Assessment of Applied Knowledge (Health & Safety, BS 7671, Building Regulations)
Law, standard and regulation
The applied knowledge assessment tests the legal and regulatory framework around the practical work.
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 places general duties on employers and employees. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 are the key electrical statute: regulation 14 prohibits work on or near live conductors unless it is unreasonable to work dead and suitable precautions are taken. BS 7671 is not law, but following it is accepted as a way of demonstrating compliance with the statutory duties - a distinction examiners test often. Know also the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (risk assessment), COSHH, RIDDOR, PUWER, CDM 2015 and the Work at Height Regulations.
Building Regulations in England and Wales include Part P (electrical safety in dwellings), with notifiable work and competent person self-certification schemes; Part B covers fire safety and Part M access and use. Understand the difference between notifiable and non-notifiable work at a general level, and that local authority building control is the fallback route.
Expect questions on BS 7671 content that supports the practical work: IP codes (first digit solids, second digit liquids), external influence codes, disconnection times, RCD types, special locations, and the requirement to verify before energising.
Traps: describing BS 7671 as legislation, mixing up which Part of the Building Regulations covers what, and forgetting that safe isolation is a legal duty under EAWR rather than merely good practice.
Rule of thumb: statute first (HSWA, EAWR, Building Regulations), standard second (BS 7671) - the standard shows how you meet the law.