCBs, was very real and could have led to serious injury or a fatality.