Therefore, these items must be handled with the appropriate regulations and procedures. 

 

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013 distils electrical items into ten broad categories as outlined in Schedules 1 and 2: 

• Large household appliances – fridges, cookers, microwaves, washing machines and dishwashers 

• Small household appliances – vacuum cleaners, irons, toasters and clocks 

• IT and telecommunications equipment – personal computers, copying equipment, telephones, 

calculators 

• Consumer equipment – this includes camcorders, hi-fi equipment, musical instruments, radio, 

televisions 

• Lighting equipment – this includes compact and straight fluorescent bulbs, high intensity discharge 

lamps 

• Electrical and electronic tools – drills, saws, sewing machines, electric lawnmowers 

• Toys, leisure and sports equipment – these would include items such as electric trains, games consoles, 

running machines 

• Medical devices – these include analysers, cardiology equipment, dialysis machines, medical freezers 

• Monitoring and control equipment – these include heating regulators, smoke detectors, thermostats 

• Automatic dispensers – these include hot drinks dispensers, money dispensers 

While electrical equipment can be useful in site activities, it presents just as much risk of harm and even death if it is not assessed before use. 

 

It is important when working with electrical equipment that the system is isolated and turned off when not in use, as doing so reduces the risk of accidents involving electricity. An electric shock can vary from a minor injury to fatal, especially depending on whether low or high voltage is used. A risk assessment and a safe isolation procedure must be put in place before any work with electrical systems are conducted.