Only 55 per cent of electrical professionals always follow the safe isolation procedure in full before starting work, according to new research from test equipment specialists Martindale Electric
A recent survey by the company found that 86% of respondents are very familiar with the procedure.
The findings, based on a survey sent to electrical contracting professionals, were gathered to better understand real-world experiences of electrical safety, near misses and incident reporting across the industry every day.
That gap between knowledge and actual behaviour on site was highlighted in the comments made by those surveyed. Four clear themes emerged:
• Time and client pressure – including expectations to keep circuits energised, avoid disruption and complete jobs quickly.
• Overconfidence and complacency – people assuming circuits are dead, believing they’re in control of the environment, or feeling the full process isn’t necessary every time.
• Operational constraints – such as other trades needing power, essential systems that can’t easily be interrupted, poor circuit identification and the requirements of fault-finding.
• Equipment, training and support – respondents highlighted the need for readily available lock-off/testing equipment, refresher training, sufficient time and backing from employers and clients.
“This discrepancy between knowing the safe isolation procedure and following it every time is where accidents happen,” says Steve Dunning, Managing Director of Martindale Electric.
“Implemented properly and consistently, safe isolation prevents injury and saves lives; however, done poorly it can expose individuals and organisations to serious risk. We all have to work smarter and safer by ensuring it is carried out correctly, consistently, and in line with the Electricity at Work Regulations.”
Fraser Herd, Chair of the Electrical Safety Roundtable (ESR) Workplace Group, adds, “This important research highlights a concerning gap between awareness and consistent practice, so ESR supports Martindale’s focus on understanding the barriers that prevent this essential safety process from being followed every time.
“Safety must always be a priority when any electrical work is undertaken. We encourage workplace professionals to use these findings as a resource to further strengthen their knowledge of the safe isolation procedure.”
The Martindale Electrical Safety in the Workplace Survey 2026 was conducted between June and July 2026 to gather original insight from professionals who work with or around electricity. More than 100,000 electrical professionals were invited to participate in the survey.
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