Recurring concern

Uncontrolled hazards from defective electrical wiring and installations

First to latest report 24 Feb 2015 — 3 Feb 2021

Reports that mention this concern
4
Times this concern has been raised
4
Stated actions linked to this concern
3

What this concern includes

Includes materially unsafe or potentially defective electrical wiring and fixed electrical installations, including latent faults, exposed live conductors and failures to inspect, test, remediate or regulate them where those controls directly address the electrical-installation hazard.

What is not included
  • Excludes portable electrical appliances and general equipment-maintenance failures unless the assertion specifically concerns fixed wiring or electrical installations.
  • Excludes generic building disrepair, mould, leaks and other property hazards where electrical wiring or installations are not the unsafe condition.
  • Excludes downstream fire, electrocution or injury outcomes where no continuing electrical-wiring or installation deficiency is asserted.
  • Excludes unrelated failures in electrical-safety guidance, training or reporting when no defective or unsafe wiring or installation is identified.

Reports and published responses 4 reports

See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response

  1. Mid Kent and Medway

    AI-generated summary

    CHRISTOPHER SMITH · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Christopher Smith was admitted to hospital with peripheral vascular disease, extensive leg ulcers, epilepsy and infections, and died on 4 March 2019 after deterioration following discharge home. Principal concerns included inadequate discharge planning and capacity reassessment, failure to arrange home and district nursing support, unsafe home conditions and an unacted-on safeguarding alert, and inadequate nutritional care.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Unsafe and unhygienic home conditions, including leaks and exposed electrical wiring

    Wider context from the report

    “(6) Transport staff returning Mr Smith home found he had no key. One was located and on entering the property found conditions that caused them serious concern about the hygiene and health and safety within the property with a leak, uncleanliness and exposed electrical wiring and that there was no bed. ”

    Source location

    CHRISTOPHER SMITH · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

  2. Inner North London

    AI-generated summary

    Martin Edward ELLIS · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Martin Edward Ellis was electrocuted at the Sir John Compton Dam in Saint Lucia while holidaying there with his family. The concerns included inadequate access restriction and warning signage, exposed live wiring in a galvanised metal conduit, and the lack of an explanation or investigation report about the exposed wire six months after his death.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Exposed live wiring at the dam

    Wider context from the report

    “4. The electrocution was caused by exposed live wiring in a galvanised metal conduit. I understand that the Chief Electrical Officer visited the site in the days after Mr Ellis’s death and that the Ministry of Infrastructure, Ports, Energy and Labour is responsible for the Saint Lucia investigation. However, six months after Mr Ellis’s death, no explanation has been provided to his family or to HM Senior Coroner for Inner North London, as to why there was an exposed live wire. Despite repeated requests, neither Mr Ellis’s family nor I have been provided with a copy of the Chief Electrical Officer’s report. 5. The dam was built in 1996. I do not know whether the unsafe wiring is a result of a lack of appropriate building regulations enforcement. I do not know whether other constructions built at around the same time are unsafe. ”

    Source location

    Martin Edward ELLIS · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

  3. Gloucestershire

    AI-generated summary

    John Charles Alliston · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    John Charles Alliston was found deceased in the garden of his private rental property on 8 June 2017 after sustaining a fatal electric shock from a live capillary wire associated with the oil heating system. The report raised concerns that private rental electrical installations were not mandatorily inspected to BS7671, leaving a risk of further deaths while the timing of new legislation remained unclear.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Lack of mandatory BS7671 inspection of electrical installations in the private rental sector

    Wider context from the report

    “Currently there is no mandatory requirement for electrical installations in the private rental sector to be inspected to the requirements of BS7671. I acknowledge that legislation is due to be coming into force. However it remains unclear when this is going to occur. In the meantime, there remains a risk of further deaths occurring. ”

    Source location

    John Charles Alliston · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 1 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Bring regulations into force requiring private rented sector landlords to arrange electrical installation inspections at least every five years, subject to parliamentary approval and timetable.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “We recognise, however, that we must go further. As you are already aware, on 19 July 2018 we announced that we will introduce a mandatory requirement on landlords in the private rented sector to ensure electrical installations in their property are inspected at least every five years, to ensure they meet the electrical safety standards introduced by the Regulations.”

    Source location

    2019-0153-Response-by-Ministry-of-Housing-Communities-Local-Government
    Page 1 · response
    Published 29 July 2019

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent position was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Bringing mandatory electrical safety regulations into force is subject to parliamentary approval and the parliamentary timetable.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “Please be assured that this is a matter of paramount importance to me, and my Department is working to bring regulations into force as soon as possible, subject to parliamentary approval and timetable.”

    Source location

    2019-0153-Response-by-Ministry-of-Housing-Communities-Local-Government
    Page 2 · response
    Published 29 July 2019

    Open published response

  4. Oxfordshire

    AI-generated summary

    Christopher John Butler · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Christopher John Butler died following a house fire on 5 September 2014, from a combination of smoke inhalation and alcohol intoxication. The fire appeared to result from an overheated electrical cable, and concern was raised that similar wiring faults might exist in other properties on the estate and would not necessarily be detected by electrical testing.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Potential presence of latent wiring faults in similar properties

    Wider context from the report

    “The fault in the wiring that resulted in this fire may be present in other similar properties within the estate built at the same time. Electric testing will not necessarily reveal this fault. ”

    Source location

    Christopher John Butler · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 2 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Publish and provide a case study of the fire to NICEIC and the Electrical Safety Council for electrician education.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “The outcome of the fire investigation in this specific case identified that the direct cause of the fire was attributed to an overheated cable caused by a sharp ninety degree bend in the wire probably formed during the installation stage. This could be replicated and present in many other internal wiring situations both locally and nationally. We will shortly be publishing and providing a case study concerning this specific incident to the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC) and the Electrical Safety Council to enable them to use it in the education of electricians around the country.”

    Source location

    2015-0482-Response-by-Oxfordshire-County-Council
    Page 2 · response
    Published 24 February 2015

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Review property information to identify the house builder and assess local or national fire trends associated with it.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “• We are reviewing the property information to determine who the house builder was and whether there have been any local or national trends of fires with this organisation and will take further action as appropriate to our findings”

    Source location

    2015-0482-Response-by-Oxfordshire-County-Council
    Page 2 · response
    Published 24 February 2015

    Open published response

Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.

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Data last updated 7 September 2026