Electricians scope of authority.

[Alan Reynolds]

Quick questio about what an electrician can do in a domestic property.

If an electrician is doing a job in a house and notices an unrelated installation that he considered dangerous. Can he disconnect it and cut out that wiring without first consulting the customer and issuing a notification?

I know that a gas installer would be able to because that would come under the Gas Act,. But an electrician?

 

[Agroshield]

...that would come under the Gas Act...

Which Gas Act? Not this one: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/44/contents

This, while 5 years old, provides some insight into the situation, and might help you find the correct legislation:

Legal obligation to condemn/lock-off unsafe works | on ElectriciansForums

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[Robotstar5]

The electrician has no power to interfere/disconnect any part of the installation without the clients consent, the best they can do is issue an "Electrical Danger Notice" and cease working on the installation.

 

[Robotstar5]

I think a gas installer has no power to isolate a dangerous installation, but if refused they CAN contact the gas supplier who will isolate the property.

 

[MetalMonkey]

They (or you) can report it to the DNO, if for example it was a dangerous cut out, meter tampering or something similar, or if it was immediately dangerous and needed to be isolated. The DNO can then cut off the supply.
However on the installation itself the best really you could do is issue a C1 on an inspection or otherwise a danger notice as @Robotstar5 says and make the client aware.

 

[Alan Reynolds]

I think a gas installer has no power to isolate a dangerous installation, but if refused they CAN contact the gas supplier who will isolate the property.

I think they have to report it in writing, fax or email. A telephone call is not sufficient, and the supplier can enter the property and make it safe. With or without the attendance of the police.

 

[sg66]

If the situation is immediately dangerous and life threatening then you can call the gas supplier, a riddor would be in writing, in the event of a gas leak that you can't rectify you have to stay untill they turn up which is a pita

 

[brightspark]

when i did callouts anything dodgy i found while there unrelated to what i was doing i informed the tennants then the callout center and noted it on my paperwork the next day . after that its the housing or the management companys responsibility anything lethal on the night i would disconect it as long as i got my papers signed

 

[brightspark]

any jobs for myself i go to and stuff is dangerous i walk of the job or rectify it all if they pay for it, if i haven't touched anything im not the last one there and not responsible for it

 

[Kayos]

Gas engineer needs permission, however when explaining to a customer who said says no that my next action is to call Transco (or whatever they are called this week) and they will isolate the gas entering the property, most suddenly think capping a dodgy fire is now a good idea

 

[Matrixx]

They have a duty of care , if it was very dangerous, or on fire etc they would have to make it safe, im not sure about removing anything.