Planning an Electrical Safety Audit: A Checklist for Facility Owners in Bangladesh

An electrical safety audit is more useful when the facility team prepares for it before the site visit. Drawings, maintenance records and clear access arrangements help the reviewing engineer understand the installation and define an appropriate assessment scope.

For factory owners, commercial building managers and procurement teams in Bangladesh, the starting question is simple: what decisions should the audit help you make? A review before expansion may need a different scope from an investigation into repeated trips or a maintenance planning exercise.

1. Agree on the purpose and scope

Describe the building, its operating hours and the electrical systems to be reviewed. Identify whether the scope covers the incoming supply, transformers, distribution boards, generators, changeover equipment, earthing arrangements or selected production areas.

Ask the consultant to identify the assessment criteria and applicable editions in the proposal. Relevant local requirements, authority expectations, project specifications and manufacturer instructions should be confirmed for the particular facility. An audit should not be presented as automatic regulatory approval or certification.

2. Gather drawings and equipment information

Prepare the latest available single-line diagram, panel schedules, layout drawings and equipment register. Include previous audit reports, maintenance logs and records of changes to the installation.

Mark any information that may be out of date. If production equipment has been added without corresponding drawing updates, tell the reviewing team. Identifying gaps early allows the proposal to distinguish document review from field verification and drawing preparation.

3. Record operating concerns

Create a short list of recurring problems and the equipment affected. Useful information includes the location, time, operating conditions and any earlier corrective work associated with an incident.

Repeated protective-device trips, unusual smells or visible damage should be reported promptly through the facility's safety procedures. Do not wait for a scheduled audit to address an immediate concern. Facility staff should not open electrical enclosures or perform tests simply to collect information for a quotation.

4. Plan access and shutdowns

Nominate a facility contact who understands the installation and can coordinate access with operations. Explain restricted areas, induction requirements and any limits on photography or document sharing.

Separate observations that can be made during normal operation from work requiring isolation. The qualified team should define safe working arrangements, necessary permits, isolation procedures and appropriate protective measures before work begins. Testing and enclosure access belong to competent, authorized personnel.

5. Compare deliverables, not only prices

A useful proposal should explain what the client will receive. Ask whether the report includes:

• A clear description of inspected areas and exclusions.
• Identified findings with equipment references and supporting evidence.
• A documented method for prioritizing findings.
• Recommended actions and any need for further investigation.
• A closeout register for tracking responsibility and completion.

Confirm whether testing, drawing updates and follow-up verification are included or separately priced. This makes quotations easier to compare and reduces uncertainty after the visit.

6. Turn the report into a maintenance plan

Assign each accepted action to an owner and agree on a suitable completion date with the responsible engineer. Retain evidence of corrective work and arrange verification where necessary.

Keep the report alongside maintenance records and updated drawings. A single audit is one input to ongoing electrical asset management. NFPA 70B provides a framework for electrical maintenance, while NFPA 70E addresses workplace electrical safety practices; their use and applicability should be established for the project rather than assumed.

Prepare a clearer enquiry

Before requesting a quotation, assemble the facility location, building use, available drawings, equipment list, known concerns and possible shutdown windows. Share sensitive drawings through an agreed channel.

Discuss your electrical assessment requirements with AnnexB to clarify the scope, information needed and expected deliverables for your facility.

Further reading

NFPA Electrical Cycle of Safety

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