Preventing Industrial Accidents Starts with Regular Inspections

Preventing Industrial Accidents Starts with Regular Inspections

Monday 15 June

With summer underway, June is a timely point for industrial and hazardous area sites to review whether their inspection schedules, compliance records and maintenance plans are up to date.

This is especially important following a recent HSE prosecution that highlights the serious consequences of poor inspection and maintenance regimes. In May 2026, a company was fined £350,000 after the catastrophic collapse of a chemical storage tank, which left a worker with life-changing injuries. HSE’s investigation found that corrosion had been identified years before the incident, yet no remedial action was taken and there was no evidence that the required inspection regime had been consistently followed.

For businesses operating in hazardous or high-risk environments, the message is clear: regular inspections, proactive maintenance and clear evidence of compliance are essential. Electrical systems, mechanical equipment, lighting, control panels and hazardous area installations must be inspected and maintained correctly. A system that was compliant when installed may not remain compliant if site conditions, equipment or maintenance standards have changed.

Inspections are more than a compliance exercise

For many businesses, inspections are only arranged when an audit is due, a certificate is close to expiry, or a fault has already been spotted. However, in industrial and hazardous environments, inspections should be treated as a core part of operational safety, compliance and asset protection.

A thorough inspection can identify early signs of deterioration, damage, unsuitable equipment, poor documentation or maintenance gaps before they become more serious. In areas where flammable gases, vapours, dusts or fibres may be present, even small faults can create a significant risk if left unresolved.

Regular inspections help ensure electrical equipment remains suitable for the zone it is installed in. Visual, close and detailed inspections all play an important role in identifying damage, deterioration and compliance issues before they escalate.

This is why inspections should not be seen as a tick-box exercise. They are a practical way to stay ahead of risk, reduce unexpected downtime and demonstrate that safety responsibilities are being managed properly.

What should your inspection programme include?

A strong inspection programme should look at the full environment, not just one piece of equipment or one area of compliance. For industrial and hazardous area sites, this may include hazardous area electrical inspections, ATEX inspections, DSEAR reviews, mechanical inspections, safe area testing and planned preventative maintenance.

Hazardous area electrical inspections

Hazardous area electrical inspections are essential for businesses with zoned areas or potentially explosive atmospheres. SR Electrical carries out visual, close and detailed inspections against standards and regulations, including BS EN 60079-17, DSEAR and APEA, with relevant reports or certificates provided once complete.

These inspections help confirm whether electrical equipment remains suitable for the environment it operates in. They can review Ex-rated equipment, glands, enclosures, lighting, earthing, bonding, labelling, documentation and signs of damage, deterioration or unauthorised changes.

ATEX inspections and DSEAR assessments also form an important part of this process. Where explosive atmospheres may be present, SR Electrical’s CompEx-accredited engineers can inspect hazardous area equipment and help identify whether the site’s current risk controls remain suitable. If substances, processes, equipment, ventilation or layouts have changed, the site’s DSEAR assessment may also need reviewing.

Wider inspection and maintenance support

A complete inspection programme should also consider mechanical equipment, safe area electrical systems and planned preventative maintenance. Mechanical equipment in hazardous areas can create ignition risks through overheating, friction, static discharge or component failure, while EICRs can help identify damage, deterioration or dangerous conditions in non-zoned areas.

Planned preventative maintenance helps turn inspection findings into action. By scheduling remedial works, emergency lighting checks, thermal imaging and routine testing, businesses can reduce the risk of unexpected downtime and keep safety standards under regular review.

What should businesses review this June?

June is an ideal point in the year to carry out a mid-year inspection review. Businesses should consider asking:

• When was our last hazardous area electrical inspection? 
• Are our ATEX inspection records up to date? 
• Does our DSEAR assessment still reflect current site activity? 
• Have we introduced any new substances, processes or equipment? 
• Are our hazardous area classification drawings still accurate? 
• Have mechanical ignition risks been reviewed? 
• Are safe area electrical inspections, EICRs and emergency lighting checks up to date? 
• Do we have a clear PPM plan in place for any remedial actions? 

If the answer to any of these questions is unclear, it may be time to arrange a professional inspection.

Speak to SR Electrical

Inspections should not be left until something fails, an audit is due, or a site incident exposes a weakness. A proactive, documented inspection programme helps businesses identify risks earlier, strengthen compliance and reduce the chance of costly downtime.

SR Electrical can support with hazardous area electrical inspections, ATEX inspections, DSEAR assessments, hazardous area mechanical inspections, EICRs, emergency lighting inspections, thermal imaging and planned preventative maintenance.

If your site needs an inspection or wider maintenance review, speak to SR Electrical today. Our experienced team can help you build a safer, more reliable programme for the months ahead.